If you own a business, you know how important it is to protect your assets. Part of proper asset protection includes protecting your business from unexpected hazards, such as fires. If you don't have proper fire prevention and safety plans in place, you're putting yourself, your business, and your employees at risk. If you have customers visiting your business during the workday, you're putting them at risk, as well. Here are three simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of a devastating fire.

Make Sure You Have the Right Equipment

When it comes to fire prevention and safety, one of the most important steps you can take is to make sure you have the right equipment on site. Having the right equipment can mean the difference between fire safety, and fire devastation. To protect your business from fire hazards, you should have working smoke detectors in each room of your commercial building. You should also have readily-accessible fire extinguishers. For maximum protection, it's also important for you to have a fire sprinkler system in your commercial building. A working sprinkler system can extinguish fires quickly, even if you're not in the office when the flames erupt.

Have Your Fire Risks Properly Identified

If you don't know what your fire risks are, you can't take steps to remedy the situation. That's where a fire risk assessment comes in to play. If you haven't had a risk assessment done, you should schedule that as soon as possible. Contact your local fire department and request an assessment. They'll be able to walk through your business, and show you the fire risks your business is facing. They'll also provide you instructions on how to alleviate the risk.

Get Your Employees Involved

Once you've acquired the proper equipment, and you've had your risks assessed, you'll need to get your employees involved. Employee involvement will ensure that everyone is on the same page should a fire break out. Here's what you'll need to do to ensure that your employees are properly prepared.

Establish a Line of Authority

In an emergency, such as a fire, your employees will need to know who to report to. A line of authority will provide clear identification of who each person reports to. This will allow you to know where your employees are, and who has not been accounted for.

Practice Your Evacuation Plans

In the event of a fire, you'll need to have an evacuation plan in place. That evacuation plan should be practiced on a monthly basis. Routine practice will ensure that everyone knows where to go, and what to do, should a fire break out.

Provide Basic First Aid Training

If your employees are injured during a fire, or other disaster, they should be familiar with basic first aid practices. Have someone come in at least once a year to teach your employees basic first aid measures that will come in handy in an emergency situation.

Be prepared for emergencies. The tips provided here will help you protect your business, and your employees, from fire hazards.