We all know that when it comes to fire safety in the workplace, there are certain boxes on a form that need to be ticked, but are you as fire aware as you should be? In the unfortunate case of a fire, do you feel prepared and confident in the dos and don’ts? Are you and your workplace up to date with your fire safety training?

There are certain procedures that should be in place no matter where you work, or what sector you work in. Here are some quick tips to make sure your workplace and workforce are are up to scratch when it comes to fire safety training:

• Keep your workspace clear of clutter and combustible items.
  Keeping the workplace tidy can prevent fire spreading and keeping fire evacuation routes clear of hazards ensures a swift exit.
• Appoint a fire warden(s).
  This is a person(s) who is responsible for carrying out procedures and ensuring paperwork is complete. They also plan and carry out the evacuation procedure in case of a fire.
• Equip your building and staff.
  Your workplace should have a number of fire detection and fire fighting equipment in place in case of a fire. This includes, but is not exhausted of, smoke detectors and fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, break glass fire alarm points, fire doors, fire exits and signage, including lighting. 
• Complete a fire risk assessment.
  Carrying out thorough fire risk assessments ensures your workspace is maintained and fully equipped to deal with a fire if required - even if this just means sounding the alarm and exiting the building. Carrying out a fire risk assessment allows you to see potential hazards that can either be removed, or plan put in place to make them as fire safe as possible - such as PAT testing electrical equipment regularly to ensure they are safe and unlikely to cause a fire. The Regulatory Reform Order states that Fire Risk Assessments must be carried out by a competent person
• Make sure all your staff are up to date with their fire safety training.
  The more training and knowledge you give your staff, the more fire safe they can keep themselves and their place of work. Fire safety training is not only practical, it is a legal requirement.

If you or a member of your team feel you need to tick one of the boxes above, or you just need help ensuring you’re keeping your workplace and staff as up to date as possible when it comes to fire safety, why not give us a call. At Ardent Safety we can help by delivering training and providing fire consultancy services to mitigate fire risk - why not check out our Fire Safety Support Package.