Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Read our article: 'Fire warning: is your business in danger?'. Contact us today for more information about our Employment Law, Health & Safety, and HR services.
Jump to section:
Date: 4th January, 2019. Just before 5pm. Location: Spinningfields, Manchester. Venue: The Ivy. The top floor of one of the UK’s largest restaurants to open in 2018 was ablaze. It took four fire engines, twenty firefighters, one aerial appliance, a hose reel, and a ventilation fan to get the fire under control and clear the area of smoke. Luckily for Caprice Holdings (the owners), they were able to reopen The Ivy a mere 24 hours later. And their fire-damaged fourth floor will be back in action by the end of February. But what would you do if your business went up in flames? Here are some fire safety tips to think about as a business owner.
A proper fire risk assessment and suitable staff training prevented any restaurant staff or guests from being injured in the fire at The Ivy. Fire safety laws in the UK put responsibility on business owners to identify hazards and control risks that could endanger lives or lead to a fire. You need to think about:
Do you work with members of the public? If you do, you need an escape plan for how you’re going to evacuate people with mobility problems in case there’s a fire. They might need help getting out safely, especially if you’re in a multi-storey building.
Every second counts in an emergency. Make sure you have regular drills because your staff need to be comfortable with your fire safety policy. So when the fire alarm goes off, they know exactly what to do and where to go.
Following an inspection in 2018, one restaurant was found with blocked emergency exits, fire extinguishers that didn’t work, and faulty fire alarms. The owner would have endangered the lives of his customers and his staff if there had been a fire. The penalty? A £7,000 fine. You don’t want to face that, which is why you have to minimise the fire risks in your business. We help you take control of fire safety. Speak to our health & safety advice team
Got a question? Check whether we’ve already answered it for you…
Blog
As the government issues a statement following their review into the current statutory leave provision for employees experiencing domestic abuse, we look at how employers can support affected employees in their organisation.
Blog
Stress Awareness Month is held every April to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for the stress that many of us feel day to day, so it is a good time to reflect on whether more can be done within the organisation.
Blog
April is stress awareness month and research suggests nine in 10 adults have experienced high or extreme pressure or stress in the last year
When AI meets 40 years of Peninsula expertise... you get instant, expert answers to your HR and Health & Safety questions
