Beware, warning, caution—if you go to a construction site, you would often see signs that begin with these words. It should not come as a surprise since this place is truly packed with perils that can very well in fact endanger that lives not only of people working there but also those passing by near the area.

One of the biggest dangers in any construction is fire. Because of this, it is necessary that construction authorities take the necessary precautions on construction fire safety to prevent this accident from happening and to ensure that everyone knows what to do in case it does happen.

Here are some important things to remember to prevent fire and reduce fire hazards in the construction site.

• Develop a fire protection plan

This is not only for the contractors but also for the fire department so that there would be an immediate emergency response plan in case a fire breaks out. There should be a disaster preparedness plan that will inform people about the necessary measures to undertake in case of a fire. These steps may include the following: rescue operations, securing the building, notification of the people, methods for controlling the fire, and many more.

• Install the right fire safety equipment

From the smoke alarms to fire extinguishers and fire hoses, from the door seals to fire ladders, everything should be well in place even before the construction has begun. Do not think that these pieces of equipment are only necessary to be installed after the building has been constructed.

• Determine potential fire hazards

Some of the potential hazards in a construction site include smoking, open burning, motorised vehicles, welding, heating equipment, electrical equipment, combustible formwork, scaffolding, flammable liquids, flammable gases, and explosives.

A construction site should have a fire protection engineer to mitigate these hazards through proper planning, coordination, and assistance. He or she should communicate with the fire protection program manager, code authorities, and emergency responders. It would also be best to seek possible alternatives to hazardous processes such as using open flames and to completely ban other activities like smoking that can pose threat to the site.

• Secure important documents

Store them in sturdy and reliable fireproof vaults. Better yet, secure the original materials in a safe storage place off-site.

• Educate the contractors

It is not enough that the fire safety plan and equipment are well in place. The contractors and everyone involved in the project should also be properly informed and educated about the rudiments of the fire safety contingency measures and the correct usage of the fire equipment. This way, everyone would know what to do in an event of a fire.

Keeping the work area safe from fire, especially one that is already quite dangerous to begin with, will not only ensure smooth flow of work but more importantly, keep people working here protected from harm. Always prioritise safety above everything else. As people always say, "It’s better to be safe than sorry."