Fire presents significant risk to businesses. It can kill or seriously injure employees or visitors and can damage or destroy buildings, equipment and stock.

Fire prevention methods in the workplace:

Increase fire safety awareness in your workplace. When combined with a properly maintained Fire Alarm and Smoke Alarms you can reduce the risks for fire related incidents in your property or business location.

1. Practice good workplace housekeeping. Clutter contributes to fires by providing fuel and by preventing access to exits and emergency equipment.
2. Place oily rags in a covered metal container. This waste must be properly disposed of on a regular basis.
3. Maintain machinery to prevent overheating and friction sparks.
4. Report electrical hazards. Many fires start in faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment. Never attempt electrical repairs unless you are qualified and authorised.
5. Maintain free access to all electrical control panels. Material or equipment stored in front of the panels would slow down the shutting down of power in an emergency situation.
6. Use and store chemicals safely. Read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet to determine flammability and other fire hazards. Provide adequate ventilation when using and storing these substances.
7. Use all precautions to prevent ignition in potentially explosive atmospheres such as those containing flammable liquid vapors or fine particles. Use non-sparking tools, and control static electricity as required.
8. Help maintain building security to prevent arson fires. Lock up as instructed; report suspicious persons; and don’t leave combustible rubbish where it can be set afire outside the building.
9. Smoke only in designated areas, and extinguish smoking materials safely. Never smoke in storerooms or chemical storage areas.
10. Never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits. Observe clearances when stacking materials.
11. Post emergency telephone numbers as well as the company address by the telephone in your station for quick access if a fire were to start in your work area.
12. Learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.

Fire alarms and detectors (fire warning systems)

• ensure existing means of detection discover a fire quickly enough to raise an alarm in time for all the occupants to escape to a safe place
• the means for giving warning should be clearly heard and understood throughout the whole premises when initiated from any single point
• if the fire detection and warning system is electrically powered, ensure it has a back-up power supply
• ensure employees know about the fire warning system, and that they know how to operate and respond to it
• ensure there are instructions/notices for employees on how to operate the fire warning system.