Smoke Detectors How They Work

How to Reduce Your Small Business Risks   by Juan Garzon

As an entrepreneur, you are a risk taker, but just because you have a stomach for risk and a flair for success, it does not mean that you want to flirt with disaster and allow the possibility of insurable risks to hurt your business' bottom line.

With a little bit of research and time, there are many ways that you can limit your risks as a small business owner and provide a safe, low-risk place for your employees to work.

Alarm Notification and Security System

It may seem like a no brainer, but the easiest way to protect your business is through the installation of a fire notification and security system. For fires, a smoke detector will keep you and your employees safe while giving you the lead time needed to call the fire department and curb any potentially ravaging blazes from damaging your equipment and stock. A fire detection system that is monitored by an offsite company will offer even more protection.

Security systems, including alarms, security cameras and motion detection lights will not only help prevent theft and vandalism on your business property but will also help notify the police of any intrusion and will give you the potential ability to find the guilty party and the opportunity to get stolen goods back, or at least put the criminal out of business.

A Safe Place for Personal Items

If you have employees onsite then providing them with a safe and secure place to leave their personal belongings while they work is imperative. You may be responsible for losses if you do not provide the appropriate setting for them to leave their purses, wallets, keys and the like.

In addition, there should be a safe, secure location for you to secure business valuables each night while the business is unattended. Expensive equipment, cash, electronics and information should be stored in a safe or lock box that works as a deterrent against theft.

General Cleaning

Many workplace injuries are the result of completely preventable accidents from ordinary causes. For example, a loose tile on the floor can cause an employee to trip and become injured--as could a pile of files on the floor or general debris blocking a hallway. Keeping your office or business clean and organized will help reduce the risk of injury and the liabilities that follow.

Disaster Plan

No matter how hard you work to prevent injury, some things are not under your control. The weather, for example, is not under your domain and a hurricane, earthquake, tornado or damaging snow storm could someday interrupt your employees' workday and lead to a need to change processes.

A well thought out disaster plan can go a long way toward reducing the risks associated with these natural disasters. In the plan, you can explain how your employees should act and react to a potential disaster, how they should treat business data and items in order to protect them from damage and how to keep themselves safe within the limits of your building.

There is no single right way to erase all possibilities of injury or liability from your life as a business owner, but there are numerous ways that you can minimize the risks that you face and keep your business and employees safe. No matter how well insured you are, injuries and other risky circumstances can impede your business' ability to stay operational and can hurt your financial bottom line.

About the Author

Juan Garzon writes insurance articles for and about Miami Business Insurance (Florida) and Minneapolis Business Insurance (Minnesota)
Smoke Detectors - Do They Work?


smoke detectors how they work
smoke detectors how they work
smoke detectors how they work
smoke detectors how they work