Pictured above are some of the bookets and manuals available to businesses - scroll down for links.

30 July 2009

With everyone hoping for hot and dry weather in August, firefighters are urging businesses to make sure their offices and warehouses are protected from fire. 

In recent weeks, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has attended a number of deliberately-started fires outside premises on industrial estates.

Community safety manager Terry Ridgley said: “Three-quarters of businesses that suffer a serious fire do not recover at all and go out of business, resulting in significant job losses which in turn affect local communities and neighbouring businesses.

“Arson attacks on businesses also pose a major risk of injury or death, not only to staff but also to attending fire crews.

“Most deliberate fires affecting businesses start outside the premises. They are often started by opportunists who light their fires with anything readily to hand, including rubbish, packaging and waste in open skips.”

Terry is advising businesses to make sure refuse and stored material of any kind is not be kept next to fences or walls where it could be set alight from outside. Firms should keep refuse in locked skips and site them away from the building.

Make sure extinguishers, hose-reels, alarms, detectors and sprinklers are in good working order and protected against tampering. 

Secure the building at the end of each working day by checking that:

• All doors and windows are secure
  
  
• No combustible material is left lying around
  
  
• No unauthorised people are on the premises
  
  
• Alarms are switched on and appropriate security lighting provided
  
  
• Any flammable liquids are locked away

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has a number of downloadable booklets and manuals available to help businesses reduce fire risks and understand their responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Click on the links below.

Entry-level leaflet explaining what needs to be done to comply with the law:
A short guide to making your premises safe from fire – in English, Chinese, Gujarati, Turkish, Urdu and Welsh

Fire risk reduction manuals for businesses and schools:
Keep Your Business In Business
Keep Your School In Business

Fire safety risk assessments for:
Animal premises and stables
Educational premises
Factories and warehouses
Healthcare premises
Large places of assembly
Offices and shops
Open air events and venues
Premises providing sleeping accommodation
Residential care premises
Small and medium places of assembly
Theatres, cinemas and similar premises
Transport premises and facilities

Supplementary fire safety risk assessment guide:
Means of escape for disabled people

Booklet for guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering properties:
Do you have paying guests?