In light of the recent tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London, JCH Safety has been working with a variety of schools, factories, churches and building contractors to ensure that their fire management precautions are all in order. It is important that fire safety is given the utmost importance as each year many lives are lost that could have been saved. Fire ruins lives and destroys businesses. Many companies go out of business after suffering a major fire.
As an employer, or building occupier, you have a variety of legal duties to ensure that your business, staff, activities and premises are safe.
We want to give you 5 key pointers about fire safety, to help you to assess whether you are doing enough to prevent fires and protect life in your workplace.
- Have you got an up to date Fire Risk Assessment? This legally required document and activity should be carried out at least annually, to assess the risk of a fire breaking out. Small organisations may choose to carry out their own fire risk assessment but many companies use specialists to assist them to do this. It is important that the person carrying out the fire risk assessment is competent to adequately assess the potential risks. JCH Safety offer fire risk assessment services and we would happily provide you with a free quotation to do this. Many cost as little as £199.
- Have your staff received Basic Fire Awareness Training? This is a legal requirement. Staff should be trained to understand the risk of fire and know what to do should a fire break out. JCH Safety offers a fantastic online Basic Fire Awareness Training course at a very competitive price of just £25 per course. Please click here to sign up for a free trial.
- Have you got an evacuation strategy in place? It is important if a fire breaks out that you and your staff know how to safely evacuate, how to raise the alarm and where they should then assemble. Has someone been allocated with the duty of calling the Fire Service? Do your first aiders take out their kits with them in case someone is injured? Can everyone here the alarm? You should have a clear document stipulating your fire evacuation strategy. JCH Safety are available if you need assistance with this.
- Disabled people need to evacuate too. Have you got an appropriate procedure to help any less able people to easily evacuate the building. Do you have personal emergency evacuation plans (peeps) in place? Are people trained to assist and do you have the correct equipment in place? What are your procedures for helping disabled visitors?
- How do you know your building is empty once the alarm has gone off? This assumes that you have adequate automatic detection in place. If you are not sure about this then your fire risk assessment should help you to decide if you need to update or install fire detection. Once the alarm goes off how long does it take you to be certain that the building is clear and to know everyone has been accounted for? JCH Safety offers expert guidance on improving fire evacuation including assistance with carrying out fire drills, emptying buildings and keeping suitable records.
Keep you, your colleagues, your clients and visitors safe! Make sure you have an up to date fire risk assessment and action the recommendations. Make it a ‘living document’ that does not just sit in a drawer. Work with your staff to train and develop them to understand the risks of fire. Fire prevention needs staff cooperation after all. Many fires could be avoided as they are often caused by human error. Ensure your building is safe, get your electrical appliances and fixed wiring checked at regular intervals. Keep sources of heat and fuel separate.
JCH Safety would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your fire safety. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact us now for a free no obligation consultation.
