Many business owners struggle to know where they stand when it comes to the law and fire safety. No matter how big or small your business is, you are legally required to have at least two people trained as a fire marshal to guide other staff members in the event of a fire. You can be trained as either an appointed person (or ‘deputy’), fire warden or fire marshal. Depending on how large your place of work is, the role of a fire warden and marshal may be given to two people or split across multiple people. The difference in roles…
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Running a business is hard enough as it is, with small profits (if any) coupled with expensive running costs, it’s easy to see how one robbery can send a small business under. Thieves can steal your entire stock in minutes if you leave your premises unprotected, so never underestimate the value of a good security system. Keeping your business safe from intruders should be of priority, so we’ve compiled a list of the best methods of keeping your business safe during all hours of the day. Keys and locks Whether you own an office or a salon, having a stable security…
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Unfortunately, senses and mobility deteriorate slowly as people get older, making it increasingly difficult to do the things they found easygoing in their youth. Ultimately, this puts the elderly at greater risk of injury or worse if a fire started than the youthful. As such, it is of the utmost importance that we prepare our properties and businesses for the potential outbreak of fire adequately and thoroughly to ensure the elderly we care for remain in the safest hands at all times. In this article, we will be discussing the fire safety methods you should employ to increase the safety…
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When we think of fire safety equipment, the obvious answers are fire extinguishers, detection systems, and evacuation routes. However, there are a number of things you can install in or around the building to reduce the risk of a fire, and to enable you to deal with one should it ever occur. Car park barriers are an effective tool to reduce fire hazards to your premises, and can also help to keep the building a safer place to be in general. We’ve listed the benefits of installing barriers or bollards to your premises below. Prevents trespassers One of the biggest…
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What is the Fire Safety Act? The Fire Safety Act (Regulatory Reform Order) 2005 states that any responsible person with a level of control over a business or commercial property must ensure that reasonable steps are made to ensure the risk of fire is reduced, and that anyone in the building is able to escape safely should a fire occur. Who does the act apply to? The act applies to anyone with control of a commercial premises, public space or structure. This can include the employer, manager, occupier of a premises, or anyone else with a level of responsibility within the…
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As a retail business owner, you have a responsibility to the public and your staff to reduce the risk of fire hazards, and to implement a clear fire evacuation strategy should a fire break out. As the owner of the premises, you must carry out fire risk assessments of your premises to ensure any hazards are identified and reduced as risks. You can also nominate a responsible person to undertake this task, providing they have a good understanding of what conditions could lead to a fire, what materials pose a fire risk, and the consequences should a fire break out. This…
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Protecting your business premises from fire is a priority for any employer, as the outbreak of a fire could not only be devastating for the business itself, but could also put the lives of employees and others in the building at risk. There are two types of fire protection: active and passive. Active protection takes the form of more commonly known fire suppressants such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers and detection systems, which actively seek to detect and fight fire should it break out. Passive fire systems, on the other hand, are always working, rather than having to be activated in…
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A reported 45% of major fires in businesses are attributed to arson attacks, seriously affecting the daily runnings of any premises. It’s important to ensure that your building and your staff are prepared for the risk of arson, and keep a vigilant eye out while on site. We’ve listed some precautionary measures all businesses can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of arson. Nominate a fire warden Nominate a member of staff to be responsible for fire safety around the office. This will include regular inspections that the fire risk assessment guidelines are being adhered to, fire…
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Warehouses have a high risk of fire, and due to the high quantities of stock they often hold, can also be a costly accident for businesses. The layout, and flammable goods often stored in warehouses mean a fire could easily start and spread throughout the whole building, so as a business owner it is important you ensure you know the risks, and take preventative steps to ensure your staff and the premises are safe. Risks: Many warehouses will use flammable substances, such as cleaning products Machinery used could develop faults that can lead to fires Smoking materials such as that from…
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Whatever your work environment, it is likely that you will have at least some flammable materials that need to be stored correctly, be it industrial chemicals or something as simple as cleaning fluids. It’s vital that all flammable substances are stored correctly and safety, and as the employer or building owner within a company it is your responsibility to ensure that this is done. The first thing to consider is if any of the flammable liquids you have can be replaced with non-flammable alternatives, reducing the hazard altogether. Often this will not be the case, so we’ve listed a few…
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