Fire Risk Assessment Reviews

Once you have completed your fire risk assessment, addressed the significant findings, carried out your training and evacuation drills then logged everything in your fire logbook and put your feet up, then it’s probably gotten back round to the time for you to review your assessment.

There are no hard and fast rules for time scales in which to do this but most people would be looking to work on an annual review basis. This will vary by premises but a company with high-risk production processes or an expanding workforce and continually developing work site will be looking to review their fire risk assessment on a much more frequent basis than the small low-risk office block.

Whatever the size of your business your current Fire risk assessment should have identified an appropriate review period for you to revisit your original document and update it as necessary. So don’t delay, do it today because it will take less time than you think and it will be a lot less painful than a fire safety audit by the local fire authority.

Fire Risk Assessments – Sheffield Sheffield Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments – Leeds Leeds Fire Risk Assessments

Avoiding Electrical Fires: South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

When carrying out fire risk assessments time after time we come across the misuse of electricity and electrical items.

This video posted by South Yorkshire fire and rescue gives simple straight forward advice to help avoid electrical fires:

Fire Risk Assessments – Sheffield

Fire Risk Assessments – Leeds

Disregard for Fire Safety Puts Diner’s Lives at Risk

A restaurant in Devon is undergoing prosecution after failing to meet fire safety guidelines. The offences highlight a failure ‘to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks’ and effective planning.

They also point to inadequate means of escape, fire doors wedged open, combustibles stored by the escape, no up-to-date log books, faulty fire alarm, and employees not having safety training.

Read the full article: https://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/exeter-restaurant-put-diners-lives-3382294

Charging Electrical Items Overnight

Further to last week’s blog post, we have found a video highlighting the hazards of charging electrical items overnight.

Wherever possible, charging your devices should be undertaken whilst you are present in case anything should go wrong. Using the branded charging plug helps to reduce risk, and workplaces should strongly consider PAT testing to ensure that all devices are safe for use. No method is fool-proof, but these two measures can help to reduce risk.

Have a good weekend!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygpFYaLwQyM

Charging Electrical Items: An Unexpected Fire Hazard

When conducting a fire risk assessment, identifying potential sources of ignition is one aspect that is equally applicable to the work or the home environment.

Charging electrical items is an everyday task that does not involve much thought. Unfortunately, this is a process that often has unpleasant results.

There have been a number of fires in recent years caused by charging electrical items. The cause may be due to the use of non-manufacturer supplied chargers or simply a fault in the equipment itself but the end result could be a fire that severely damages your workplace or home.

The answer to the problem is relatively simple: where possible always use manufacturer supplied chargers, don’t overload your electrical sockets and, if using an extension cord, ensure it meets the relevant British standard.

Be aware of your battery levels and plan when you might need to recharge your appliance. Ensure you will be around when you charge your electrical items, then, if anything happens, you can be on hand to deal with it.

Notre Dame

Planning is one of the keys to good fire safety as was demonstrated by the events in Paris a month ago with the fire that broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral. I visited last week and saw it first hand.

On the surface, the incident appears to be a disaster with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of damage but without the risk assessments and pre-planned salvage exercises and drills, it could have been far worse.

Your business provides an income and livelihood for yourself, your family and maybe a number of employees so reviewing your policies and procedures on a regular basis is not only a legal requirement it’s to protect the important things.

Fire Risk Assessment for Sheltered Housing Project

We carried out an interesting Fire risk assessment a few weeks ago for the manager of a sheltered housing project. They had been served with an action plan notice by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
The residents live independently in their own flat within the house, they have the facility to do some light cooking but are provided with all their meals in the communal dining room.
Referencing the specialist housing guide we provided a person-centered fire risk assessment which addressed the issues raised by the fire authority and helped the responsible person clearly identify how to stay compliant in the future.
As always stay safe and have a good bank holiday weekend.

Helping Manage Fire Safety at Sheffield Manor Castle

Our work this week included helping out our partner, the community interest company Green Estates, who manage the Sheffield Manor site and needed to renew their license for the Turret House as a marriage venue.
This lodge was built in the 1500’s by the Earl of Shrewsbury in the then Deer Park. Constructed as a hunting lodge come observation tower it had far-ranging views over the surrounding countryside.
Sheffield Manor castle is also famous for holding Mary Queen of Scots prisoner as well as Cardinal Wolsey. Today the Turret house is the only building left fully intact on the manor house site and is well worth a visit on one of the open days.