There is always a risk of fire regardless of the nature and type of work within any business or industry. These fire risks must be managed by having the right fire safety procedures, resources, and training to control and mitigate health hazards.
According to an estimate, there were 27,021 fires reported in dwellings and 11,916 in non-residential buildings in the UK in the year 2020/21. The number seems alarming, which places a huge responsibility on the employers and responsible persons to take necessary steps to control fire hazards within their work premises.
This blog post, therefore, explains in detail who has designated responsibility for fire safety at work and what are ways to prevent fire incidents within the business.
Why Fire Safety is Important?
One of the biggest dangers in any workplace is a fire threat. There were over 300 fire hazards seen in the recent years of 2020/21. These incidents and hazards can have devastating effects on a business or the workplace.
In an event of a fire, flames and smoke can quickly spread and can produce serious damage to people and property. These damages can result in a heavy cost for businesses. They lose billions of dollars in either paying fines for legal claims, overcoming the loss that occurred to the property, or paying the affected employee and their families.
Alongside this, fire safety regulations often change which makes it crucial for companies to stay up to date with the fire safety legislation.
Therefore, employers need to implement effective fire safety control measures and procedures to minimize the risk of injuries and save lives.
How Can Fires Affect the Business?
Fires are extremely dangerous; people can lose their lives or be seriously injured in such incidents. When talking about how it affects a business, companies face serious consequences due to damage to property, stock, and work operations.
Staff members may need to take sick leaves as a result of these damages or trauma. The employers have to bear the cost of lost productivity due to the sick leaves of those affected. This can decrease income as well as destroy a business’s reputation within the industry due to improper fire handling.
Many things factor in for a fire to occur at work. Below are some of the most common causes of fires:
- Faulty Electrical Equipment & Appliances
One of the most common causes of fires at work is faulty electrical equipment and appliances. Workers unknowingly using overloaded sockets, damaged plugs, or uncovered wires can cause sparks which may result in fire hazards.
- Misuse of the Equipment
Improper handling or misuse of the work equipment is also one reason for workplace fires. For example, chemical spills on electrical appliances, electrical heaters left on, or dusty environments are all major causes of hazards.
- Smoking in the Work Area
Smoking in the work premises may also result in a fire incident in some industries like construction or manufacturing sectors. Those responsible for fire prevention need to be watchful of the hazard and provide designated smoke areas to the workers and staff members.
Who is Responsible for Fire Safety at Work?
In the working environment, the person responsible for fire safety is the one in charge of the premises. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, puts a legal duty on employers, building owners, landlords, and supervisors to prevent fire hazards in their work premises.
They are responsible for:
- Conducting regular fire risk assessments at work
- Informing staff members & workers of the identified risks
- Putting appropriate fire safety measures in place
- Providing adequate staff training, instruction, and guidance to mitigate the risk
The Solution to the Problem
Below are some things employers can take care of to reduce the risk:
- Ensure Good Housekeeping
Workplaces that are kept clean and tidy have fewer chances of meeting accidents or injuries in general. But when it comes to preventing fires at work, maintaining proper workplace housekeeping is extremely important. It is not just one person’s job but requires a mutual effort of employers and employees altogether.
All the work equipment must be stored in a safe place after use and there must be proper control of storing and handling work equipment to avoid and minimize the risk.
- Conduct Fire Risk Assessments
Regular work inspections, specifically fire risk assessments help identify the potential fire risks within the workplace. Going further, it is essential to regularly examine and inspect the workplace to find any hazard and minimize it.
- Provide Adequate Training
All employees and workers in the workplace must receive adequate fire safety awareness training. The employers need to ensure that all the staff members are familiar with fire dangers and safety measures.
Along with this, there must be other training sessions as well for the people with designated roles and duties. Like fire warden training, fire extinguisher training, and fire risk assessment training.
These vital training courses can help control and prevent fire risks to people and property.
Bottom Line
Fires are a common cause leading to devastating effects on businesses and their workers. Those in managerial roles and duties need to be vigilant of these issues and have proactive approaches to mitigate such risks in their vicinity.
