The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is urging businesses not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace.
The call comes as part of the NFCC Business Safety Week which runs from 5 – 11 September.
The campaign aims to make businesses aware of their fire safety responsibilities, so that they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire.
Many businesses had to close their doors or change their ways of working during the pandemic.
But now that they are open again, business owners and Responsible Persons (RPs) may need to again review Fire Risk Assessments to reflect any changes they have made in response to the pandemic in the workplace.
During the last ten years (1 Jan 2012– 31 Dec 2021), there were more than 11,300 fires in business premises in the HWFRS area, an average of 1,131 per year and 94 per month, with the most common cause being accidental fires.
These accounted for almost 47% of fire incidents. In the same period, the Service attended in excess of 19,000 False Alarms.
There were more than 4,700 deliberate fires in businesses in the UK in 2019-20, and most attacks are unplanned and opportunist crimes.
So, it is imperative that steps are taken to ensure staff are suitably trained and that fire equipment is checked and maintained.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service can provide free help, advice and guidance to help minimise the risk of fire in the workplace.
Advice is available on our website www.hwfire.org.uk/safety-and-advice/business-safety/
and you can also get in touch with our Business Fire Safety team at Service Headquarters in Worcester tel: 0808 196 9500, or emailing info@hwfire.org.uk.
The advice is available throughout the year, but the campaign week of action is encouraging people not to delay reviewing fire safety.
Advice is also available to businesses on reducing the risk of arson by taking simple steps to protect premises.
Group Commander Thom Morgan, of the HWFRS Protection Department, said:
“Business safety week is an invaluable opportunity for local small and medium sized businesses to work with us to make sure they are complying with fire safety law and to reduce their risk of fire.
“Many businesses will be seeing significant challenges at the moment due to the economic climate which could have an impact on their fire safety in the workplace. So although this week is a chance to catch up on their fire safety, we are here to support them throughout the year, not just during this campaign.
“With so many callouts being false alarms, which have an impact on business productivity and on fire service resources and time, this is a chance to drive these down and help reduce pressures on businesses and free us up to deal with genuine emergencies and community prevention and protection activities.”
Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC’s Chair for Protection and Business Safety, said:
“Fire and rescue services are committed to helping all types of businesses reduce the risk of fire in the workplace and be compliant with fire safety law. We don’t expect businesses to be experts – that’s’ why we are here to provide help and advice.
“We encourage any business to work with their fire service to help prevent fires to help them remain productive, safe and legal.”