Building establishment must do a fire safety risk assessment and keep it up dated.

Based on the assessment, employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are

in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.

To prevent fire in the workplace, your risk assessment should identify what could cause a fire to start, ie

sources of ignition and substances that burn, and the people who may be at risk.

As soon as you have identified the risks, you can take proper action to control them. Consider whether

you can avoid them altogether or, if this is not possible, how you can reduce the risks and manage them.

Also consider how you will protect people if there is a fire.

ï‚· Carry out a fire safety risk assessment

ï‚· Have the correct fire-fighting equipment for putting a fire out quickly

ï‚· Review and update your risk assessment regularly

ï‚· Avoid accidental fires, eg make sure heaters cannot be knocked over

ï‚· Keep fire exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed at all times

ï‚· Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart

ï‚· Ensure good housekeeping at all times, eg avoid build-up of rubbish that could burn

ï‚· Consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start, eg installing smoke

alarms and fire alarms or bells

ï‚· Ensure your workers receive appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including

fire drills

High risk substances that cause fire and explosion. Work which involves the storage, use or creation of

chemicals, vapours, dusts etc that can readily burn or explode is hazardous. Each year people are injured

at work by flammable substances accidentally catching fire or exploding.

The hazards. Substances found in the workplace can cause fires or explosions. These range from the

obvious, eg flammable chemicals, petrol, cellulose paint thinners and welding gases, to the less obvious –

engine oil, grease, packaging materials, dusts from wood, flour and sugar.

It is important to be aware of the risks and to control or get rid of them to prevent accidents.