How to Prepare for a Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Fires can mean catastrophe for most businesses as they can result in millions of pounds worth of damage to property as well as the repercussions of compensation claims and insurance premiums. The biggest danger of fires though is the potential loss of life of your staff if they don’t know how to escape or if they are unable to exit the building safely.

The most effective way to ensure everyone knows what to do if a fire breaks out is to do a risk assessment for fire in your premises. It’s advisable to let a professional fire safety company complete your fire safety risk assessment, however you can prepare for this visit with the checklist below.

Three part fire risk assessment checklist

1)    What could be a potential fire risk in your building?

•    Identify the items in your building which have the potential to start a fire such as candles, portable heaters or cooking equipment. 
•    Identify what has the potential to fuel a fire such as papers or clothing.
•    Identify what can provide a fire with oxygen such as air conditioning or which could cause an explosion such as paint or other flammable liquids.
•    Identify objects which are blocking corridors, stairs or fire exits and check that all fire exits are unlocked when people are inside the building.

2)    Who is at extra risk if a fire was to break out in your building?

•    Disabled people who may have trouble negotiating stairs or tight corridors.
•    Elderly people or very young people who may not be able to take responsibility for their own safety.
•     People who work alone who may not hear a fire alarm or be aware of a fire.

3)    What you can do before a fire safety risk assessment

•    Once you have identified a fire hazard which could ignite, fuel or give a fire oxygen then where possible, remove the object. If it’s an object or substance which can’t be moved or disposed of easily then highlight these risks and ask the fire safety officer where you should store them. Flammable liquids for example could be stored in fire proof store rooms or in buildings away from the main premises.

•    Move items which are blocking exits and warn staff about the danger of obstructing exits. Organise other storage areas where these objects can be kept.

•    Check that electrical items have been tested and are safe to use and that there is sufficient fire fighting equipment in key risk areas such as kitchens and staff rooms.

•    List the members of staff or other people who use the building who would be more at risk in a fire such as elderly people and highlight these to the professional fire safety officer who will be able to give you specific advice on safety for vulnerable people.

•    List the areas of the building where people may be more at risk such as underground storage rooms, windowless rooms or isolated rooms. Find out how often these rooms are used and by which members of staff.

By fully preparing for a fire safety risk assessment you will be able to highlight problems or questions unique to your staff, building or business so you can ask for specific advice from a professional fire officer.  Assured Fire and Security offer full risk assessment for fire safety so you can be sure your building and staff are as safe as possible.