Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging businesses to ensure fire safety remains a top priority in the workplace.
The National Fire Chiefs Council’s Business Safety Week from 11 until 17 September aims to help businesses understand their fire safety responsibilities so they remain safe, legal and compliant.
Many fires in the workplace are preventable and some businesses never recover after a fire.
Helping to manage fire risks and hazards and potentially save lives and safeguard against financial and commercial loss are of key importance.
Simple measures to reduce risks of a fire starting and ensuring staff know how to respond in the right way can help to keep people safe and make business sense.
At this time of year many businesses will be preparing for the Christmas period and may also be impacted by the cost of living crisis.
It’s important the risk of fire is considered in any changes made and all staff are aware of fire safety in the workplace.
From 1 October new fire safety legislation comes into effect with many businesses and building owners needing to check if and how this affects them to ensure they are complying with the regulations.
The main changes are:
- All businesses will need to record a fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full – regardless of the number of employees and size or type of business.
- There are increased requirements for cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons in multi-occupied buildings or those where the occupier and owner are not the same person.
- In residential buildings with two or more domestic premises residents must be provided with information on the risks from fire and the fire safety measures provided to keep them safe.
The campaign week will highlight the changes and the advice that HWFRS can provide to ensure businesses remain compliant with the law.
Advice is available at www.hwfire.org.uk/safety-and-advice/business-safety/
or through the HWFRS Business Fire Safety team on 0808 196 9500 or via email at Protection-TFS@hwfire.org.uk.
Group Commander Thom Morgan, of the HWFRS Protection Department, said: “Business Safety Week is an invaluable opportunity for local small and medium-sized businesses to work with us to make sure they are complying with fire safety law and to reduce their risk of fire.
“Many businesses will be seeing significant challenges at the moment due to the economic climate which could have an impact on their fire safety in the workplace.
“So although this week is a chance to catch up on their fire safety, we are here to support them throughout the year, not just during this campaign.
“With so many call-outs being false alarms, which have an impact on business productivity and on fire service resources and time, this is a chance to drive these down and help reduce pressures on businesses and free us up to deal with genuine emergencies and community prevention and protection activities.”
Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC’s Protection and Business Safety Committee Chair, said: “Fire and rescue services are committed to helping all types of businesses reduce the risk of fire in the workplace and be compliant with fire safety law.
“We don’t expect businesses to be experts, that’s why we are here to provide help and advice.
“We encourage any business to work with their fire service to help prevent fires to help them remain productive, safe and legal.”
Videos regarding the changes are available below: