Keeping a log book for your records
It is important for anybody who takes responsibility for a company’s fire safety procedures to keep track of all events and actions taken. This is not only necessary to comply with current regulations, but also helps to provide useful information to staff.
Every time you test the fire alarms on your business premises it is imperative that this is documented and the details are taken down in a log book. This can be used as evidence that all records have been kept up to date and contains descriptions of your actions should any event occur in the future.
When it comes to fire safety procedures in the workplace, a log book is an essential requirement and whenever you test any fire fighting equipment, this should also be logged in the book. Even false alarms and other system maintenance issues need to be documented. As part of the Regulatory Reform Order, this information may be required by your insurance company in the event of an incident.
If you are the person responsible for maintaining this log book, you will need to keep records of any tests and maintenance carried out along with dates and times, plus any additional information surrounding any false alarm and defects relating to the fire equipment.
Because of the seriousness of this task, it is necessary for the fire safety representative on your site to undertake fire marshall training. This will ensure you meet legal requirements and put responsibility in the hands of someone who has the knowledge to carry out such an important role.
Process fire precautions in the workplace
Under current regulations an employer is primarily responsible for ensuring that all their workers can perform their job in a place where any risks to their health and safety are appropriately controlled. However, both parties are legally responsible for ensuring that the workplace is a healthy and safe environment to work.
The Health and Safety Executive is concerned with the special work process fire precautions which are required in the workplace. This includes anything connected with the nature of the work being carried out and the storage of materials relating to the processes being carried out there.
These processes are necessary in order to reduce the chances of a fire breaking out on the premises, and if such an event does happen, to minimise its impact and to stop it spreading any further.
There are quite a number of process fire precautions in the workplace. These include; the storing of flammable liquids in working areas, the appropriate installation of ventilation and extraction systems and processes relating to the selection of equipment.
Process fire precautions are enforced by local authorities or the HSE to ensure that businesses adhere to all fire safety regulations. If your company is in need of a Fire Risk Assessment to be carried out on your premises then make sure you get in touch with fire safety professionals who run a Fire Risk Assessors Course to train your staff in the competency of undertaking such a task.
Fire Warden Training – Leeds
Very well presented, clear and easy to understand – HG
The course was informative and was made much more interesting by having Richie present the course, the course was relevant and informative, it was straight to the point and did not give unnecessary information – LR
Presentation was good presenter was knowlegable and friendly, training was extremley relevant, training videos were extremley poinient – MM
Good use of real life examples whihc brought serious messages home – KE
Great course, thank you very much, not boring at all really informative, brilliant!! Really enjoyed today feel confident now in what to do if I discover a fire – MM
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Fire crews tackle severe solvents factory fire
It was reported that around 80 firefighters were required to keep a fire under control at Solvents for Safety in Harworth, near the Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire border last week.
Fire crews arrived at about 18:45 on Wednesday evening to tackle the blaze and worked through the night at the solvents factory on the Plumtree Industrial Estate. Eyewitnesses described scenes of exploding containers and thick smoke.
There were no reported injuries although a number of residents who lived close to the building had to be evacuated because of the hazardous nature of the materials, while others were told to keep their windows closed until the smoke had cleared.
Craig Holmes, the station manager, described the delicate situation when he said:
“After consulting with hazardous materials officers we decided the best course of action would be to adopt a defensive role.
“That is not applying water on to the fire for the simple reason of the environmental impact from the water run-off would have been more damaging than the fire itself.”
The impact on the environment is currently under evaluation, while investigators are hoping to find the cause of the fire, once the structure of the building has been deemed safe enough to do so.
Be fire-safe and ‘push the button’
A DirectGov initiative has been launched to get homeowners in the UK to become more aware of the dangers of not checking their fire alarms. The campaign has been backed by a long list of celebrities who have pledged to support the national fire safety plea to test their fire alarms every week.
It is an area often ignored by people that if a smoke alarm has not been installed in their home then the likelihood of them dying in a fire more than doubles. This is why this life saving equipment should be tested regularly in all domestic and commercial property to ensure the alarm is kept in full working order and that it is able to alert the inhabitants in the event of a fire.
A fire alarm can give you ample time to evacuate the building and this can be the difference between life and death. The celebrities who are in support of the ‘push the button’ campaign include Ainsley Harriott, Jill Halfpenny, Sir Terry Wogan and Darren Campbell.
Boxing champion Amir Khan is another star who has put their name to this important campaign. He said:
“It’s so easy to become complacent and forget to test your smoke alarms on a weekly basis, but it’s this simple step that can really make the difference between life and death. It’s so important that we take fire safety seriously – I pledge to test my smoke alarms on a weekly basis, to always turn off plugs and to never overload sockets.”
It is imperative that fire awareness is taken seriously, and initiatives such as this one can help to drill the point home that these devices, which are not expensive and simple to obtain, should be installed in every home and business.
If you have a company that could benefit from fire training and advice, then be sure to get in touch with the professionals today and protect your business from the threat of fire.