Workplace fire safety is important to protect company premises; it is also important to save peoples’ lives. By being proactive, one will avoid fire incidents, save life, and also ensure that UK fire safety requirements have been met. Midland Fire Security Services have outlined ten tactics of fire safety that are quite essential to any workplace in ensuring the building is safe.
1. Carry Out Fire Risk Assessment
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that there be a sufficient fire risk assessment to denote the hazards and thereby have an appropriate strategy in fire safety. Such assessment will enable your company to identify any peculiar risk it faces and accordingly devise ways of mitigation.
2. Regular Fire Detection System Installation and Maintenance
Ensure that your building is equipped with smoke and fire detectors installed throughout that provide early warning for evacuation. These systems need regular testing and maintenance to be reliable in an emergency.
3. Make sure your emergency evacuation plan is understandable
Develop an evacuation strategy for emergency purposes and communicate it to all the workers about assembly points and the escape route. Go over the plan with them regularly, so people get prepared for real life events.
4. Maintaining Proper Housekeeping
The workplace should always be clean and well organised. Never block fire doors open, keep the passageways and fire doors clear, and store goods properly. Flammable products must be stored away from sources of heat.
5. Keep fire extinguishers serviced and accessible
The right types of fire extinguisher must be situated in convenient and accessible locations with the appliances subjected to regular checks. For extra safety when this sort of situation does arise, train staff in the use of fire extinguishers.
6. Fire Safety Training-Continuation
Regular training in fire safety equips the staff with the use of extinguishers, evacuation, and handling of any emergencies. Train people in the specific needs of your work location.
7. Establish no smoking in the house
This minimises the risk of a fire from strictly prohibiting smoking. Provide safe ways of disposing of cigarette trash and indicate the places where smoking will be allowed apart from combustible objects.
8. Electrical Safety First
Poorly maintained electrical equipment can be a major fire risk. Ensure equipment is regularly inspected and routine PAT is carried out. Make staff aware that problems with electrical equipment should be reported.
9. Carry out evacuation and fire drills
The regular fire drills will help in training the staff at the readiness of evacuation and identifications of shortcomings in the overall evacuation plan. Drills motivate the employees to a quicker and safer response during a real emergency.
10. Display visible and easily readable fire safety signage
Ensure the signage about fire safety is appropriately displayed and readable, such as the placement of extinguishers and escape signs. Signs should be visible in poor light to enable staff to view them during evacuations.
First step towards a safe workplace: take action now!
Fire safety in the workplace is of paramount importance in consideration of employee safety and compliance with UK law. Various solutions are needed, from fire risk assessments through the installation and ongoing maintenance of fire alarms.
