How to Promote Fire Safety in the Workplace – 10 Key Tips

How to Promote Fire Safety in the Workplace – 10 Key Tips

Fire safety in the workplace is of paramount importance, as workplace fires can be devastating. They can cause devastating property damage, grind business to a halt and, most importantly, put employees in serious danger. It is therefore crucial that every workplace adopts the correct measures to both prevent fires and keep everyone safe in the event of a fire breaking out.

Fire safety law outlines strict regulations which every workplace must abide by in its fire safety plan. Not only should these be followed to ensure maximum effectiveness of the safety procedures, but not doing so can result in costly penalties.

While your local fire and rescue service will be able to provide advice on fire safety, we at MCFP have selected our top tips for creating a safe work environment and promoting safety in a fire emergency.

1- Carry Out a Fire Risk Assessment

Doing a fire risk assessment is the first step towards ensuring that the best fire safety measures possible are introduced for your specific workplace. This risk assessment should be conducted by a ‘responsible person’ (either the employer, owner or building manager related to the workplace) and should primarily identify fire hazards. After these hazards have been reported and evaluated, the assessment can guide decisions regarding which safety measures should be introduced in order to minimise fire risk, or which may need updating. Fire risk assessments should should be reviewed regularly, with any changes made clear.

2- Install Fire Alarms

It goes without saying that the installation of smoke alarms is a fundamental measure of fire safety. Smoke alarms provide detection of any fires in the building, as well as warning staff when to begin emergency fire procedures such as safe evacuation.

3- Install Fire Extinguishers

There are many different types of fire extinguisher available, and installing the correct one is of vital importance. Your fire risk assessment should have highlighted whether the materials in your workplace call for a water, foam, wet chemical, CO2 or dry powder fire extinguisher and identified the locations for each one. Following this, employees should be trained in how to safely use the extinguishers in the event of small workplace fires.

4- Install a Sprinkler System

Fire safety can be greatly enhanced by the addition of a sprinkler or water mist system. This safety measure can significantly mitigate the damage caused by a fire as well as the risk to life. Even in situations where a sprinkler system is not enough to extinguish the fire, it can help to control the fire while people are awaiting the fire service.

5- Prepare a Fire Evacuation Plan

A fire evacuation plan is a necessity when it comes to a smooth-running and safe evacuation in the event of a fire. It is important that employees remain as calm as possible in emergency situations, so having a clear plan which guides them off the premises is central to an efficient evacuation. Keeping fire action signs on the walls can prepare people for emergency evacuations and make them aware of the designated safe meeting point.

6- Prepare Fire Escape Routes

Central to any fire evacuation plan will be the preparation of safe escape routes to the emergency exits. This will include ensuring that escape routes are clear, that all fire doors are functioning and that all emergency lighting guiding the way is working well. As part of the evacuation plan, you must make sure that the escape routes cater to the needs of particularly vulnerable people, such as the elderly or disabled.

7- Appoint a Fire Safety Officer

It is a good idea to appoint a competent person Fire Safety Officer of the workplace. This person will essentially act as a fire marshal in an emergency situation, ensuring that the fire safety procedure is properly followed and overseeing evacuations. They should be thoroughly trained in fire safety awareness and how to use emergency fire-fighting equipment.

8- Check Equipment Regularly

All fire safety equipment should undergo regular checks to ensure that the workplace remains a safe work environment. Carrying out testing and maintenance on all smoke alarms, sprinklers and and fire extinguishers will reduce the risk of any malfunctioning during an emergency situation and will also call attention to any equipment that no longer meets legal regulations for fire safety.

9- Practice Fire Drills

Employees should have a good knowledge of the emergency procedure in the event of a fire. Fire drills should be practiced to educate staff and establish the workforce’s familiarity with the plan at least once a year, and more frequently in the event of any changes to the evacuation route.

10- Take Preventative Measures

Of course, the best way to increase fire safety is to prevent fires from starting altogether. A workplace can practice good fire prevention by ensuring the tidy disposal of combustible materials (for example cardboard), the holding of regular electrical safety tests and the safe storing of flammable chemicals or ignition sources.

If you need to improve the fire safety in your workplace, take a look at our Fire Risk Assessment service as well as our Fire Alarms, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Training and Automist services.

Get in touch here if you have any further questions – we’ll be happy to help.