Aim to minimise your fire risks this summer

The weather may be starting to warm up but don’t let your office become a fire risk due to excess heat. There are many causes of fires that can sometimes increase in the summer months. Some of the most common causes of workplace fires are faulty equipment, combustibles on site, clutter, human error and arson.

Faulty equipment

Electrical appliances overheating or sparking are one of the most common causes of fires which can result from loose wires or faulty equipment. Therefore we recommend that equipment should be regularly checked for compliance with safety standards.

Combustibles

Workplaces are often full of combustible materials such as paper, cardboard and wood that can help fuel a fire. There are also many risks involving workplaces that store combustible fluids which should be handled and stored effectively. The number of combustibles on site should be minimised to reduce the risk and decluttering should be undertaken regularly.

Clutter

As mentioned, having excessive amounts or unnecessary materials on your site is a fire risk but also a potential health and safety hazard for trips and injury. Regularly decluttering, creating effective storage solutions or having a clear desk and floor policy is a great way of reducing hazards and fire risks. This will ensure that fire escape routes are also safer and easier to navigate if a fire does occur and will reduce the number of flammable materials which can increase the spread of fire.

Human Error

We are all only human and errors or misuse can occur and result in a fire. This can often happen as the result of using equipment incorrectly, non-repair of faulty equipment, leaving equipment or cooking food unattended. The important thing in reducing these fire risks is appropriate training and support for staff.

Each of these factors should be considered when assessing your workplace for risks and building an effective risk and fire prevention plan. Staff should also be aware of any plan and the responsibility they have to contribute to reducing risks.