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Health & Safety

Fire Safety Tips For The Workplace

Table of contents

Install fire detection systems Prepare an emergency plan Designate a fire warden Know your fire extinguishers Install emergency lighting Check fire safety signs Train your employees in fire safety Hold regular fire drills Promote good housekeeping Thorough Risk Assessment Fire Safety Equipments

Numerous risks can harm an organisation’s personnel, their performance, and the company’s viability. Organisations are under pressure to maintain workplace health and safety despite natural disasters, power outages, and fires. Organisations usually do a decent job of adhering to fire safety regulations, but it’s always a good idea to be aware of the safeguards.

Workplace fires can be disastrous regardless of the firm’s size, standing, or location. In England and Wales, there are roughly 25,000 fires per year, according to government statistics. A fire can permanently damage many businesses; thus, prevention is essential.

Check out these suggestions we’ve put up for your fire safety to maintain your workplace secure and safe. They cover the crucial areas you need to concentrate on to either prevent fire or facilitate a quick, safe evacuation should one occur.

1. Install fire detection systems

All businesses are required by law to do this. While some alarms may go off automatically, show staff members how to use them if they’re manual.

2. Prepare an emergency plan

This should include what staff members must do during a fire, the warning systems, and evacuation protocols.

4. Designate a fire warden

A person or persons should oversee fire safety at your place of business and help with evacuations in the case of a fire. They ought to receive instruction on fire safety awareness, the nature of their job, and the proper use of firefighting tools. They are referred to as fire wardens.

Staff employees known as “fire wardens” are in charge of putting out fires and upholding fire safety protocols in order to protect workplace health and safety. They are in charge of organising the evacuation process in the event of a fire and making sure nobody is still within the structure. In your business, there should be at least one fire warden.

After completing Our fire warden training, fire wardens will be fully aware of how to maintain fire safety. They’ll know how to keep clients and staff safe in the event of a fire.

5. Know your fire extinguishers

Ensure that everyone in charge of fire safety knows the many fire extinguishers available. You should have the ones best suited to the type of fire that poses a risk to your company, such as workplace carbon dioxide extinguishers. Make sure there are enough, and they are stored in the proper locations.

6. Install emergency lighting

All emergency exits and escape routes need to be well-lit. Include lighting at all entrances, along hallways, where there is a change in floor level or direction, at stairwells, and adjacent to fire extinguishers and alarms. Make sure to test your emergency lighting frequently.

7. Check fire safety signs

Are they understandable and accessible to people with vision impairment or those whose first language is not English? Every fire safety sign should have images so everyone can quickly comprehend it. To be noticed in an emergency, even if the power goes out, ensure they are adequately lit.

8. Train your employees in fire safety

Your staff should receive training that explains how to sound the alarm, who the fire wardens are, where the escape routes are, how to evacuate, and where the assembly place is. Without this information, fire emergencies run the risk of getting worse.

It is useless if your team is unaware of your comprehensive fire safety plan and current equipment. Your staff must be aware of the emergency procedures for fire safety measures to be successful. They need instruction on how to sound the alarm and leave a building in case of fire. In order to know more about workplace fire safety, read Our blog, ‘Fire Safety at Your Workplace’.

Fire wardens have a significant role. They are in charge of coordinating evacuations, so they must be capable of carrying out their duties as required. Everyone can learn what to do with regular fire drills.

9. Hold regular fire drills

At the very least once a year, run through your fire evacuation plans with your staff to ensure everyone knows where to go and what to do. Conduct a fire exercise sooner if any significant changes are made to the evacuation routes.

10. Promote good housekeeping

To minimise damage:

  • Avoid overloading plug outlets and store electrical equipment safely.
  • Never keep flammable items, such as cardboard cartons, for longer than is required.
  • Regularly take them out and recycle them.

11. Thorough Risk Assessment

Before implementing any safety measures, you must be aware of all the risks in your building and the hazards. A detailed risk analysis is required. Risk assessments are legally required for companies with more than five employees, but they are essential for any company to understand the fire dangers in your structure and how to manage them.

Risk analyses should identify potential fire dangers, evaluate the level of risk, and then determine how to reduce that risk. It’s crucial to regularly analyse and adjust your risk assessments to guarantee long-term fire safety.

12. Fire Safety Equipments

The fire risk can be decreased by having the necessary fire safety equipment. Safety gear can warn individuals about the threat, assist them in escaping, and even put out the fire before it spreads.

Aside from smoke vents, fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems, your business should have smoke alarms, emergency lighting, and all the items mentioned above.

Once the appropriate fire safety equipment is installed, it is crucial to maintain it to function in an emergency routinely. Any fire prevention system must include fire extinguishers, which must be checked at least once a year to ensure that they are in excellent working order. Smoke vents must be routinely cleaned and serviced in accordance with British Standard if you have them. Sprinkler systems are reliable for preventing fires but must also undergo routine testing to remain in top condition.