Fire Safety Best Practices for Toronto Businesses

Workplace fire safety works best when everyday tasks have clear owners. A written plan, maintained equipment and staff who know what to do should support each other throughout the year.

Start with your building and operations

Identify the applicable duties under the Ontario Fire Code. Requirements depend on occupancy, equipment and the work performed. Confirm whether a fire safety plan is required and keep the applicable plan current when contacts, layouts or activities change.

For a leased property, document the responsibilities of the owner, property manager and tenant. Make sure someone tracks tasks that cross those boundaries, such as suite access for alarm testing or keeping shared exits clear.

Control everyday hazards

• Keep corridors, stairs, exits and access to safety equipment clear.
• Report damaged electrical cords, overheating equipment and other faults; arrange qualified repairs.
• Follow equipment instructions for clearances, power connections and safe shutdown.
• Manage combustible waste and storage, including outdoor areas.
• Use workplace procedures for cooking, smoking, flammable liquids and hot work where applicable.

Electrical installation and repair should be arranged through an appropriately qualified provider. See the Electrical Safety Authority’s contractor guidance.

Keep maintenance specific to the equipment

Build a register of the fire alarm, sprinklers, standpipes, extinguishers, emergency lighting and any kitchen suppression equipment. Record the required checks, responsible people, service dates and open deficiencies. An annual appointment does not cover every routine or longer-interval task.

For emergency lighting, test to the applicable full design-duration requirement. For extinguishers, distinguish monthly checks from professional maintenance and model-specific internal service or pressure testing. Keep required records and follow up on any work that could not be completed.

Give staff a clear emergency role

Toronto’s workplace fire safety guidance emphasizes knowing the building’s procedures, nearby exits and alarm pull stations, and assigned responsibilities. Include these topics in onboarding and refreshers. Plan assistance arrangements in advance for people who may need them.

If a fire occurs, follow the building’s emergency procedures, raise the alarm as appropriate, leave the affected area and call 911 from safety. Do not assume someone else has called. Untrained staff should not attempt firefighting; even trained staff must not attempt it when a fire is spreading or escape could be compromised.

For supervised workplace practice, explore our live fire extinguisher training in Toronto and the GTA. Include your group size, preferred dates and site details when enquiring so session arrangements can be discussed.

Practise, document and follow up

Conduct drills at the frequency required for the property and plan. Coordinate them with the responsible building team and monitoring provider where necessary. Record what was practised, any problems and who will resolve them.

A simple management review can ask: Which checks are due? Which defects remain open? Have contacts or layouts changed? Is everyone assigned to a safety duty trained and available? Resolve gaps before they become routine.

For help with equipment inspection and maintenance, contact FC Fire Prevention. Our Toronto inspection preparation guide explains how to organize access and records.