How To Keep My Chicago Business From Burning Up

A Business Insurance Update

Every business has the risk of having a fire. But the good news is that the likelihood of having a fire at your business can be reduced through action you can take.

Having the right kind of business insurance is very important to every business, because you rely on business insurance to protect your assets in the event of a fire, theft or other loss. In 2015, there were over 344,000 commercial fires which caused 3,275 deaths and over 11,600,000,000 of damage. (FEMA Report)

Here are some actions you can take that may reduce the severity of a loss if and when a loss does occur. This is a good checklist for you to review annually.

• Test smoke detectors monthly
• Check fire doors. They are not permitted to be propped open by wedges or any other temporary device.
• If you have an automatic sprinkler system in place, this will provide primary fire protection for your business.
• Best practices for fire safety is for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on every floor. Your best option are multipurpose extinguishers.
• Make sure nonessential electrical equipment is turned off at the end of the workday.
• Are all exits clearly defined and visible?
• Keep exits unlocked during business hours.
• Be sure the area directly around the sprinkler head is free of obstructions. Move any items that are stored within about a foot and a half from the sprinklers.
• Require spills of flammable or combustible liquids and hazardous materials to be cleaned up promptly.
• All exit doors should be able to be opened from the direction of exit travel without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.
• Are your employees familiar with the firefighting equipment of your business?
• Have a safe assembly point for employees outside the building.

Slevin Insurance Group understands businesses in the community. You can find our offices in Plainfield, and our clients all around Illinois. As an independent insurance agency in Plainfield, we take pride in reviewing your options with multiple insurance companies and comparing protection and prices to find the best value for your business.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 at 12:03 pm and is filed under Business Insurance, Professional Liability. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.