Fire Safety Checklist For The Workplace

Do you know why a fire safety checklist is so important?

If you carefully maintain and manage your workplace, you are less likely to have any fire risks.

Please take a look at our Fire Safety Checklist below to help assist you when conducting fire risk assessments and to maintain the fire safety standards on your premises.

Clear escape routes

Employers and employees often overlook having clear escape routes. Until an emergency occurs and then the fire exit is inaccessible. By keeping escape routes clear from any obstruction, you are not only protecting your safety but the safety of your colleagues too.

Fire extinguishers in the workplace

It is important to ensure that your employees have sufficient protection for when they may need it. You also need to make sure you have members of staff that have completed Fire Warden Training.

Testing fire alarms

The government recommend that your fire alarm is tested every 6 months by a competent person. They also recommend weekly testing by your ‘responsible person’. This means to quickly test your alarm to check that it is in working order.

Employees and fire precautions

All of your employees must be aware of the fire precautions in the workplace, not just your fire wardens. To achieve this, a Fire Awareness course or a Health and Safety induction for new starters would be useful.

Fire wardens in the workplace

Preparing for any fire emergencies that may occur in your workplace by having internally appointed fire wardens is important to keep yourself and others safe.

Importance of an evacuation plan

Make sure your staff, clients and other visitors can access the evacuation plan. This is important in case of an emergency where they need assistance to make it out of the building safely.

Sectioned area for smokers

The designated smoking area at your workplace should be sited at least 1.5 metres away from any sheltering walls or other structures. It also reduces secondhand smoke exposure to those who are non-smokers.

Servicing and replacing fire extinguishers regularly

Fire extinguishers need servicing and replacing regularly.  Otherwise, it could mean it will fail when you need it in an emergency.

Checking electrical systems and appliances regularly

Carrying out regular PAT tests on systems and appliances is important. This will reduce the risk of any injuries occurring by an unsafe appliance to your employees.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which measures are used in the quick workplace checklist?

The quick workplace checklist includes several key measures to ensure fire safety. These measures involve checking for clear fire exits and escape routes, ensuring fire doors are operational and not obstructed, verifying that fire extinguishers are in place and have been serviced, ensuring that fire alarms are working, checking for any obvious electrical hazards, and making sure that any flammable materials are stored safely. This checklist is designed to be a swift and efficient way to assess the basic aspects of fire safety in the workplace.

What are the five steps in FSRA?

The FSRA, or Fire Safety Risk Assessment, involves five key steps:

1. Identify fire hazards: This includes sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen.
2. Identify people at risk: Determining who may be in danger in the event of a fire, especially focusing on vulnerable individuals.
3. Evaluate, remove, or reduce the risks: This involves evaluating the risk of a fire occurring and the risk to people from a fire, and then taking appropriate action to remove or reduce these risks.
4. Record your findings, prepare an emergency plan, and provide training: Documenting the hazards found and actions taken, and preparing an emergency plan while providing adequate training to staff.
5. Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly: Ensuring that the assessment is up to date and reflects any changes in the workplace.

How many steps are in a fire assessment checklist?

The fire assessment checklist is 5 steps. These steps include identifying fire hazards, ensuring proper fire safety measures are in place (like alarms and extinguishers), maintaining clear escape routes, conducting regular fire drills, and providing adequate training to employees. 

What does PEEP stand for in fire safety?

In fire safety, PEEP stands for “Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.” This is a tailored escape plan for individuals who may not be able to reach safety unaided or within a reasonable time frame in the event of a fire. This includes people with disabilities, those with temporary injuries, or anyone who might require special assistance during an evacuation. The PEEP is an essential part of ensuring that all employees, regardless of their physical abilities, have a safe means of evacuation in a fire emergency.

What is a take 5 checklist?

A “Take 5” checklist is a quick, five-step process used by employees to assess and manage risks before commencing a task. It typically involves stopping to assess the task, looking at what could go wrong, identifying necessary safety controls, managing the risks, and safely carrying out the task. This concept is based on the principle of taking a few moments to focus on safety before starting work, which can be effectively applied in various work environments, including those where fire safety is a concern.