Fire risk assessment checklist - SSS Industrial Doors

1. Fire hazards

First things first, you need to make note of any fire hazards around your premises. Look out for heat and electrical sources, as well as anything that could be in danger of overheating. Typical fires start from accelerated burning from sources of ignition (heat). Things that contribute to rapid acceleration are: enough oxygen for fires to breathe, fuel, or anything that can burn meeting those sources of heat. 

Sources of heat to look out for

It’s important to do continual check-ups on what sources of heat you have around and to keep them apart from sources of fuel (anything that can burn) to avoid dangerous fires. Do a checklist on any sources of heat, so you can monitor the vicinity and materials around them. For instance, do you have:

• Electrical appliances
• Naked flames
• Lighting
• Heaters
• Gas stoves
• Matches, lighters and cigarettes
• Igniting or sparking processes, such as melting, welding and grinding

Keep sources of fuel away from sources of heat

You then need to make sure you are vigilant in keeping materials that can burn easily away from any ignition sources. Things such as:

• Cardboard, paper and packaging
• Highly flammable substances and aerosols
• Furniture, clothing and fabrics
• Popular commercial materials like plastic, rubber, wood, polystyrene etc. 
• Check walls and interior for flammable materials – can they easily burn and spread a fire?

Make sure to check indoors and outdoors when making notes of any fire hazards, updating checklists and records whenever you refurbish too. Consider adding fire shutters to further reduce risk of fires.

2. People at risk

Next, you will need to record in your fire risk assessment who exactly is at risk. And when it comes to fires, that’s simply everyone. Here is where you consider who could be especially more at risk in certain areas, for instance, for fire exits is it wheelchair accessible? You also need to assess who is more at risk due to vulnerability and shift work, e.g. people who work night shifts and longer hours. Have you taken into account visitors, customers and those not familiar with your premises? 

3. Evaluate and act

This step is where you take action after analysing the steps preceding. From the notes and assessment of: who may be more vulnerable or more at risk, what materials you have on premises and what sources of ignition there are, you should round this up into an action plan to reduce those risks.

Avoiding a fire

Questions to think about from your walk around the premises:

• How close are fuel sources to heat sources?
• Can any heat sources be easily pushed or knocked into something that would burn or vice versa?
• Do the tasks and activities staff undergo involve ignition or heat processes?
• Is the building, its walls, exterior and interior made of easily flammable materials?
• Do you have steel fire doors?
• What do you know about nearby buildings and areas in terms of their fire risks?

Protecting

An action plan should take into account all risks you’ve acknowledged and how you will eradicate or reduce them, to help protect your staff, visitors and property. Once you’ve assessed and covered the basics of keeping sources of fuel and heat or sparks apart, you need to think about whether deliberate fires can be easily started or rather can they be easily prevented? For example, what could someone use around them, any highly flammable substances? Are they locked away? Basically, make sure your premises are not a dreamland for arsonists. 

If a fire starts

Important fire safety questions to answer:

• How will you or anyone inside or outside the building be warned?
• How will you ensure everyone’s safety?
• Is there a designated fire safety leader, i.e. will they call fire services, will they lead the procedure?
• Do you have a fire procedure, will staff and visitors know where to assemble or exit?
• How regularly are staff trained on fire safety and procedures, can they use specific fire safety equipment – for instance, handling fire curtains?
• Are exits and escape routes clear at all times and accessible for all during the night as well as day?

4. Record, plan and train

You need to compile all your notes into a record to refer to and work from – this is where a handy checklist comes in. Here, you’ll have the sections that show notes on any fire hazards you’ve detected and what you have done to address them. You should always be making notes of any hazards and recording down what you have done to reduce or remove them.

Planning

You’ll also need a record of a plan that shows extremely careful thought on what happens if a fire breaks out, as well as how to prevent a fire. It should answer those crucial questions of how you intend to keep people safe in case of a fire, how everyone can escape and how easy it is for them to do so. If you share a building, you need to make sure that all separate plans are fully coordinated.

Training

Staff should be regularly trained and updated on company fire safety procedures and policies. Will they know what to do if a fire breaks out, and if there are certain roles, are they designated? Do you hold frequent discussions with staff to analyse fire safety and retrain roles? Do you carry out regular fire drills to practise these roles and procedures? Again you need to ensure you have consulted others and included them in training and procedures if you share a building. 

5. Review

It cannot be stressed enough that you need to keep regularly reviewing your fire safety checks and training. Companies evolve, grow, move or simply refurbish, which can modify fire hazards or bring new ones. Keep recording and note any changes as well as always updating staff and those you may share premises with. Retrain staff and redesignate roles if you need to and make sure all are aware and clear on those roles. It may be a good idea to plan out regular fire drills to help with training and continual evaluation. Also, check fire safety equipment and whether they work, include these checks in your regular fire drills. 

Once you’ve gone through all the checklist, and kept a record of it with all notes, you should set reminders in diaries and calendars to go over any training, fire drills and to scan your premises regularly. That way, you’ll always be on top of fire safety and can reassure staff and inspectors. If you’re unsure what fire safety equipment your business needs, speak to us – we have a wealth of experience and have been helping businesses with their fire safety for years.