Fire safety
in YOUR HOME

Fire safety
in YOUR WORKPLACE

Q. How do I stop a fire starting in my home?

Almost all fires in the home can be prevented. Here are some fire safety tips which could help prevent a fire from starting in your home.

AVOID USING CHIP PANS/DEEP FAT FRYERS IF POSSIBLE.

If you do have to, follow the advice below:

• Never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat or oil.
• Never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on. If the phone or doorbell rings, turn off the heat!
• If the oil begins to give off smoke rather than haze, it is getting too hot. Do NOT put food in the pan when it is smoking at all. Turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool, otherwise it could catch fire.

IF THE PAN DOES CATCH FIRE:

• Do not move it.
• Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. But never lean over the pan to reach cooker controls - use the master COOKER switch or gas tap.
• Cover the pan with a damp cloth and leave to cool for at least 30 minutes. NEVER THROW WATER ONTO THE FIRE - it could explode in your face.

Remember the saying "If in doubt, DON'T!" If you are not sure if you can put out the chip pan fire yourself, THEN DON'T - leave the room, close the door and call 999.

AVOID HAVING AN OPEN COAL/WOOD FIRE

• These should always have a fireguard round them.
• Never rest clothes or place newspapers on the fireguard. Use a piece of board or metal to force a draught, and put clothes on a separate clothes-airer.

TAKE CARE IF USING A PORTABLE HEATER

• Don't sit closer than three feet to a heater.
• Never put a heater near clothes or furnishings.

CIGARETTES

• Never leave a lit cigarette or pipe unattended - it may fall onto an armchair or carpet, which will soon catch fire and start to give off dense and deadly smoke and fumes.
• Never smoke in a chair if you think you may doze off in it.
• Always keep matches and lighters well out of reach of children.

BEDTIME ROUTINE

Many fires in the home start at night. Make sure you have a bedtime fire safety routine to help keep you and your family safe.

• Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances not designed to stay on.
• Make sure no cigarettes or pipes are still burning. Never smoke in bed.
• Before emptying ashtrays make sure the contents are cold.
• Switch off portable heaters.
• Close the doors of all rooms.

GET A SMOKE ALARM!

A smoke alarm can give you those precious few minutes of warning - this could help you and your family to get out safely. Smoke alarms cost around £5 and are simple to install. They are widely available from DIY, hardware and electrical shops and some supermarkets.

Test your alarm once a month on, say, a Saturday morning, and replace the batteries every year, say, just before Christmas.

Q. Do I need a home escape plan?

• If a fire occurs in your home and the power fails, you may have to get out in dark and difficult conditions.
• Escaping from a fire will be a lot easier it you have already planned your escape route and know where to go.
• Make sure everyone in the house is aware of the escape routes - even friends and visitors.

Q. What do I do if a fire starts?

• If possible, close the door (and windows) of the room where the fire is, and close all doors behind you as you leave.
• Get everyone out as quickly as possible. It will help if you have your escape route planned.
• Don't try to pick up valuables or possessions - the delay could be fatal if something explodes! Make your way out as quickly as you can.
• Never go back into the house until the fire officer has told you that the fire is out.

Q. What do I do if I am cut off by the fire? i.e. IF THE DOOR FEELS HOT

• If you are unable to use the door because of flames or smoke, close the door and use (wet) towels or sheets to block any gaps. This will help stop smoke spreading into the room.
• Try to make your way to the window. If the room fills with smoke, crawl along the floor where it's easier to breathe because the smoke will rise to the ceiling.
• With the door shut, open the window and try to attract the attention of others. If you have a phone or a mobile, dial 999 - or ask someone else to call for you.
• If the window will not open easily, force it with whatever heavy objects you have in the room - they are going to get burnt, anyway! If you have to break the glass, knock all the sharp bits off and put some blankets or a thick jacket over the broken edges at the bottom.
• If you are in immediate danger and your room is not too high from the ground, you may be able to escape from the window yourself.
  If there is a tree or bushes nearby, climb on to them. Otherwise, drop cushions or bedding to the ground below (especially if it is hard) to break your fall from the window. If you can, sit on the sill facing into the room, turn round and clamber out feet first on your tummy. Lower yourself to the full length of your arms before dropping.
• If you cannot do this, wait by the window with your head in the fresh air, until the fire fighters can rescue you - follow their instructions, since they know exactly what to do.

The following checklists will help you to determine if your workplace is safe.

ESCAPING FROM A FIRE

• Have you carried out a fire drill recently? Check how frequently you are required to carry them out.
• Can all exit doors be readily opened from the inside during working hours?
• Do employees know what to do on discovering a fire or when the fire alarm sounds?

FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS

• Have Fire Wardens been appointed and have they been trained in their duties?
• Is the fire alarm tested weekly and maintained on a regular basis?
• Is there a procedure for dialling 999?

FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

• Are there fire/smoke detectors in the ceilings? Are they tested weekly and submitted for their regular maintenance?
• Are there sprinkler heads in the ceiling? Have they been checked regularly by the installers?
• Has suitable fire-fighting equipment been provided throughout the workplace?
• Have employees been instructed on how to use this equipment in an emergency?

PREVENTING A FIRE:
CLEANLINESS AND TIDINESS

• Is the workplace kept clear of combustible waste and rubbish?
• Is waste put in a safe, secure place awaiting collection (ie not accessible to the public)?
• Are areas outside the building kept clear of waste material and combustible items
  (eg timber pallets etc)?
• Keep any combustible or inflammable waste that has to be stored outside the main building, covered and secured and, if possible, in an outbuilding, to prevent arson attacks. Check local regulations on this.

PREVENTING A FIRE:
STORAGE AREAS

• Are storage areas inspected for fire hazards at the end of the working day?
• Are there clear spaces around shelving and stacks of stored materials, and are adequate gangways provided between them?
• Are stocks and shelves arranged so that sprinkler heads and fire detectors are not obstructed?
• Are combustible materials stored in the right place and excessive quantities in process areas avoided?

PREVENTING A FIRE:
LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)

• Any LPG cylinders must be stored safely - ideally in an external, fenced compound at least 2 metres from the building or boundary fences.
• Empty cylinders must be treated in the same way, but kept separate and marked 'EMPTY'.
• Are warning notices, prohibiting smoke and naked light, prominently displayed?
• Do not store either full or empty LPG cylinders inside the building at night. Refer to local fire regulations.

PREVENTING A FIRE:
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

• Are the quantities of flammable liquids used in the workplace kept to the minimum and, when not needed, returned to safe storage?
• Are flammable liquids kept away from all possible sources of ignition?
• You must only use suitable spark-reducing tools in places where there may be flammable vapours?

PREVENTING A FIRE:
SPACE HEATING AND LIGHTING

• Are any portable heaters which are necessary guarded and fixed to prevent them being knocked over?
• Check that any combustible materials and waste are kept at a safe distance from heating appliances and flues.

PREVENTING A FIRE:
SMOKING

• Is smoking prohibited in all but designated areas? Are smoking policies strictly enforced?
• Where smoking is permitted, suitable metal ashtrays or containers should be provided.
• Are ashtrays/containers emptied at least once a day, once a week, or more often if needed?

PREVENTING A FIRE:
MACHINERY AND PLANT

• Are motors and moving parts of machinery kept clean and lubricated to prevent overheating?
• Are the vents on motors, etc kept free of dust, fibres and other blockages to maintain proper air-cooling and circulation?
• Are the necessary drip trays present - and cleaned on a regular basis?
• Are adequate cleaning materials (such as wipes or cloths) provided so that spillage's can be quickly cleared from the workplace?

PREVENTING A FIRE:
MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS

• Is every point of entry to the site and buildings secure against intruders, but still allows employees to escape?
• Are internal fire-resisting doors kept closed at all times when not in use?
• Are the building's grounds kept clear of combustible waste materials and vegetation?
• Are permit-to-work and hot-work-permit procedures adopted on the site?

DAMAGE CONTROL - IF A FIRE OCCURS:

• is it possible to store goods clear of the floor to prevent possible water damage?
• Are adequate drains provided, and are they kept clear of blockages by regular inspection and cleaning?
• Has a contingency plan (eg a "Disaster manual") been drawn up to reduce business interruption after a fire has occurred? Duplicate copies of contingency plans, records, back-up discs, key documents and contact lists of employees and local suppliers and agencies should be kept safety in another building or off-site at managers homes?