The onset of winter means many workplaces will be turning up the heat this month, so it's a good time to tackle the subject of fire safety and make sure your employees are suitably prepared.

The Fire Statistics Monitor recorded 21,000 non-domestic building fires in the UK between April 2010 and March 2011. According to the HSE, around 100 of these would have been major warehouse fires.

Fire kills
As a consequence of these 21,000 fires there were 109 fatalities and many more injuries.

Fire destroys
Fire can cause hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage, so it is vital that your employees understand the risks and know what to do in an emergency.

Things that may start or contribute to a fire include:

• Overloaded sockets
• Flammable liquids/residues/vapours
• Combustible items e.g. packaging, process waste
• Covered/dusty/poorly maintained heaters
• Sparking or igniting tools
• Faulty electrics
• Incorrectly handled gas cylinders
• Cigarettes/smoking materials

Other potential problems include:

• Blocked fire exits/escape routes
• Missing/absent fire extinguishers
• Incorrect storage of flammables/combustibles
• Build-ups of combustible waste
• Lack of fire safety comprehension
• Trailing cables, which may impede escape

Your employees should know:

• How to prevent fires from starting
• How to report/deal with fire risks
• How to work safely with flammables/combustibles
• What to do if they discover a fire
• How to sound the fire alarm
• Who their fire officers are (if applicable)
• Where the fire extinguishers are located
• When and how to operate each extinguisher safely
• Where their nearest fire exit is
• Where their outside assembly point is

A sound knowledge of safety precautions should prevent the majority of fires from occurring in the first place. However, if the worst should happen, it's important that your employees know exactly what to do. Though this information varies from one workplace to another, the principle of reminding your employees to test this knowledge remains the same.

In addition, employers should carry out a fire drill at least once a year, or more often if you have had a high turnover of staff.

Kodiak's motivational poster programme regularly tackles issues relating to fire safety. These include fire prevention, fire procedures and fire risk assessment.

If you would like to find out more about our posters and how they can help make sure your employees know the drill, please contact us.

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