Christmas is often fondly described as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ but, as those who work in the fire services will testify, it can be a time filled with tragedy.
Thanks to flammable festive decorations and the flow of alcohol, Christmas can quickly go up in smoke if certain safety precautions aren’t taken into consideration.
If you’re keen to protect your business and staff from fire hazards this December, here are just a few office fire safety tips.
Take note of the most common Christmas fire hazards
During the Christmas period, many of us fill our homes and workplaces with decorations that are as flammable as they are festive. Here are the worst culprits along with a few suggestions to minimise the risk they pose.
Fairy lights
Fairy lights are one of the most common causes of fires during winter.
Replace any blown bulbs
Turn fairy lights off before leaving the office at the end of the day
Don’t leave fairy lights on overnight
Keep the lights away from paper and other materials that burn easily
Don’t overload sockets with several appliances
Decorations
Keep paper decorations away from the following:
Radiators
Fireplaces
Fairy lights
Heaters
Candles
Christmas trees
Whether real or artificial, Christmas trees can be extremely flammable. If a Christmas tree comes in contact with a flame, fire and smoke can rapidly fill the room and spread throughout the house. This video shows the destruction that can be caused in less than a minute when a tree catches fire in a living room. Don’t let this happen in your office! Keep your tree away from potential fire hazards.
Implement fire safety precautions (these should be abided by all year round)
There’s no need to ban Christmas trees and decorations in your efforts to keep your workplace safe this winter. By ensuring you have appropriate fire safety measures in place, you can minimise the risk of fire and, in the unlikely event that a fire does occur, protect workers from danger.
Smoke alarms
Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed within your workplace. Test the alarms regularly and ensure they are fully working.
Risk assessments
Carry out a thorough risk assessment and identify potential hazards or problems that might arise in the event of a fire.
Fire drills
Do your employees know what to do in the event of a fire? Not only can fire drills help workers learn how to respond in the event of a fire, they’re also a legal requirement. Here’s our guide to help you carry out an effective fire drill.
Fire doors
Fire doors play an important role in preventing the spread of fire throughout commercial buildings. A correctly installed fire door can significantly slow down a fire and save lives in the process. Learn more about the importance of fire doors here. For a comprehensive fire risk assessment, contact our fire safety consultants today.