Fire might be man's
oldest friend, but it can still be a deadly enemy too. And in the workplace,
nowhere is that more the case than in manufacturing.
Recent UK Manufacturing Fires
In the early hours
of the morning, on the 11 December 2017, an explosion at the Timet UK metal
smelting plant in Birmingham caused the death of a factory worker.
A few months
earlier in June, the food and drink manufacturer, Princes, suffered a major blaze at their Bradford factory,
one that required 60 firefighters to contain.
And in May, the
Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) factory in Banbury was the location for a fire that necessitated fire crews
from Bicester and Banbury fire stations and fire engines from Warwickshire and
Northamptonshire to bring it under control.
Fire Safety Responsibilities
Despite a fire
safety record in the UK that is healthier today than it was a generation ago,
the above illustrates that blazes do still occur. The responsibility for
stopping them breaking out in the first instance is, under UK law, very much
placed on those in charge.
Under the 2005 The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order,
any person who has some level of control over premises must legally take
reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can safely
escape should one occur.
And What if I Don’t Do Anything?
Well, the short
answer is potential prosecution. Should a fire take place and you, as the
‘person in control’ is suspected of being negligent in your responsibilities,
then depending on the severity of the outcome, the Health & Safety
Executive (HSE) or the Police could choose to investigate.
Prosecutions
And the number of
prosecutions is increasing. In the year to 31 March 2016, for example, the HSE
prosecuted 46 company directors and managers for health and safety violations,
compared to just 12 for the year before. Of these, 12 were sentenced to prison.
What Do I Need to Do?
According to the Order, the ‘person in control’ must:
●
Carry out a fire-risk assessment identifying
any possible dangers and risks
●
Consider who may be especially at
risk
●
Get rid of or reduce the risk from
fire as far as is reasonably possible and provide general fire precautions to
deal with any possible risk left
●
Create a plan to deal with any
emergency and, in most cases, keep a record of the findings
●
Review the findings when necessary
7 Common Fire Safety Risks to Keep in Mind
Taking
Care with Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials
can act as fuel for any fire. If you
don’t have systems and procedures in place, such as safe areas for materials
and activities or a ‘permit to work system’ then it's a very good idea to get
something established. Equally, existing systems can be forgotten in day-to-day
activities, so health and safety staff and fire marshals should be on the
look-out for activities that don’t match up to best practice.
Clean
Up That Dust!
You can’t eliminate
dust entirely but if it settles on surfaces in sufficient volume (often in the
roof) it can reach dangerous levels and become potentially combustible,
resulting in explosion and fire. This can be avoided by adequate ventilation
and by following a regular housekeeping regime.
What’s
the Building Made Of?
The horrifying events at Grenfell Tower have thrown building
construction under the spotlight. Fire Risk Assessments in the past have
sometimes failed to take into account whether the materials used in
construction are suitable. Make sure your assessment takes into account the
material within the structure and also other elements of the building, such as
its design and its occupancy levels.
Can
Employees Use the Equipment Safely?
In 2013-2014 2,000
fires in UK workplaces were caused by a misuse of equipment. To help prevent
this from happening in your business, ensure your staff are trained properly.
It's also a good idea to ensure that safety equipment is available at all
times.
Smoking:
Keep it Under Control
It might be on the
decline nationwide, but smoking is still another common cause of fire in the workplace,
with over a third of deaths in non-domestic buildings being attributed to it.
According to UNISON, employers with 'enclosed
workspaces’ (which have to be smoke free) must by law,
●
display no-smoking signs in
workplaces and work vehicles
●
take reasonable steps to make sure
that staff, customers, members and visitors are aware that they may not smoke
in the premises or in work vehicles
●
make sure that no one smokes on
the premises or in vehicles
Those who don’t
have enclosed workspaces still have a responsibility not to expose their
workers to hazards and must therefore take appropriate steps to prevent or
minimise any risks from smoking.
What To Do What There’s
Change
Updating your risk
assessment is vital. Few businesses remain in a state of stasis and change is
normal. With change can come new risks or alterations to old ones. Whether it's
something like a new extension, the arrival of new machinery or a change in
working practices, the effect on fire safety can be profound.
The Danger of Electricity
Electrical fires
are one of the top five causes of fires in manufacturing plants and can be
created by wiring that is exposed or fitted incorrectly, overloaded outlets,
extension cords, overloaded circuits and machinery left untended.
Ensure that best practice is followed in the
workplace:
●
Don’t overload electrical
equipment or circuits
●
Don’t leave temporary equipment
plugged in when it’s not in use
●
Ensure that qualified
professionals deal with all wiring issues
●
Avoid using extension cords, and
never consider them as long-term solutions
But
Nothing Might Ever Happen?
Even if you’re
lucky enough to not experience a fire, you can still get in trouble if your
fire safety standards are poor. A visit from a local fire officer, as part of a
fire safety audit will check that your fire risk assessment and fire prevention
measures are appropriate. If they are not you can be served with an escalating
list of notices, depending on the risk.
What if I ignore Them?
Well, you could be
fined or go to prison if you don’t follow fire safety regulations. Minor
penalties can be up to £5,000. Major penalties can have unlimited fines and up
to 2 years in prison.
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