Fire Prevention in The Workplace
Risk
Fire presents significant risks to businesses including injury, fatality and damage to premises, equipment and stock. It can often render a business unable to continue its operations.
Statistics
Irish workplaces most prone to fires are outdoor storage units (233 in 2016) followed by agricultural buildings (167 in 2016). There were a total of 1,238 workplace fires in 2016. The main causes of these fires emanated from electrical equipment, other equipment and electrical wiring installations.
Fire Prevention
Due to the significant risk, it is imperative to employ good safety management systems to control the risk of fire. An important aspect of this is fire prevention. In order to prevent fire, we must first understand fire. There are 3 components that must be present for a fire to start – a source of ignition (heat), a source of fuel (something that is combustible or flammable) and oxygen.
- Sources of ignition – heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, cigarettes
- Sources of fuel: wood, paper, plastic, rubber, waste
- Sources of oxygen – air, medical equipment
So what must you, the employer, do to mitigate the risks?
- Carry out a fire risk assessment
- Separate sources of ignition from sources of fuel
- Ensure good housekeeping practices at all times
- Ensure smoke and fire alarms are in good working order
- Ensure appropriate firefighting equipment is readily available to extinguish fire before it gets out of control
- Ensure your employees receive appropriate training
- Review and update your risk assessment regularly
A simple and effective method of keeping on top of tests, services, inspections, training and reviews is Peninsula’s Fire Safety Log Book. It is designed to provide an annual record of the measures you have taken to ensure the fire safety procedures and arrangements you have put in place are maintained and remain effective. You can find out more about Peninsulas Fire Safety Training here: Health & Safety Training
