There are some mistakes we see more often than others when it comes to fire safety. These are the mistakes that can make a business less compliant during an assessment. It’s important to ensure that everything is covered to create a safe environment.
1. Failure to conduct regular evacuation drills and fire alarm drills
Staff members should be trained in surprise fire drills. Many businesses have one, but they think it’s just a checklist and don’t practice often enough. This is a problem because new employees may not be able to follow the instructions and staff might forget. Regular surprise drills will remind them.
2. Failure to review or have a fire safety program
The steps that should be taken in the case of a fire in a fire emergency plan should be clearly described. The fire safety plan should be made available to all staff members. Although many businesses have a buy fire fighting equipment program, most don’t regularly review and update it.
3. Training employees to use extinguishers is a failure
Staff must have the appropriate training to use firefighter suspenders when a fire breaks out. Staff who are trained can put out a fire right at the source, and prevent it from spreading to other areas. Staff must know when to put out a fire and when it should be extinguished.
4. Inadequate maintenance of electrical equipment
Poorly maintained or faulty electrical equipment is the leading cause of the fire. We often see electrical fire fighting equipment on commercial premises with exposed or frayed wires and damaged sockets. Regular inspection of electrical equipment is necessary to make sure it doesn’t pose a risk of starting a fire.
5. Failure to keep fuel sources and potential ignition points separate
To ignite a fire, you need three things: an ignition point; fuel; and oxygen. It is essential to ensure that ignition points and potential fuel sources are safe. The risk of starting a fire by stacking too much paper on top or close to the boiler can be significant.
