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This month’s article
by PHSC Environmental looks at fire safety and
what measures vehicle workshops should be taking.
Luckily major fires do not occur
very often. However, any business which has suffered
a fire will be well aware of the dangers to human
life, damage to the workplace and detrimental
effect it has on business.
Whilst taking some time away from
your workshop to review your fire safety issues
may seem unnecessarily time consuming, consider
how many months you could be out of business if
a fire were to occur and the effect it could have
on you and your staff.
Listed below is a brief outline
of some of the main things you must do to meet
the law.
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If you have more
than 20 people at your workplace you must
apply in writing for a Fire Certificate. This
application is made to the local Fire Authority.
Ring them and they will send you the official
form. |
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If you have more
than 10 people working at any time elsewhere
than on the ground floor ofo the building
you must also apply for a Fire Certificate. |
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Regardless of how
many people work at your premises, or whether
a Fire Certificate is needed, you must undertake
a fire risk assessment. This is to identify
what fire safety measures are needed. |
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To meet the Workplace
(Fire Precautions) Regulations 1997 (as amended)
you must also ensure you have:
- a system which detects and gives warning
of a fire starting
- a system of evacuation and assembly
- provisions of escape routes (which are
kept unblocked at all times)
- equipment to fight fire (eg extinguishers
and fire blankets)
- training of your staff in fire safety.
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There are six other legal duties
you need to know. These are:
- nomination of people to undertake special
roles in assisting people to evacuate
(eg fire marshals)
- consultation with your employees (or
elected representatives) about nomination
of people and
- procedures to deal for fire safety
- information to other people who may
share your premises about fire risks on
your premises and your precautions for
dealing with them
- ensuring you have suitable means to
contact the emergency services and ensure
they can be called easily
- ensure that your workers cooperate with
you on fire safety matters and do not
do anything which will put themselves
or others at risk (this may necessitate
a disciplinary procedure for those people
found flouting this requirement).
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First published in 'Body'
Magazine, February 2001 issue
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