6 Fire Safety Tips For the Workplace

With so many workplaces returning to their pre-pandemic routines, fire safety in the workplace has never been more important. Every year, there are around 22,000 workplace fires throughout the UK – this works out at over 420 per week! This high frequency of incidents highlights the importance of ensuring your workplace has a range of fire safety measures in place.

With this in mind, the team at Fire Safety Equipment has compiled this list of the top fire safety tips for your workplace.

Undergo a fire risk assessment

All non-domestic premises must have a designated ‘responsible person’, as established in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This can be a building manager, landlord or an employer. This chosen individual is legally obligated to make sure the building is compliant with all fire safety regulations. They are also required to arrange a thorough fire risk assessment, performed by an accredited assessor. 

During this inspection, the assessor will identify all potential hazards and determine their level of risk, before making recommendations on how this danger can be mitigated. A fire risk assessment must be performed annually; however, the ‘responsible person’ should still carry out a quick monthly inspection to ensure there are no visible flaws with any fire safety equipment. 

Perform routine fire drills

Regular fire drills should be carried out in every workplace. Not only does this guarantee that all fire alarms are in full working order, but it ensures that your staff are aware of emergency procedures and familiar with evacuation routes. This makes for a quicker evacuation and improves emergency preparedness in the event of an actual fire.

Ensure your workplace has all the correct fire safety equipment

As established in the Fire Safety Order, all non-domestic premises must have appropriate fire safety equipment in place. This varies between workplaces depending on how high-risk they are. However, all businesses must be equipped with well-maintained fire alarms, fire doors and, importantly, fire extinguishers specific to the risks in the building. These provide employees with an early warning to evacuate and help to control the spread of a fire. All of this equipment should be regularly inspected to ensure it is in full working order; any issues noticed must be rectified immediately. 

Promote good housekeeping

Clutter can rapidly accumulate in any busy workplace. Although this may seem harmless, a messy work environment can have dire consequences; it provides a fire with the fuel to continue burning and obstructs emergency exits. It’s important to be mindful of storage techniques and prevent a mess from gathering whenever possible.

It is also important to ensure all flammable materials are stored securely away from populated buildings. Many common workplace materials, such as polystyrene, are actually highly flammable and would exacerbate any fire. Promoting a tidy work environment is an easy way to minimise unnecessary risk.

Check all electrical equipment

Electrical fires are increasingly common in workplaces due to the amount of electrical apparatus in use. Faulty wiring and overloaded outlets can quickly spark to create a blaze if defects go unnoticed. Therefore, it is vital to ensure all equipment is PAT tested to certify its safety; this should include all electrical appliances that employees bring in from home. 

Train all staff in basic fire safety

Every workplace is obligated to appoint a designated fire warden; however, it’s never a bad idea to have further staff educated on fire safety. Although this isn’t a legal requirement, the more staff trained in fire safety, the better. Emergency situations can rapidly become fraught and panicked, so having more staff familiar with emergency procedures will hopefully result in a calmer and quicker evacuation.

At Fire Safety Equipment, we supply a comprehensive range of fire safety measures suitable for all kinds of workplaces. As a leading online retailer, we are able to provide a swift and affordable delivery service to businesses nationwide. We only supply the highest quality equipment from reputable UK manufacturers, so you can be sure that you’re adhering to the strictest of safety guidelines when you choose our stock.

For more information on our range of products or to arrange a delivery, contact our experienced team today.