It’s that time of year when we all make personal New Year Resolutions; but how many of us think about workplace resolutions? One of the most important things you can do is to ensure fire safety is at the top of your priority list in your business premises, so why not commit to these four simple resolutions to ensure your building, employees and visitors are safe at all times.
Your fire safety equipment, including extinguishers and alarms, is vital in keeping everyone in your work setting safe from fire. As a result, all your equipment needs to be checked, maintained and serviced regularly to ensure it is in full working order should a fire occur.
Maintenance and testing of the equipment should be carried out regularly by a dedicated person within your organisation to ensure extinguishers are the correct type, located in the right place and are in full working order. When the equipment was installed, an engineer will have shown you how to test extinguishers but if you’re still uncertain, then contact your provider and ask for a refresher update.
In terms of servicing, you should make sure your equipment is serviced by an appropriately accredited (and therefore fully competent) company like Hartson Fire. We are a BAFE registered company which gives our clients peace of mind in the knowledge that our engineers are trained to the highest standards when it comes to fire extinguisher servicing.
At the same time, you should also check that your fire safety signage is all in the right place, giving clear instructions on the use of equipment and the correct directions on how to vacate the building in case of a fire and where the assembly points are located.
Most people get the general principle when it comes to using a fire extinguisher but, should a fire actually break out, then would you or your employees be confident about using one?
In such a scenario, even in the case of a small fire, people may panic. Plus you probably won’t have the time to work out what you need to do.
So our second New Year resolution is for you and your employees to familiarise themselves with the different types of fire extinguishers which are in place and how to discharge them.
Again, you fire equipment provider should be able to help with this.
It’s all well and good to have fire safety equipment like extinguishers in place, but if they are susceptible to the elements as they are situated outdoors or to damage and vandalism if they are easily accessible, then you need to ensure they are protected.
Double check the location of your equipment and if it looks like they could be prone to damage of any kind, then invest in protective products such as cabinets, boxes or jackets.
These are all available to order from the Hartson Fire website here to give you peace of mind that your expensive equipment will be completely protected and in good working order should a fire occur.
Again, many of us think about decluttering our home at this time of year, but what about taking the same approach to the workplace too. Decluttering brings huge benefits when it comes to fire safety in your business premises. Cleaning up general clutter means you’re keeping walkways clear as well as providing access to fire safety equipment and emergency exits if they were suddenly needed.
It also means you’re reducing the amount of potential fuel for a fire.
If our New Year’s resolutions have given you some food for thought but you still need help and advice, contact the team at Hartson Fire by calling the number below:
