Simple fire safety precautions and regular checks will reduce your risks, and the disastrous impact of a fire on your business, staff, customers and you personally.
Acorn’s 15 Fire Safety tips are:
1. Hold fire drills at different times of the day, as people will react differently depending on the time.
2. Create a real life situation by locking a fire exit so that your personnel have to find an alternative
route out of the building – could they??
3. Turning off equipment at night will not only cut down your energy costs but will also greatly reduce
your chance of an office fire – most fires occur at night with equipment left unattended.
4. Get electrical appliances checked by an approved contractor – it only takes the smallest spark to start.
a fire.
5. Uncoil extension cables as they can overheat if coiled up and in-turn result in a fire.
6. Don’t exceed the recommended bulb wattage for light fixtures or put too high a fuse in plugs.
7. Have a fire risk assessment, and ensure that ongoing control and reviews of the fire safety measures
are carried out.
8. Rubbish and waste material – fire is likely to spread amongst accumulated waste, so have a process to
dispose of rubbish safely and regularly.
9. Cooking – kitchens in offices provide both opportunities for the fire to start and also materials for the
fire to feed from.
10. Combustible materials such as flammable liquids, glues and solvents are liable to combust unless
stored and used properly.
11. Arson/wilful fire-raising are a major cause of fire in the workplace – make sure you consider measures
to reduce the likelihood and severity of a deliberate fire. In 2010 there was 40,000 arson related fires
in the UK.
12. Smoking – carelessly discarded cigarettes and matches are one of the major causes of fires in both the
workplace and home.
13. If in an evacuation situation – feel the doors to see if they are hot before entering a room, as this is an
indicator that there is a potential fire inside.
14. Employee education is the best way to prevent a fire, ensure all of your personnel have fire training
and be aware of situations which may increase the chance of a fire.
15. You should nominate an individual to be in charge of all fire prevention checks – this way there is no
confusion over whose role this is, and it will ensure that the checks are done.
For further tips, advice and training on Fire Safety
contact Acorn Head Office in Bristol on 0117 958 2070
or via [email protected]
Prefer to talk about your training and consultancy needs?