We know that fire safety training is important, that’s why it’s a legal requirement for all UK workplaces with more than one employee. Knowing what to do in the event of a fire can help to save lives and stop fires from becoming completely catastrophic. However, it also helps to know what the likely causes of fire are.
Take a look at the following guide. You might realise that your workplace is at risk. Armed with this information, you can take steps to ensure additional safety measures are put in place to prevent a fire from breaking out.
What Could Cause A Fire In The Workplace?
There are a number of activities and equipment that could cause a fire in the workplace. Because there are so many different types of working environments, it’s important to carry out a risk assessment that identifies specific risks in your place of work. For example, an industrial kitchen will have very different risk factors to a call centre.
These are the leading causes of fire in UK workplaces:
Faulty Equipment
Electrical items require routine maintenance and inspections to ensure they’re safe. When equipment falls into a state of disrepair, it can pose a fire risk. This is because faulty electricals can overheat and spark, which could ignite a fire. For this reason, it’s important to regularly inspect your electricals and check that they’re safe to operate.
Flammable Materials
There are a lot of flammable materials that can be found in the workplace. Chemicals, oils and gases have the potential to cause fires. It’s important to train staff to handle these materials safely. They should also be stored with care, to ensure they cannot be spilled or come into contact with heat, sparks or open flames.
Lack Of Safety Equipment
It’s important to carry out a thorough risk assessment. This will allow you to make adequate plans for the event of a fire. Areas that are considered high risk will need to be equipped with appropriate alarms and fire-tackling equipment. Failure to have a fire blanket near a deep fat fryer, for example, leaves your workplace vulnerable to fires getting out of control.
Human Error
Fire tends to cause panic, and people who are panicking often make mistakes. Fire safety training can help to combat this, as being armed with knowledge will help. Making the right decision quickly is important, as time is a factor when it comes to fire. Managing a fire efficiently reduces the chance for it to spread and become more destructive.
Arson
Unfortunately, arson crimes are also one of the leading causes of fire. Motives for arsonists vary, but the best way to prevent this crime is to install deterrents. Alarms, CCTV cameras and monitoring equipment will help. In addition, having sprinklers could help to mitigate any damage caused if an arsonist successfully creates a fire on your property.
For Fire Prevention Measures, Call City Fire Protection
If you’d like to put together a safety plan in the event of fire in the workplace, call City Fire Protection today.
