How to write a fire safety policy?

Every business is required to have a formal fire safety policy. Designed to keep the building and employees safe, a fire safety policy should outline factors such as; who is responsible for what aspects of fire safety, staff training, fire provision, safety management and what to do in an emergency.

Fire safety should never be overlooked with the spread of flames often being underestimated, not having an effective fire safety policy in place can have devastating impacts. With over 73,000 primary fires occurring in the year 2018/2019 (GOV.UK) and with the summer months (June and July) seeing a drastic increase in fires, ensuring that you have a fire safety policy in place can be a huge help.

Considering how important fire safety is, making sure your fire safety policy is reviewed annually and approved by the most senior person in your business means that as an employer, you have taken the appropriate steps when it comes to keeping everyone safe.

In order for a fire safety policy to be adequate, it must follow a few simple rules. Outlining a policy statement that shows the emergency procedure in case of a fire such as escape routes, emphasising that people must leave immediately and not take their belongings and how to raise the alarm is a great way to start a fire safety policy.

Identifying safe ways to work, notifying the right people of fire hazards, knowing how to react in an emergency and keeping all fire exits clear are all factors that must also be maintained. Showing all employees where their nearest escape route is and who they must contact if they feel there is a risk of fire are all important measures that need reviewing and upkept.

Making sure all staff are also trained when it comes to fire safety is another important thing to remember when it comes to the fire safety policy. Giving training is a legal requirement with many fire safety DVDs available for you to provide adequate, in house training to ensure staff know what to do.

Ensuring all fire alarms are in working order and that staff know where their nearest assembly point is (such as in a car park) is also part of the fire safety policy.

Always checking your fire policy means that should a fire unfortunately occur, you are well prepared to combat one. Of course getting everyone out of the building and calling the emergency services is the most important thing however, if you always follow simple fire safety checks throughout the year, the risk of a fire can be drastically reduced.