Top Tips: Business Fire Protection
As a business owner, your main priority is to make sure everything and everyone is safe. To mark Business Fire Protection day, we’ve put together a few tips for doing exactly that…
Running a business is a bit of a balancing act, with countless things to juggle along the way. One of the most important things about having a business (especially if you have a premises) is ensuring everything and (even more importantly) everyone is safe in the workplace. Today marks Business Fire Protection Day, a national awareness campaign that aims to raise public awareness and ensure businesses are complying with regulations set by the government and Fire Protection Association (FPA). Here’s a checklist to make sure you’re doing just that.
Know your responsibilities
Did you know, as an employer, if you fail to meet fire safety regulations, your local fire and rescue authority can issue you with a penalty? Minor penalties can be up to £5,000 and major penalties can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. It’s up to you to make sure the right fire safety measures are in place to prevent injuries (or worse!) in the event of a fire.
Carry out a fire risk assessment
To help prevent your business having a fire, your risk assessment should point out what could cause a fire to start, i.e. sources of ignition (heat or sparks) and things hat burn, and the people who may be at risk. Top tip: If you have a business of five or more employees, it’s a must to keep a written record of the risk assessment.
Put fire safety measures in place
Everything from smoke alarms and sprinklers to fire doors and emergency exits, make sure everything’s put in place to keep everyone as safe as possible in the event of a fire.
Provide staff with information and training
One of the biggest risks in a fire is lack of information – make sure your staff are up to date with all fire safety regulations and can easily access emergency exists. Top tip: Make a point of carrying out a ‘test situation’ – this way they can familiarise themselves with the best way to safety in the event of a fire.
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