Fire Management and your Business 

Fire can often be a confusing and scary subject when it comes to H&S management. There are so many worrying stories in the papers regarding prosecutions and unfortunately fatalities. It can become a minefield when trying to understand what you need to do. 

What do you need to do as a responsible employer? 

  • Decide who the appointed person is – this is usually a director or business owner. Someone who has overall responsibility for the fire controls and management within the business. 

  • Carry out a risk assessment. This must be done by a competent person. The risk assessment needs to address potential causes of a fire in the building or premises, how it may spread through materials or substances in the building, and who is going to be at risk from the fire. 

  • Once you have the fire risk assessment and have thought about the controls you will need, tell your staff about it. Include any responsibilities they may have. For example, who will be fire marshals? Do they need any specific instructions during an evacuation? 

  • Put it in place – do what you said you were going to do. Have the right signage, install the correct alarms, improve lighting where needed. 

  • Plan for an emergency – and test it! Have a fire drill to make sure your plan works. You don’t want to find out it doesn’t work in a real emergency. People will panic and you need to have full control. 

  • Train – train your staff, provide instruction and information. And make sure it’s updated and stays relevant to the business. 

What should you be considering when planning control measures? 

There are many things to look at and consider when reviewing your existing fire management arrangements. Most will depend on the building and the type of work being carried out. For example, office work is lower risk work than a welding workshop. However, if escape routes are compromised in the office, then this will change the level of risk. 

You’ll need to consider; 

  • Escape routes and emergency exits 

  • Fire detection and warning systems – alarms, visual beacons 

  • Fire fighting equipment, the type and location 

  • COSHH substances and where they are stored – next to escape routes? 

  • Do you have vulnerable people? – elderly, young children, those with disabilities. 

  • How do you look after visitors? How many do you have typically in a day/week? 

You have the correct measures in place - now what? 

Once you have the right controls in place, we need to make sure they are still suitable and working. Checks! Checks of the systems in place must be done and these must be recorded. 

  • all fire alarm systems are working

  • the emergency lighting is working

  • you record any faults in systems and equipment

  • all escape routes are clear, and the floor is in good condition

  • all fire escapes can be opened easily

  • automatic fire doors close correctly

  • fire exit signs are in the right place

If you think you have everything in place, but need a second pair of eyes, Safety For can help. We offer friendly, sensible advice to help make you legally compliant. We understand with fire, there are no second chances!

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Appointing a ‘Competent Person’