Fire safety should be a top priority all year round for commercial business owners, but as they head into winter, it’s important to keep in mind fire safety and the unique challenges businesses can face during this period.
The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) estimates that 60% of privately owned businesses never recover from fire and its knock-on effects.
With that in mind, Total Fire Group is going to share some fire safety tips for winter that people and their businesses should keep in mind.
Indoor heaters
If one is going to use indoor electric heaters, one must ensure that they’re all PAT tested
Research shows that over 30% of employees have a personal electric heater that they use at work. So they’re pretty commonplace during the winter months.
Whether it’s to warm up a drafty reception area or to keep toes toasty under the desk, electric heaters in the workplace can be a major fire hazard.
If one is going to use indoor electric heaters, one must ensure that they’re all PAT tested to make sure they are compliant. Users also need to think about the placement of the heaters. Having heaters too close to furnishings can be dangerous, as well as being close to dry items like paper and packaging.
Festive decorations
It’s common for businesses to decorate their premises with festive decorations as they approach Christmas.
And while it’s a great way to boost employee morale and to get everyone excited for the festive season, it’s worth keeping in mind that decorations can become fire hazards.
Now they are not saying people shouldn’t decorate their business, but if they do, they need to run through a little checklist to make sure they haven’t created any extra fire risks.
Some things one should consider include:
- Are the decorations flammable?
- Are any decorations, such as a Christmas tree, blocking any fire exits?
- Are any decorations hiding fire safety equipment such as extinguishers?
- Do users need to do any new fire risk assessments?
- Are decorations covering any vents on electrical equipment, such as computers and printers?
Lights
Twinkling fairy lights are a common addition to business premises around winter but users always need to be sure that any lights they use to decorate their office have been bought from a reputable business and conform to the British Standard.
People should also make sure to always switch off any lights before leaving the office. Never leave Christmas lights on overnight, as the heat from the light bulbs could be enough to pose a fire hazard.
Evacuation procedures
Colder weather can bring about very different conditions, so users should make sure that their fire evacuation plans are effective all year round.
For example, during a spell of cold weather, fire assembly points may become slippery due to ice or be blocked due to excess snow. In this case, users would need to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of employees, especially during a fire evacuation.