June marks the start of National Safety Month in Canada, a campaign aimed at reducing leading causes of injury and death in the workplace, on the road and in our homes and communities.

Split into four weeks (Emergency Preparedness, Wellness, Falls and Driving), the National Safety Council said the campaign is “focused on saving lives and preventing injuries, helping to reduce motor vehicle crashes and improving safety practices in workplaces all across the country.”

In anticipation of week one’s focus, Emergency Preparedness, Johnson Controls has provided some safety tips for facility managers to consider.

• First and foremost, it’s crucial to regularly test your fire, life-safety and security systems. This might seem like a no brainer, but unfortunately some facilities are neglected for years.
• In addition to regular equipment testing, enlist a trained professional to conduct a fire protection and life-safety risk assessment to ensure your systems are working properly and are up to code.
• Be proactive and train building operators on emergency preparedness procedures and plans, rather than waiting to encounter an emergency to implement training guidelines.
• Install technologies that work together to create a safer, smarter building and communicate critical information in an emergency. If you have standalone systems, consider investing in a single-source fire and life safety provider that can streamline installation and maintenance.
• Forge relationships with local security and law enforcement resources to better understand threats and activities around your facility. They’ll also be the ones rushing to help your facility in the event of an emergency.

“Safety is a priority all facility managers must maintain,” said Bill Maginas, president of Johnson Controls Canada. “Whether safeguarding against intruders, or taking preventative measures using fire detection systems, connecting your building’s systems with smart, integrated technologies can help ensure the safety of your facility and, most importantly, the occupants.”