A company owner and managers have a responsibility for keeping the staff safe, and this means more than just providing factory workers with safety gear. Office workers also need to be safe when on the job; as a business owner or manager, you may not think there is much risk of a fire in your company, but they do occur and can be devastating. As safety is your responsibility, note a few tips for reducing your risk of a fire and any damage they may cause if one should start.

Test fire doors

Fire doors work to contain a fire in one area so it cannot spread throughout the building. They are usually made of a thick metal and fit very snugly in a doorframe to reduce the flow of oxygen between two spaces. It's good to test your fire doors regularly, as a building may shift and settle over time, and the fire doors might not fit as snugly or may not close properly at all. Be sure the hinges are in good conditions, as they may suffer a build-up of grease and grime over the years, making the door very difficult to close in an emergency. Also make sure nothing is ever blocking fire doors, and especially emergency exit doors. 

Enlarge your exit signs and arrows

Your office is probably legally obligated to have exit signs that are illuminated by something other than electricity above doors, as the power often goes out during a fire. To improve safety, enlarge these signs and add arrows or other ways to direct people out of the building safely in case of a fire. Remember that when the power goes out, so do the lights; in an office without many windows, your workers may be trapped simply because they were confused during the emergency and couldn't find an exit door. Use glow-in-the dark arrows along walkways or floors to point the way out; look for types of paint that make the arrows virtually invisible in the light, so they won't be unsightly during work hours if this is your concern.

Have inspections 

You can increase safety in your office by having regular inspections done by fire safety companies; they can note items and areas you might easily overlook, such as combustible materials sitting too close to a fire source or electrical outlet, old and dangerous power cords, and fire extinguishers that are not fully charged. Don't wait until you're legally obligated to have a fire marshal inspect your office but have this done regularly to keep your workers safe.