FIRE & ELECTRICAL SAFETY


HOWLETT’S TIPS TO AVOID BLAZING ERRORS


The workplace has the potential to be very dangerous, and fire will not only put lives at risk but can literally burn businesses to the ground. Ray Howlett, Director of Howlett Health & Safety Services, explores the most common ways workplace fires occur and offers tips on how to avoid them.


Some people are far too quick to complain about the increasing health and safety concerns at work, and it's often because these people believe that the risk of a fire happening in their workplace is very unlikely. However, whether it’s at home, at work, or anywhere else, the safety of yourself and others is a top priority.


Below are some of the most common causes of workplace fires, but more importantly how they can be prevented.


ELECTRICAL FAULTS When you consider how much we’ve come to rely on technology, and how every industry uses a wide range of electrical appliances every day, you begin to understand how our current lifestyle increases the chances of equipment that we use developing an electrical fault.


Faulty or old equipment, loose or exposed wires, and overloaded plugs are all hazards that can easily go unnoticed. Without the right maintenance, these sorts of problems could easily start a fire and put lives at risk. Taking proper care of equipment and carrying out portable appliance testing (PAT) as required by approved guidance will go a long way to preventing a fire in the workplace.


FLAMMABLE AND


COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS Some businesses use flammable and/ or combustible materials on a daily basis or at least have them on the premises. Every business should treat fire safety as a top priority, but those who use these types of materials should take extra care.


If a fire is caused by or spreads to these materials, it won’t take long for


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it to become unmanageable. Correct storage and disposal is a vital step in preventing this type of fire, and making sure that employees are trained how to handle or use flammable materials in a safe way will go some way in preventing fire related incidents.


EMPLOYEE ERRORS Accidents happen, and mishaps caused by human error are very common in the workplace. Whether it involves the spilling of liquids onto electrical equipment, misuse of hazardous materials, or even burning something in the kitchen, your place of work can be considered by some to be a dangerous place.


A lot of these incidents can be avoided or prevented altogether with the right health and safety training. Every workplace is different and so some businesses may require more advanced training due to their operations. Fire extinguishers for example, should be situated in areas of the building that provide easy access for employees to use if required, and safe to do so provided appropriate training has been given. Carrying out a risk assessment will also help you to highlight some potential hazards that you hadn’t previously thought of.


MISUSE OF EQUIPMENT The misuse of equipment caused over 2000 workplace fires in 2013/2014. To prevent this from happening you should make sure that all staff members are fully trained to operate equipment. You also need to ensure that risk assessments are carried out in the areas where the equipment is being used. This will make sure that, in the event of a fire, there’s as little panic as possible and that everybody is prepared.


SMOKING The workplace can be made even more dangerous when you bring smoking into the equation, especially if flammable or combustible materials are nearby. By failing to put out a cigarette properly, you run the risk of starting a fire which could endanger co-workers, as well as the business as a whole.


By having a smoking area well away from materials that easily burn (fuel), you will make it less likely that this will be your source of causing a fire.


ARSON You may be surprised to see arson on this list, but it’s a lot more common than you would think. Many businesses have suffered massive losses at the hands of arsonists, and it’s crucial to make sure that you do everything possible to reduce the likelihood of it happening to your business. Between 2013/2014 4,950 (25%) of ‘other building’ fires were due to deliberate ignition.


Storing flammable materials where they are difficult to get to, as well as installing security measures and security personnel will act as an effective deterrent. The figure mentioned above has reduced by two thirds over the last decade, which could be attributed to the fact that security measures have become a lot more advanced.


Fire safety is an essential part of health and safety in the workplace, and it’s vital that businesses take every precaution possible to avoid hazards. There are many different ways a fire-based incident can occur, all of which can be prevented by taking the necessary steps to keep your workplace safe.


howletthealthsafetyservices.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com


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