Fire Safety Policies and Goals

One of the most devastating accidents that can ever happen to any restaurant is a fire.  The restaurant is lucky if the fire is caught and stopped earlier; however, if left for too long especially if help did not come that soon, fire can devour the entire building.  The losses incurred will obviously be big, but it will be bigger still if there were restaurant staffs and diners injured, seriously wounded, or, worse, killed during the accident.  For this reason, it is imperative that the restaurant and its staff follow very strict fire safety policies.

Understanding the Causes of Fire
Most of the fire accidents that happen in restaurants took place in the kitchen.  This is, after all, the place where there will be buildups of grease as well as food debris which can easily cause a fire or feed the fire.  The kitchen is also the place that consumes the most electricity in the building.  This is, after all, where kitchen appliances and equipments are commonly used, and this is also the place where electric stoves and ovens are plugged.  This is also where you will find the refrigerators and the freezers.  With all these electrical appliances plugged, the electrical system can easily overload and cause fire.
Another common area in the restaurant where fire starts is the dining area, and this is brought about by cigarette butts that have been disposed of inappropriately or by an open flare, an example of which is flambé cooking.
Common Fire Safety Policies and Goals
To avoid fire accidents, restaurants have fire safety rules and policies that the staff should strictly follow.  Some of the common fire safety policies include:
Always unplug electrical gadgets, equipments, and appliances that are not in use, especially if the restaurant is closing for the day.
Report any damaged cords or damaged sockets to the proper person for repair or replacement.
Always maintain very clean, grease-free, oil-free grills and stoves.
Never leave unattended stoves.
Make sure that the garbage is disposed of properly.  This includes proper disposal of combustible materials like flammable liquids as well as proper disposal of cigarette butts and cigarette ashes.
Make sure that the storage area is kept clean, orderly, and tidy.
These are just some of the common fire safety policies that restaurant staff should know and understand.  These policies are to ensure that there will be no overloading of the electrical system and no grease and oil buildup catching fire.
What to Do in Case of a Fire
It is the duty and responsibility of the establishment to teach its staff what to do in case of a fire.  In a nutshell, this should include teaching them where the fire exits and fire extinguishers are, and this should also include a fire drill to teach the staff proper evacuation protocol.  This should also include teaching the staff how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
If you are the one who discovered the fire, the first thing that you have to do is to raise the alarm.  Now, if it is a small fire that you can control, the use of an extinguisher will do.  However, if it is a large fire that you cannot control with an extinguisher, you should immediately leave the room and evacuate the building after raising the alarm, of course.  It can be more dangerous for you to tackle a fire using the wrong type of fire extinguisher.
If, on the other hand, you heard the fire alarm, it is important that you keep your composure and remain calm.  You should also help the customers keep their calm and assist them in evacuating the building.  To avoid more mishaps like a stampede, remind people to walk quickly towards exit doors and to the assembly point, but never run.