Whether your business is a manufacturing plant, retail store, or warehouse, it will have common fire hazards that can pose a risk to property and employees and disrupt operations. Let’s look at six of the most common.
1. Flammable materials storage
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require any risks from indoor storage of dangerous substances to be controlled.
When flammable materials such as gases and liquids are incorrectly stored, they can easily ignite, causing a fire. To avoid this, they should be correctly labelled and stored in fire-resistant cabinets.
2. Blocked fire exits
Safe evacuation is vital for any business, which includes keeping fire exits clear and accessible. If you want more advice and are looking for fire risk assessment Northamptonshire, companies such as isefireproducts.co.uk/fire-risk-assessments/northamptonshire can help.
3. Faulty wiring
Electrical fires are a common cause of incidents in the workplace, often due to damaged wiring or overloaded circuits.
4. Faulty fire safety equipment
Regular maintenance of fire extinguishers, alarms, and sprinkler systems is essential to keep them in working order. You should keep detailed records of any inspections and maintenance checks.
5. Poor housekeeping
A build-up of waste materials, clutter, and debris acts as fuel, especially in factories and warehouses. Having a strict housekeeping policy and regular disposal can mitigate this.
6. Unchecked electrical appliances
All electrical appliances used at a business, including computers, printers, and kitchen equipment such as kettles, need to be regularly inspected for damage and replaced if any is found. They should also be regularly serviced.
About the Author
