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FireSafe are here to help. If you
have any fire safety related queries, simply contact us through
our ‘Contact Us’ web page or telephone on 01279-730999
and we will try our best to help you. Click
HERE to download a PowerPoint presentation on Fire Risk
Assessment.
You can “Trust” FireSafe not only with your annual Fire
Extinguisher Inspection and Service, but also for Risk
Management advice and Hands on Staff Training.
Click HERE for
details about safety signs. |
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Fire Risk Safety Assessment
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations clearly place the
responsibility for complying with regulations on the employer, or on
the person who has control of the workplace where the requirements
of the regulations relate to matters under their control. Failure to
comply with fire safety regulations could lead to fines and even
prosecution.
Employers have to assess the fire risks in all their premises;
ensure that there are suitable emergency escape routes; provide fire
fighting equipment that is maintained and tested, and have plans for
emergencies in place and have staff trained to implement them.
Risk assessment is a massive undertaking, and one that requires
expert knowledge. How can the majority of employers be expected to
carry out this critical assessment alone? The answer quite simply is
they can’t! Unless you are a safety expert you can’t be expected to
carry out the essential steps in a fire risk assessment that
identify the measures necessary for fire prevention and protection.
Fire safety is one area that cannot be compromised, if you are in
any doubt about your workplace please give us a call on the number
above and let us provide you with some professional assistance –
it’s wise to be advised!
To help you achieve your fire safety at work objectives we have
provided a list of fire safety related questions. If you answer NO
to any of these questions, you are not complying with regulations
and additional action needs to be taken.
Have you assessed the fire risks within your work place?
In assessing your fire risk would you know what to look for?
Can a fire be detected quickly and staff alerted?
Can all staff and visitor evacuate safely?
Do you have adequate fire fighting equipment, located correctly and
of the correct type?
Do your staff know what to do in the case of a fire?
Have your staff had proper training in fire safety?
Have you carried out an evacuation drill in the last 12 months?
If you employ more than 5 people, do you have a written risk
assessment identifying risk and the action taken to eliminate them?
In order to achieve these objectives your company needs to address
the following issues:
1. Fire Risk Assessment
The company must assess and record the fire risk in the work place,
taking into account the size of the workplace and workforce, the
escape routes, materials used in construction, the work carried out,
the equipment used and properties of substances used. Companies
often appoint competent, qualified contractors, such as FireSafe, to
carry out a full fire risk assessment.
2. Fire Detection and Alarms
Measures must be in place to detect and alert staff. Depending on
the premises are smoke/heat detectors in place? Is a sprinkler
system required? Does the premises have adequate manual call points
connected to an alarm?
3. Evacuation
The staff and visitors must be able to evacuate quickly and safely.
Escape routes must be an integral part of the building and be clear,
unobstructed and well marked at all times. Staff must be well
trained on what to do in case of a fire and have regular fire drills
to achieve a quick and safe evacuation. Staff must know where to
assemble in a safe area outside.
4. Fire Fighting Equipment
Does the building have adequate fire fighting equipment? This must
be assessed regularly due to changes in the work place such as new
equipment, new substances being used or the rearrangement of the
work area.
5. Training
It is a legal requirement that staff are adequately trained in
health and safety at work, which includes fire equipment training.
This must take place on a regular basis. Some staff may have special
responsibilities during a fire, so additional training should be
given.
6. Fire Fighting Equipment Must Be Tested
A monthly check is recommended to ensure extinguishers are correctly
sited, and have not been discharged or damaged. A more detailed
annual check should be carried out by suitably trained staff or a
contracted service engineer. The extinguishers should have an
extended service every 5 years and overhaul/replacement every 20
years. Detectors, alarms and water sprinklers must be maintained and
tested.
7. Emergency Signs
Emergency signs and fire alarm signs must now have an explanatory
picture, such as a running man, which can be understood at a glance.
An important element in fire safety at work is to ensure that
adequate records are kept. A log book detailing staff training,
dates of evacuations and alarm tests, copies of regular safety
checks etc, will not only prove to the inspectors that you are
complying with regulations, but will also ensure that fire safety
can be planned and managed in an efficient and effective way.
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Safety Training
Could you use your fire extinguishers effectively in an
emergency? Could your staff?
Statistics reveal that over 80% of fires are extinguished by
ordinary people – highlighting the essential need for
fire safety training?
At some point it is inevitable that most organisations will face the
risk of fire or some similar life and economically threatening
incident. Whilst local Fire Services are available to respond 24
hours a day, it is very often the first actions by staff which can
pave the way for a successful conclusion to an incident.
Providing staff with the necessary training and skills to face this
challenge provides an effective response to potential disaster and,
importantly, develops a higher sense of value and awareness to the
very serious problems of fire safety.
We do not advocate that staff should take the role of the
professional fire fighting service, but catching a fire in the very
early stages, and utilising the correct equipment and training
given, can often prevent a fire from developing into a much greater
potential danger.
The provision of fire safety training for industrial and commercial
organisations is a mutually beneficial relationship for all parties.
Increased awareness and capability by staff aids the attendance by
the Fire Service, ensuring a successful and effective result to the
incident.
The correct action by an employee in the event of fire is seldom a
topic of conversation. But, the result of poorly trained staff can
be potentially disastrous!
Some skills are just too important to be left to chance, please give
us a call on 01279-730999 and our experienced staff can tell
you how we can help with all your training needs.
As well as getting hands-on experience in actually discharging an
extinguisher, general fire safety training will also cover important
topics such as How and Why fires spread.
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