As A Small Business Are You Aware Of All Your Fire Risks?

Fire can be devastating and more so for a small business or one that may be a start up. Do you know all your fire risks in the workplace?

Fire risks can be defined as the likelihood of a fire occurring multiplied by the severity of the fire and the potential of harm and consequences in terms of loss of life, spread of fire, building damage, loss of business reputation, financial losses, prosecution and more.

Key consideration is to avoid the risk of fire in the first place. Avoid for example careless use of electrical heaters and not placing combustible materials near by. Avoid storing combustible materials too near light fittings as the heat from the light fitting is a source of ignition. Avoid overloading electrical wall sockets and electrical extension leads as this can cause a build up of heat and lead to a fire.

Of course there are situations where it is necessary to evaluate the risks which can not be avoided. For example, risk of fire in an office building boiler room. The boiler room provides heat to all users in the building and is essential. Providing using the boiler room can not be avoided as far as is reasonably practicable. A risk to life from fire is considered possible, so the risk must be evaluated and this can be achieved by doing a fire risk assessment taking into account existing control measures and compartmentation of the boiler room plus other factors. The fire risk may be considered, low, medium or high.

There are situations where the fire risk can be combated at source. For example, dealing with a dusty environment within a manufacturing facility where there is a risk of fire and explosion from the dust should a source of ignition be introduced. Combating the fire risk at source would be achieved at a localised level by fitting a dust extraction unit to reduce the risk of a dust generated explosion and subsequent fire.

The risk of fire can be reduced by adapting to technical progress. A good example of this has been the development of wet chemical extinguishers to effectively extinguish cooking oil fires in a safe manner where the wet chemical turns into a soap, cooling and smothering the fire and preventing re-ignition. Previously AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) foam extinguishers were often used which were unable to cool and smother the cooking oil based fire; the AFFF would break down under the intense heat of the fire and allow oxygen in to reignite the fire.

Furthermore, the risk of fire can be reduced by replacing the dangerous with the non-dangerous or less dangerous. For example, replacing the use of highly flammable paint being used in a maintenance department at a premises with water based paint. This is a cheap and easy solution to adopt.

Developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work and the influence of factors relating to the working environment will reduce the risk of fire. Having permits to work for contractors to sign before and after completion of work covers organisation of work. The policy will empower management to ensure factors relating to the working environment are covered for example ensuring run off of contaminated water to fight a fire will not enter a local river when sluice gates close are wired into the fire alarm system.

There are situations where it is necessary to give collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures to reduce the risk of fire. For example, fitting an automatic smoke detector in an access room which has an inner room attached. The smoke detector will provide warning of smoke to multiple users within a building via activation of the fire alarm system. An individual protective measure for example would be the fitting of a vision panel in the wall between the inner room and access room without automatic smoke detection fitted in the access room and would allow an occupant to see into the access room.

Finally, and a very important point for all business owners to take on board; there is a need to give appropriate instructions to employees regarding the risk of fire. Having a written policy in place at a work premises detailing measures which are necessary for employees to follow to prevent a fire occurring; example stating for combustible materials to be kept away from sources of ignition for example a source of heat. The employer should have conducted a fire risk assessment that should consider all fire hazards in the workplace and how to remove them, or control them in a way that provides for a safe working environment.