Offices fires can occur at any time, even with all of the appropriate safety checks and precautions in place. Office fires will have the potential to harm staff, destroy documents and equipment, or even harm neighbouring offices or buildings. So here at Protect & Detect, we’ll be outlining the most likely places and causes for your office fire to occur and how you can minimise the risks. In the Kitchen A large number of offices have a kitchen available. Employees will most likely utilise this space more than others, and so it’s important the kitchen is kept safe and secure. It…
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Fire risk assessments are fundamental to ensuring the safety of your employees in the workplace. They aim to identify what the responsible person must do in order to prevent a fire, therefore, keeping everyone safe from harm. What is a fire risk assessment? The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a responsible person (RP) to carry out fire risk assessments in any non-domestic premises. Any potential risk must be identified, including ones with the potential to start a fire, how likely that would be and the consequences should one occur. Measures must then be taken to reduce or eliminate the…
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To ensure that you’re fully prepared in the event of a fire starting on your premises, it is of the utmost importance for you to have installed appropriate fire safety signs around the building so that everybody knows what to do in an emergency. In this month’s article, we’ll be looking at what each one of these signs means to help you give your property the highest level of security when it comes to fire safety. Prohibition Signs These signs are designed to warn a building’s occupants of the potential fire hazards certain behaviours may encourage, and therefore prohibit said behaviour….
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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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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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Fire can occur in any company at any time and the duties of a responsible fire marshal can be vital. Their role is to assess risks which could lead to a blaze starting and take appropriate action if one does; in worst case scenarios, the actions of the marshal can be the difference between life and death. If you are thinking about becoming a fire marshal for your company, you must fully understand your duties and work within the framework provided by the organisation. The key requirements of a marshal are to: identify and report risks assess potential hazards fight fire…
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As a legal requirement, all business, industrial and commercial environments must have a clear fire procedure and fire evacuation route in place to avoid risk of injury or fatality. A fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) is a written document which includes the action that must be taken by all staff in the event of a fire and the arrangements for calling the emergency services. The general fire notice for small premises typically takes the form of a simple fire action sign posted in areas where staff and relevant personnel can read it and make themselves familiar with its instructions. In light…
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An assessment for fire risk is a mandatory undertaking that has to be carried out in all places of work, commercial premises, and anywhere the general public have access to. The ‘responsible person’ is legally liable for fire safety, and if you are the owner or landlord, or in some cases the occupier, then this will be your responsibility. The penalties for non-enforcement are very serious, and you could face a fine or be imprisoned if you do not conform. The assessment itself is a very detailed process, and the ‘responsible person’ has to carry it out in the first instance,…
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