Tees Business Tees Business Issue 18 | Page 66

BUSINESS FIRE SAFETY NEED TO KNOW ESSENTIALS Insert Image Here If you own, manage or operate a business you have a legal duty to ensure you and your staff know what to do to prevent a fire in the workplace and how to escape if fire does break out: All businesses need a competent person to undertake a fire risk assessment which will then inform them of what they need to do next Train your staff, make sure they understand how to evacuate the building and how to raise the alarm Put appropriate arrangements in place to maintain and manage things like emergency lighting systems or ventilation – they are all there to help people to escape a building Manage ignition sources and combustibles – clear rubbish and store flammables securely Think about business continuity – store data offsite and have suppression systems to protect premises (sprinklers etc) Even if you are a small business and don’t employ others you still need to comply. All businesses with five or more employees must have written record of fire assessment For more information and advice contact our Fire Engineering team on 01429 874109 or alternatively email [email protected] Make your workplace safer, visit www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/business ClevelandFB ClevelandFB ClevelandFB clevelandfbuk