The possibility of a fire is always lurking. Identifying and extinguishing a fire can take a long time in storage areas and warehouses, due to their large size and sometimes isolated location.
A fire can quickly grow, sweeping through your building and engulfing everything inside it. You would have to deal with not only the physical loss of a building and its contents, but also any possible interruptions or lapses in business operations. The following tips can serve as a starting point for your warehouse and storage area fire-prevention plan:
• Fire safety legislation – Carry out a risk assessment in accordance with the applicable fire safety legislation—Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland, and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
• Storage arrangements – Provide clearly defined storage arrangements that separate flammable and dangerous substances.
• Electrics – Install and maintain all electrics in accordance with the relevant legislation. Schedule regular inspection and testing by a knowledgeable electrical contractor.
• Space heating – Refrain from using all types of portable heating in favour of fixed heating systems that carry a smaller fire risk.
• Waste removal – Remember to remove waste materials at the end of each working day and place them in rubbish bins located at least 10 metres from your building and at least 2 metres from your site’s boundary.
• No smoking – Prohibit smoking throughout your premises to comply with smoke-free legislation.
• Fire safety procedures – Create a fire safety plan and train all employees how to follow it in the event of a fire.
Fire safety is a vital aspect of any safe workplace. Bollington Risk Management has all the fire prevention resources you need to extinguish the fire risk in your business’s storage areas or warehouses.
