Understand, prevent, prepare and tackle – the four vital steps to protect your business from a fire

Fire and rescue services (FRS) attended 566,572 incidents in the year ending September 2017 –  a three per cent increase compared with the previous year, according to the latest national statistics published by The Home Office.

The statistics also revealed that of all incidents attended by FRS in the year ending September 2017, fires accounted for 30 per cent and non-fire incidents at 31 per cent. The remaining 39 per cent were fire false alarms, which were the largest incident type.

In light of these recent statistics, Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, shares the four vital steps a business can take to protect itself from a fire.

Understand

In every workplace, the owner or employer has a legal responsibility to carry out a fire risk assessment – this includes identifying and understanding the risks involved.  

According to HSE, these five steps should be carried out:

• Identify the hazards.
• Decide who might be harmed and how.
• Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
• Record significant findings.
• Review the assessment and update where necessary.

Prevent

Although a fire cannot be completely prevented, there are several actions that a business can take to ensure the risk of a fire breaking out is minimalised, including the following:

• Keep areas free of clutter such as paper that could easily catch fire or prevent access to exits and emergency equipment.
• Ensure electrical appliances are switched off and plugs are removed before leaving the building.
• Ensure electrical appliances are safe to use by carrying out regular PAT Tests.
• Replace frayed power cords and ensure cord protectors are used.
• Don’t block exits or fire doors with boxes – ensure these are kept clear at all times.
• Store hazardous materials safely and make sure these are clearly marked.

Prepare

Initial and refresher fire training will ensure workers are prepared in the event of a fire and know what actions to take so that safety remains a top priority.  

Frequent drills and review procedures will allow workers to familiarise themselves with the fire safety equipment on site and feel confident when using the equipment.

Tackle

To protect employees, reliable fire alarms are crucial in alerting people of the danger and saving lives in the event of a fire. It’s important that buildings have fire alarms located in the correct places, and the right type of alarm depending on the building or site. 

Additionally, fire extinguishers ensure emergency fire responders are able to swiftly select the type of extinguisher required to tackle a blaze. It’s also important to ensure fire extinguishers are placed in the correct areas such as corridors, stairways, and landings, so they are highly visible to those following an escape route.

For more information, please visit www.bullproducts.co.uk