When you run a business, there’s always a lot to juggle. Whether it’s finances, operations, staffing, or the customer experience. And that’s the same regardless of your industry, whether you’re selling to the public or other companies, and whether you’re a big operation or a small corner shop. There may be areas that you can make do, or where just ok is good enough. Your office furniture, maybe. It does the job. However, one of the areas you absolutely can’t afford to overlook is fire safety.
Whether you manage a small high street shop or a sprawling office complex, having the correct fire extinguishers and ensuring your team is trained in fire safety isn’t just a smart move – it’s a legal and financial necessity.
Having the right fire extinguisher is the Law
First and foremost, UK law requires all businesses to have appropriate fire safety measures in place. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, employers, owners or occupiers of business premises are designated as the “Responsible Person.” As such, the Responsible Person is legally obliged to:
- Carry out a fire risk assessment.
- Implement appropriate fire safety measures.
- Ensure staff are trained on what to do in the event of a fire.
- Provide and maintain suitable fire-fighting equipment, such as fire extinguishers.
Failure to comply can lead to prosecution, hefty fines or even imprisonment. In serious cases, it could result in the forced closure of your business. In even more serious cases, it could lead to the colossal financial and personal losses – or even worse – usually associated with a fire.
Fire Safety – That’s an Order
The FSO revolutionised the way fire safety is managed, moving towards a risk-based approach, including:
- Responsibility: Responsible Persons are obliged to take reasonable steps to reduce fire risk and ensure safe evacuation.
- Risk Assessment: Responsible Persons must undertake fire risk assessments to identify, manage, and reduce fire hazards.
- Scope: The FSO applies to almost all buildings and places, excluding individual private homes.
- Enforcement: The fire and rescue service enforce the FSO and can take action if Responsible Persons fail to comply.
- Fire Safety Measures: The FSO requires that measures must be taken to reduce fire risk, ensure safe escape routes, detect fires, and take correct action if needed.
- Fire Safety England Regulations: The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, made under the FSO, provide further guidance and specific requirements for fire safety in blocks of flats, including those relating to fire safety management, building owners, and managers.
What the Fire Safety Order Requires:
- Risk Assessments: Identifying fire hazards, assessing risks, and implementing measures to reduce or control those risks.
- Fire Safety Management: Developing and implementing a fire safety management system, including emergency procedures, training, and regular checks.
- Safe Escape: Ensuring that means of escape are adequate, well-maintained, and that people can escape safely in the event of a fire.
- Fire Detection and Alarm Systems: Implementing fire detection and alarm systems that are appropriate for the premises and regularly maintained.
- Fire-Fighting Equipment: Providing appropriate fire-fighting equipment, such as extinguishers, and ensuring they are accessible and properly maintained.
- Training and Competence: Providing adequate fire safety training to employees and ensuring there are competent persons responsible for fire safety.
- Fire Safety Information: Sharing fire safety information between Responsible Persons and with relevant personnel involved in fire safety.
Health, Safety, and Peace of Mind
Beyond the legal requirements, proper fire safety measures are essential for the health and wellbeing of your team, customers and visitors. The right type of fire extinguisher – whether it’s for electrical fires, flammable liquids, or cooking oils, for example – can make a huge difference in containing a small incident before it escalates. The wrong type, however, could be catastrophic.
Just as critical is knowing how and when to use this fire safety equipment. Fire safety training empowers your staff to respond quickly and calmly in a crisis, reducing panic and potentially saving lives. Regular fire drills, clear evacuation routes, and up-to-date fire safety knowledge all contribute to a safer working environment. Knowledge is power – and that power could save your business (and your bacon).
Insurance Compliance and Financial Protection
Did you know that many commercial insurance policies require businesses to have fire safety measures in place? Those fire safety measure include the siting of correct fire extinguishers, in the correct quantity for the size of premises, and regular servicing of those fire extinguishers. An out-of-date extinguisher. Or one which hasn’t been serviced, could be useless – or even dangerous. Staff would also be required to have basic fire safety training. In the unfortunate event of a fire, your insurer may not pay out if you’ve failed to meet your fire safety obligations. Far be it from us to imply that some insurers will always look for a get-out clause, but…
Protecting your premises also means protecting your livelihood. Fires can devastate not just buildings, but stock, equipment, data and other critical assets. A well-placed extinguisher and a properly trained team could make all the difference. That’s the difference between a minor disruption and a major disaster. And fire disasters can be very, very major indeed.
A Vital Investment in Your Business
Ultimately, fire safety is about taking care of your people and protecting what you’ve worked hard to build. Taking the time to assess risks, install the right equipment, and ensure staff are trained isn’t merely another cost to roll your eyes about. It’s an investment in your business.
And it doesn’t have to be complicated. We can take care of it for you. As professional fire safety providers, right here in Cheshire, and covering the whole area, we can help with assessments, supply the right extinguishers, and deliver training tailored to your business type and size.
Get in Touch with the Cheshire Fire Extinguisher Specialists
Ok, so fire extinguishers and fire safety might not seem the most interesting part of running your business, but they’re certainly amongst the most important. Staying compliant with UK law, protecting your people and assets, and meeting the requirements for the insurance companies all start with the basics: the right fire extinguishers, in the right places, serviced regularly – and proper training.
So, if you haven’t reviewed your fire safety measures recently, now’s the time. Right now. You can’t afford to put it off. Because, when it comes to fires in the workplace, prevention really is better than cure.