Fire safety is of paramount importance at petrol stations
When it comes to petrol stations, there is a high risk of fire breaking out due to the flammable fuels which are stored in large volumes. This is why these premises have their own set of regulations and requirements in terms of fire safety.
If you work in a petrol station, or are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business, it is necessary to ensure good housekeeping and prevent any untoward incidents from happening. You can go a long way to keeping the business, your staff as well as your customers, safe by keeping a watchful eye out at all times.
Fuel spills can easily be set alight by a stray cigarette or spark so it is necessary to remain attentive to what is going on outside the station itself. If there are any spills, then these need to be dealt with in the correct manner. It is also important to know where the fire extinguishers are kept and how to operate them in an emergency situation.
The above are all things that staff working on-site should know, so it is imperative that they are well trained in fire safety. A ‘Fire Safety in Petrol Stations’ course would be able to give them the level of training needed to be a competent fire warden and covers all of the issues mentioned in this article and more.
Can’t seem to find the right fire training course?
Once you have identified the need to send your employees on an appropriate fire training course, then next step is to trawl through the courses on offer to find one that will give the most benefit to your organisation. However, as there are so many industries and sectors out there, you may wish to take advantage of a bespoke training course tailored to the needs of your business.
It must be pointed out at the outset though, that there are certain things that are legally required across the board in order to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These fire training courses are flexible in that your key areas can be covered.
The areas include things like your evacuation procedures, fire warden training as well as more industry-specific material. You can discuss what you would like the course to contain when you speak with the fire training company.
Whatever kind of course you eventually decide on, you can rest assured that you will be able to benefit from the complete solution to your legal requirements and training that equips your staff with the knowledge and practical skills to keep your business as safe as possible from fire-related risks.
Fire protection system upgrade to Channel Tunnel
It has been reported that the Channel Tunnel is all set to get a major fire safety enhancement within the next year, with one fire protection sprinkler having already been installed.
The fire protection system, which has been developed to use water mist, will cost Eurotunnel £20 million in total.
This new development was given the green light following a huge freight train fire not far from the French coast which occurred back in September 2008.
The sprinklers have been made to cut off the oxygen supply to the fire and thus stop it from spreading any further.
One safe fire extinguishing area has already been installed, with the other three sprinklers due to be put in place inside the Channel Tunnel by the end of 2011.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman of Eurotunnel, has confirmed that the fire protection system has been adapted towards the conditions of a working railway tunnel.
This new equipment will ensure that the Channel Tunnel is in a better position to deal with any fire-related incidents in the future.
If you are the owner of a business and you are unsure that your premises are properly equipped to tackle a fire, then you should consider calling in the professionals to conduct a fire risk assessment on your behalf.
Advice to residential care home owners
If you are responsible for the smooth operations of running a residential care home then it is imperative that you ensure the safety of the elderly and vulnerable people in your care. Many of these people will be disabled and unable to look after themselves so it is crucial that you carry out regular risk assessments on the premises.
A ‘Fire Safety in Residential Care Homes’ course is also something that you should really consider for the training of your staff. It is one thing to be trained in providing care and assistance to those living in these types of establishments but another to understand the complexities of an emergency evacuation or other dangerous situation.
These training courses are delivered for those working in this particular industry and so will be tailored to working in care homes and how to deal with people suffering from various conditions in the event of a fire or evacuation procedure.
As well as highlighting the standard procedures that should be followed during a safe evacuation, your staff will also find out more about reducing the level of risk in the care home and using the fire-fighting equipment available to them in an emergency. Evacuation Chair training is another area covered in the course.
Fire safety initiative arrives in Dumfries
The nationwide fire safety show which has been going round Scotland to try and educate people about the very real threat posed by house fires has now reached Dumfries and Galloway.
Shoppers at Loreburne Shopping Centre came face to face with the burnt out remains of a home ravaged by fire as fire crews adopted serious measures to urge people to protect their properties against the risk of fire.
The region has suffered from a high number of house fires over the last few years and so it is hoped that this initiative will encourage people to install fire alarms in their homes.
Firefighters were ready to offer advice on fire safety to those passing by the stand and also gave people the chance to benefit from a free home visit from the fire service to check for hazards and fit smoke alarms if needed.
Fergus Ewing, the community safety minister, said:
“The Scottish Government and Fire Services are working hard to educate people about the dangers of fire.
“The most important message we would give is to not be complacent, always be on your guard, and to regularly check your smoke alarm to ensure that it is in working order – it can save lives.
“This tour will take this vital safety message directly out into Dumfries and Galloway communities, offering people practical advice on how they can keep their homes and families safe from fire.”