How to protect your workplace from fire hazards this Christmas
It’s almost Christmas and across UK workplaces the decorations are going up! Premises would certainly look very bleak without them at this time of year and they’re a great way to bring some festive cheer into the office. But the addition of Christmas decorations can create some extra fire hazards too – something that anyone with responsibility for fire safety needs to keep in mind.
Managing the risk
By being aware of the associated risks, Christmas decorations can be enjoyed safely over the Christmas period. So what should you keep in mind?
· Christmas trees
Firstly, it’s generally safer to use an artificial tree rather than a real one. The main issue is that real trees tend to dry out very quickly – and a dry tree will act as tinder for a fire. So if you’ve already put your decorations up in your workplace, and you’ve opted for a real tree, make sure you’re watering it regularly (ideally daily) and check that it’s not positioned too close to a heat source like a radiator.
If you haven’t got round to putting your tree up yet, and are keen to have a real one, choose one that looks dark green. It should have a slightly sticky trunk and not be dropping many needles. These are indications that it’s healthy and is retaining a decent amount of moisture.
· Take care with lights
When it comes to tree lights, the best option are LEDs – they operate at low temperatures which immediately reduces the fire risk. Having said that, they do still generate some heat. So it’s worth checking that you don’t have any highly combustible decorations positioned near to them.
Any lights you use need to comply with British safety standards and fuses need to be the correct type. If you’ve put up a set that are looking somewhat battered, be careful; if there are signs of wear and tear to the wiring, then that indicates a potential risk. Make sure that the plug looks okay too and doesn’t feel warm to the touch when the lights are on. And if any bulbs blow, replace them before using the lights again.
Double check the use of any extension leads as well. People can be very enthusiastic about getting the decorations up! But they might potentially overlook the risks those kinds of leads could create, including tripping hazards and socket overload. Lots of lights can look great but pay attention to how many sets are being run off one socket – it’s easy to get carried away. Resist any temptation to hang some decorations off ceiling lights or lamps too – the heat they generate creates another potential fire risk.
And the final golden rule when it comes to any Christmas lights – always switch them off when leaving the office. It sounds so obvious. But sometimes you might not realise you’re the last one to leave and head off, assuming that someone else will take care of them. It’s not a bad idea to put a notice up reminding people if there’s no-one else around when they leave at the end of the day, they must unplug them.
· Are you using candles?
Most premises are unlikely to use candles as one of their decorations. But some places, such as restaurants and hotels, may use them to create a festive ambience. They must be used with extreme care, making sure they’re kept well away from any other decorations. You’ll find more information about candle fire safety here.
Do you have a fire safe workplace?
With the addition of your Christmas decorations, it’s worth running through the following points to check that your fire safety is as good as it can be and hasn’t been compromised in any way.
· Have the decorations affected your housekeeping at all? Make sure that walkways and corridors remain clear and that fire exits haven’t been obstructed.
· If the worst happens and a fire did break out, would your fire detection equipment do its job properly? Have fire alarms been serviced recently and do you test them regularly? · The same is true of your other fire safety equipment. Are fire doors working correctly? Have fire extinguishers been inspected in accordance with their maintenance schedule?
By making a few simple fire safety checks, you can ensure that your workplace remains safe during the festive period. And if you’re looking for local fire safety experts to help you with any aspect of keeping your workplace safe from fire, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
· When was the last time you had a fire drill? Would all employees know what to do in the event of a fire?
From all of the Jackson Fire and Security team – we wish you a very happy Christmas!
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