Fire Risk Assessment: How to Keep Your Workplace Safe

According to the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments responded to emergencies every 23 seconds in 2021. Fatal injuries happen every two hours, nonfatal injuries occur every 36 minutes, and property damage cost over $15 billion. The statistics are also alarming in Australia where many workers cannot operate a fire extinguisher. In the UK, there is a 16% increase in fire incidents in 2022 compared to the previous year.

All these facts point to one thing: fire safety assessment is vital.

Importance

Emergencies like a fire breaking out happen when least expected. The only way to successfully deal with this is to be ready. A critical part of the preparation is fire risk assessment. Here are specific reasons for doing it as soon as possible:

• Recognize risks – Poorly maintained electrical lines and inadequate safety equipment are not immediately apparent to workers. But by going through the nooks and crannies of the workplace, assessors can identify potential causes of fire and make suggestions on how to deal with it.
• Allocate resources properly – Hazards come in different shapes and forms, and it’s unbelievably expensive to address all of them at once. Evaluations allow managers to prioritize tasks.
• Save on costly repairs and revamps – Fires, if unchecked, can obliterate everything. Not only is damage restoration expensive for the company, but it also halts operations.
• Comply with regulations – Conducting checks is a must according to the law. If a company fails routine fire risk evaluation by government inspectors, they face hefty fines or closures.
• Potentially save lives – Ultimately, the goal of conducting this at the workplace is to ensure people’s health and safety. Equipment maintenance and provision of appropriate training help minimize or eradicate hazards. And if the unfortunate happens, they would know how to keep themselves and others safe.

Process

Similar to a general risk assessment, a fire risk assessment involves several steps. Although this takes a considerable amount of company time and resources, meticulously going through each step is necessary because this is a matter of life and death.

Identify Fire Hazards

Fire hazard assessment is a key component of the process. This identifies the possible source of the fire and the type of fire it can create.

• Class A
  • Potential hazards: Common combustibles like wood, paper, and cloth
  • Usual setting: Carpentry shops, textile factories, boutiques, and offices.
• Class B
  • Potential hazards: Flammable liquids and gases like oil, gasoline, and propane tanks
  • Usual settings: Restaurants, various food manufacturing facilities, and car repair yards.
• Class C
  • Potential hazards: Any electrical equipment like computers and appliances
  • Usual settings: Factories for manufacturing, warehouses for electrical items, electrical repair shops, and offices.
• Class D
  • Potential hazards: Combustible metals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium, and possible chemical reactions
  • Usual settings: Research laboratories, engineering factories, storage warehouses, and waste treatment and disposal facilities.
• Class K
  • Potential hazards: Cooking oil, grease build-up, and unattended cooking equipment
  • Usual settings: Restaurants, coffee shops, and food kiosks.

Identify People at Risk

This is a crucial step because it allows managers to provide their employees with the appropriate protective equipment and, more importantly, adequate safety training. Aside from the individuals who are directly involved in the activity, the people around them should also be protected from risks.

Evaluate Existing Safety Measures

This step involves checking the safety measures put in place and ensuring that these are effective in current circumstances and in compliance with regulations. Here are some factors evaluated:

• Evacuation plans, including adequate signs and lighting
• Clear pathways to exit doors
• Working fire extinguishers and accessories
• Water sprinklers
• Smoke detection systems
• Smoke suppression systems
• Equipment maintenance
• Fire retardant materials in interiors
• Accessibility to firefighters
• Frequency of fire drills
• Adequate training for safety officers and employees

Assess Risks for Fire

In this part of the process, evaluators specifically consider the likelihood of a fire breaking out and the extent of damage it could create based on the assessment. These are some factors checked:

• Ignition source
• Fuel source
• Oxygen supply

Assessors also consider how fires could start so that they can provide additional measures for prevention:

• Accidental (e.g., when small flames are not fully put out)
• Act of omission (e.g., when equipment is not maintained)
• Deliberate (e.g., arson attack)

Record Findings

The final step in fire risk assessment is documentation. Record keeping upholds current best practices and allows companies to work on possible amendments to fire safety procedures. Improvements include the following:

• Replacement of faulty equipment
• Additional or continued training for workers
• Modifications in your existing fire safety procedure due to the hiring of new employees or changes in the landscape of your workplace

Who Should Conduct Fire Risk Assessments?

According to legal guidelines, “competent people” should conduct a fire risk assessment. There is no specific definition provided, but many agree that this means highly knowledgeable in the subject and duly accredited by regulatory offices.

Small to medium enterprises often employ the services of fire safety professionals from their local fire department or health and safety services office. Larger companies usually have a team in place.

It doesn’t matter who is charged to carry out this job as long as they are trained and certified. They should also strictly follow the process so they don’t miss anything that could potentially cause a fire emergency in the future.