Fire Prevention Week: Don’t risk letting it all go up in flames…

Here’s a scary statistic from the Fire and Rescue Service*: when a serious fire occurs, one business in four NEVER manages to re-open. 

It’s not just the potential damage to your staff, customers and premises you need to worry about – it’s the actual future of your own operation. 

So as it’s Fire Prevention Week in the U.S. and other parts of the world, we thought it was a great opportunity to remind you about how to build confidence in your own fire safety.

Carrying out regular fire risk assessments ensures your place of work has the best measures in place to safeguard everyone from fire risks wherever possible.

These assessments are also a key part of complying with fire safety legislation and guidance – and there are costly legal consequences if any injuries arise as a result of negligence. 

Feeling concerned? You should be – this is serious stuff! 

But although you should always bear fire risk in mind, you don’t need to feel anxious about it. With the advice of our Bison experts, it’s easy to put fire prevention measures in place that not keep you fully compliant with the regulations, but also make sure your workplace is a safe place to be.

Who’s responsible in your business?

Whether you are an employer or a landlord, you have responsibilities when it comes to fire risk (it’s important to know that the regulations are slightly different if your business is in Scotland).

If you’re an employer, it’s ultimately your job to protect the safety of your employees in case of fire, even where others have obligations relating to the premises. It’s obligatory for you to carry out a Fire Safety Risk Assessment every year and keep accurate records of the findings.

You need to manage, prevent or control any risks of fire, and identify and assess sources of risk even if they are caused by trespassers. For example, could poor security mean someone can break in and a fire starts?

Residential landlords also have fire risk obligations, with the sector coming under particular scrutiny since the terrible Grenfell tower block disaster.

If that all sounds like a lot to think about, you’re right – and that’s where our Bison experts come in. With their professional knowledge and up-to-date understanding of current legislation they visit once a year to advise and guide you easily through the process.

Chris Hickman, CEO of Bison, says: “Your friendly Bison fire risk expert tours your premises on an unobtrusive visit to spot any hazards and help you put measures in place to control them.

“Legislation evolves all the time, so it’s our job to take the effort out of staying current and offer practical tips and recommendations to protect your workplace. And a Bison isn’t just for once-a-year visits – we’re on hand whenever you have further queries.”

Bison also offer convenient e-learning courses for employers and landlords keen to improve their fire awareness.

Chris says: “We read all too often in the news about businesses devastated by fire – for example, just a few months ago a Nottingham business lost its entire premises, tens of thousands of pounds worth of stock, and four years of hard work in a catastrophic blaze.

“Fires do happen, and the cost is often terrible – at their worst, even human lives are lost. So it makes absolute sense to be wise and work hard to mitigate any risks. Protect your people, protect your livelihood and protect yourself legally – bring in a Bison!”

*Source: Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

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