Date: 30th August, 2016
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be offering local businesses safety advice to share with their staff during UK Business Safety Week.
Organised by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the campaign will run 5-11 September.
The aim is to help businesses to manage their fire risks and hazards, potentially saving lives and safeguarding against financial and commercial loss. The importance of evacuation plans will also be a key message.
In addition, many businesses are about to recruit additional seasonal staff for the run-up to Christmas. These new recruits may not have the same level of fire safety awareness as permanent members of staff, and may not be aware of the steps needed to protect themselves, their customers and colleagues.
Station Manager Mike Bagnall said: “Fire can cause major disruption for businesses – there is a far greater chance of recovery if risks have been identified, and appropriate arrangements have been put in place to prevent fires starting or to mitigate their impact.”
The technical fire safety team based in Salisbury will be running the following events during Business Safety Week:
- Drop-in information session at Trowbridge fire station – Monday 5 September, 10am to 3pm
- Drop-in information session at Salisbury fire station – Tuesday 6 September, 10am to 3pm
- Drop-in information session at Shaftesbury fire station – Wednesday 7 September, 10am to 3pm
- Evacuation exercise and fire safety presentation at a Salisbury nursing home on 8 September.
In addition, the team will be visiting businesses in these three towns to provide information about risk assessments and the legal requirements around fire safety.
Station Manager Bagnall added: “Business Safety Week is a reminder to businesses that the Fire and Rescue Service is here to offer advice and help on making the workplace safe from fire. Not complying with the law can lead to financial penalties or, if the worst happens, loss of livelihoods and even lives.”
The Service will also be taking the opportunity to highlight Fire Door Safety Week, which will run from 26 September to 2 October.
Fire doors are a crucial part of the passive fire protection of every commercial, public and multiple occupancy building. They are often the first line of defence in a fire, and their correct specification, maintenance and management can be the difference between life and death for building occupants.
However, fire doors are often the first thing to be downgraded on a specification and mismanaged throughout their service life, propped open, damaged and badly maintained.
Fire Door Safety Week will aim to:
- Raise awareness of the critical role of fire doors, drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance;
- Encourage building owners and users to check the operation and condition of their fire doors and to report those that aren’t satisfactory;
- Link together the initiatives of many organisations with common interests in the fire door and passive fire protection industries; and
- Engage and educate people, helping the whole building industry and every property owner to understand the correct specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of fire doors.
A wide range of fire safety information for businesses can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/your-business