Legal Reasons
You have a duty as an employer to protect your employees from fire hazards. The law is fairly straightforward: if you fail to comply with your obligations you will face legal consequences.
You must:
- Do a risk assessment for your building and make sure to review it on a regular basis. For Fire Risk Assessment Cheltenham, visit APM Fire & Security.
- Staff should be informed of the results of the fire risk assessment
- Maintain and implement adequate fire safety measures
- Plan for an emergency fire, including drafting evacuation plans
- Fire safety training is essential for all employees.
Financial Reasons
A workplace fire would cost more than any financial penalty. A workplace fire is not a one-time cost.
The UK government estimated that the total economic cost and social costs of fire would be £12 billion for the year ending in March 2020. The marginal cost was estimated to be around £3 billion – the costs incurred following a fire.
Moral Reasons
The moral obligation to protect your employees is the main reason why fire safety is important.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, your employees are confident in you when they arrive at work. Every employee should be able perform their duties without having to worry about becoming sick, injured or worse.
Fire kills. You put your workers in danger if you don’t comply with the fire safety laws. Not to mention the people in nearby buildings so ensure your Fire Risk Assessment Cheltenham is up to date.
The fire risk is never zero
Fire safety is a constant concern. The absence of a real fire emergency can create a false security over time. Safety standards can begin to slip when complacency takes hold.
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