To comply with UK health and safety regulations, most workplaces are obliged to carry out a fire risk assessment – an essential precaution given the serious threat fire can present. Many companies cannot continue trading after a severe fire, and organisations that operate from single premises are particularly vulnerable. There are five steps to a fire risk assessment:
- Identify people at risk in the case of a fire
- Identify potential fire hazards
- Evaluate the risk and decide if existing safety measures are adequate
- Record fire safety risk assessment information
- Review fire safety risk assessment
Workplace fire safety
There are a number of key areas to check when assessing the risk of an office fire. Main causes can often include:
- Electricity – frayed, broken or cracked cables should be disconnected promptly and replaced
- Rubbish and waste material, or combustible material (paper and boxes, for example) – fire can spread quickly through such material and it should be stored appropriately
- Smoking – casually discarded cigarettes or matches are still one of the major causes of fire, both at work and at home
- Cooking – kitchens in offices are often overlooked as potential fire risks
- Heating appliances – portable heaters can be hazardous when placed next to furniture
- Highly combustible materials – care should be taken when using and storing flammable liquids, glues and solvents
Nobody wants their business to suffer because of a fire. By taking office fire safety seriously, you are doing everything you can to help reduce the risk to your company.
Find the right protection for your business
Hiscox Office Contents and Building Insurance offers protection against loss and damage, and Business Interruption Cover can be added on to your policy to help keep your business running in the event of unforeseen circumstances. More information about Hiscox Office Insurance >
Useful resources
Identifying fire risks in your office >
