Undertaking A Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Nobody imagines their office will suffer from aand dining area attached, then the likelihood of a
fire... and to be honest, the level of preparationfire is a lot higher. If food is left cooking
often reflects this. Previously in the UK, fireunattended, the risks involved are greater still.
certificates were handed out by the fire services,The whole environment can be made a lot safer
but as of 2006, businesses are required to carryif you ensure that there is someone present in
out their own fire risk assessment.the kitchen at all times - or at the very least
This fire safety risk assessment can be brokenwhen someone is using the available facilities.
down into 5 sections:Store rooms may seem an unlikely location to be
1) Identify potential fire hazardsconsidered on the fire risk assessment form, but
2) Investigate who would be in danger if a fireyou could be surprised. With photo copying
broke outequipment and stationary potentially stored
3) Evaluate the potential risks and hazards in thealongside potentially flammable liquids. Keeping the
office and examine what can be done to limitarea neat and tidy will reduce the risk of fire
these issues from being a problem.considerably. Tidiness is actually something which
4) Create a fire safety document detailing theshould be considered throughout the office in
actions taken - let your employees know of yourrelation to fire safety - if you keep things neat,
findings.and clear then there will be less fuel for flames to
5) Keep the fire safety risk assessment underspread easily, should the worst happen.
review and revise as necessary.Keeping the place tidy will also make an
So what kind of things should you be on the lookevacuation all the easier and considerably less
out for when you fill out your business' fire riskrisky. If you have items in the corridors, stairwells
assessment form? The most likely cause of fireand exits, then the chances of slips, falls and
in the office is of course the abundance ofinjury are greatly lessened should there be a need
electrical equipment the modern workspace isfor a rapid getaway.
equipped with. All electrical equipment should beIt's hugely important to keep a list of emergency
tested annually, and extension cords should not benumbers nearby. Sure, everyone knows 999, but
a full time solution. Likewise, make sure not togetting in contact with staff members who are
overload power sockets. If you don't havemissing could save a life. Staff should also have a
enough outlets for all the electricals, you shouldgood knowledge of where all the fire extinguishers
move onto a bigger a place rather thanand alarm points are. It goes without saying, but
jeopardizing the safety of your currentheavy fire-doors should never be wedged open,
workspace. It's also important to warn staff ofno matter how inconvenient it may be - they
the risks involved with the electricals, so makecan't do their job if they're being permanently held
this part of your fire safety documents.open.
While you're explaining that to the members ofThe majority of offices have the same kinds of
staff, it's a good idea to make them aware offire risks associated with them, and unless you
the procedures in case of fire, and maybe planwork in an exceptionally dangerous environment,
one or two drills to make sure their fire safety isyour fire risk assessment form will need to
ensured. Indeed, all new members of staff shouldencompass the sort of thing covered here. Use
be given an outline of the procedures as part ofthis and your own common sense, and you should
their induction. Things like fire escapes, corridorshave your fire safety documents sorted, and the
and routes may seem obvious, but it's a situationsatisfaction of knowing you're prepared against
of not being possible to be too careful.the worst.
If your office (or office block) has a full kitchen