Every business must protect themselves, their employees, and any site visitors from the risk of fire. From prevention and education to suppression and evacuation, a business owner has the responsibility to create a fire protocol that must be closely followed at all times. Some people prefer to appoint a specialized fire warden in a business, whether that be the owner themselves, a trusted employee, or the manager of a site, but whatever the decision, it is paramount that all staff members are thoroughly trained on how to deal with the event of a fire, as well as how to prevent the risk by being educated on hazards in the workplace.
By law, every business owner has a full responsibility to comply with fire legislation and failure to do so can result in serious penalties as it is a breach of fire safety laws. There have been various incidents of businesses being taken to court where they were handed hefty fines and even prison sentences for offenses such as not having working alarms, failing to undertake fire risk assessments, and not having sufficient emergency lighting.
The Importance Of Workplace Fire Safety
Over the years, there has been a notable rise in fire safety awareness, with the improved health and safety legislation affecting how seriously it is taken by businesses. Proving just how much difference effective fire safety can have, the amount of fire-related deaths in the workplace has continued to decline over recent decades and is only expected to get smaller. Although things are looking up, there is still a long way to go as many business owners fail to undergo sufficient fire safety training which could lead to preventable deaths and injuries.
The responsibilities of an employer to their employees and the general public is of huge importance from not only a legal perspective but to reduce the risk of injury to employees and customers, reduce the chance of serious structural damage to a building, prevent lost jobs from employees who would not be able to work following fire damage and to maintain strong trust among loyal customers. By briefing all employees and visitors on what procedures are in place to minimize the dangers, ranging from emergency evacuation plans to full fire safety training for those who work on the premises, everyone can be more comfortable when on the company grounds.
The Most Commonly Made Mistakes
By being aware of the most frequently made mistakes, you can stay clear and know how to minimize some of the more apparent risks. Although they may seem simple, these faults are a huge cause of workplace fires that could have easily been prevented:
- Not correctly disposing of waste (especially that which involves flammable materials).
- Not having regular fire inspections from approved engineers.
- Not keeping the fire doors shut at all times or blocking the emergency exits.
- Not keeping all areas of the building clean and tidy.
- Not undergoing frequent checks on electrical equipment or undergoing professional repairs.
- Not storing chemicals correctly or sufficiently cleaning the areas in which they are used.
- Not carrying out regular fire risk assessments as required by the law.
How To Prevent A Workplace Fire
Store waste correctly
Waste should be placed in designated areas that are regularly emptied and have been vetted for suitability. By leaving waste around a workplace, especially materials such as paper, cardboard, and other combustible materials, you’re risking their highly flammable properties which could fuel fire at a rapid rate. To avoid this, you should store waste in a space away from the main buildings and any potential sources of ignition such as heaters, fans, machinery, and vehicles which could increase the risk of a spark. This waste should then be regularly collected and removed to keep the area as free as possible.
Dust surfaces regularly
Many do not consider the fact that combustible dust can easily catch fire and explode if exposed to heat, static electricity, friction, or naked flames. Although it may not be seen as a hazardous substance or immediate danger, it is important to keep the area clean at all times. To do so, ensure a cleaning program is in place, install a quality air conditioning system, enforce clear desk policies to remove clutter and clean around plug sockets or other power sources.
Keep fire doors closed
Interior fire doors are designed to stop a fire in its tracks so it cannot spread as fast. If there is a fault with your fire door, it’s important to get expert attention quickly so the issue can be resolved. As well as the door itself, you also need to check the seals, making sure there are no gaps between the door and wall and ensuring the hinges are working efficiently. Employee education should focus on keeping fire doors shut at all times and even in the event of hot weather, extra cooling methods should be put in place instead of leaving the fire doors open for ventilation and airflow.
Test fire alarms weekly
Having a fire alarm system installed is one thing, but is no use if they don’t work or the batteries have run out. Fire alarms are designed to help to keep your employees and premises safe, drawing attention to a fire as quickly as possible so action can be taken immediately. To ensure they are in full working order, have a contract in place so maintenance can run frequent tests to identify and correct faults that may occur.
Assign designated smoking areas
All employees should be reminded of the dangers of smoking when on-site, being regularly refreshed during training sessions and through posters in common smoking areas. Many fires are started by cigarettes that have not been put out properly so if smoking is allowed on your premises, ensure smoking areas are marked. They should be situated away from main buildings and areas where rubbish and chemicals might be stored, having the correct bins for cigarette butts so they are sufficiently put out.
Undergo fire risk assessments
A fire risk assessment consists of important factors such as checking for fire extinguishers, alarms, and other vital devices. Being a legal requirement in line with government legislation for all non-domestic premises with five or more employees, all businesses need to be running frequent checks. A full written record of the assessments should be kept on the premises for reference if needed.
Train employees on fire safety
Educating employees is important in the overall goal of fire safety in the workplace, being a huge factor in implementing the above. Discussions regarding fire safety will create an understanding of fire hazards and how they can be identified around the workplace, making them more likely to be handled and reducing the risk of fire. Due to the number of workplaces surrounded by materials that will quickly ignite a fire, fire safety must be discussed as a primary training factor.