Stay calm and follow these steps

It is true that prevention is better than the cure and this is especially true in the case of fire. Every workplace should put in place fire protection measures, to reduce the risk of fire occurring and protect its employees. Most businesses take fire safety very seriously so there is low risk of you ever being in a situation that gets out of control. However, it’s always good to know what to do should you ever come across a fire. By nature, fire is unpredictable and you never know exactly when a fire might break out. You can, though, take steps to ensure that you know what to do, so if the worst happens you’ll be prepared and ready to act. For Gloucester fire risk assessment, visit http://keloscape.co.uk/fire-risk-assessment/.

Different working environments will have different fire threats and specific safety procedures associated with them, so you should always read your workplace’s fire safety policy carefully. You should also know where you will find fire escape routes, assembly points and where to locate the fire equipment and how to use it correctly.

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If you do discover a fire then here are some things to remember:

  • Stay calm and try not to panic or you won’t be able to think logically about what needs to be done. Staying calm is crucial to your safety and those around you and panicking will only worsen the situation.
  • Raising the alarm is the first action that needs to take place. Alert those in the near vicinity and activate the nearest fire alarm from the nearest fire alarm call point. Normally, alarm systems will have automatic fire detection with smoke and/or heat detectors but some will require you to break the glass at a manual call point to raise an alarm. You need to raise the alarm, do this by alerting people in the immediate area and activate the fire alarm from the nearest fire alarm call point.
  • Once the alarm is raised, you or someone else needs to call the fire service straight away. This must all happen very quickly as time is crucial when it comes to dealing with a fire that could be spreading quickly.
  • Any equipment left running must be shut down if it is safe to do so in case it causes a safety issue. If the machinery cannot be turned off then inform the fire service immediately when they arrive.
  • If you have the correct fire extinguishers to hand then you may be able to put out a small fire but if in doubt or in danger then do not attempt it. Only attempt this if you are confident that you know what you’re doing and have a safe escape route.

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  • If you do attempt to fight the fire, it is very important to check that the type of fire extinguisher you plan to use is suitable for use on the fire. There should be guidelines to help you on the extinguisher itself and signage placed around the area it is stored.
  • Remember to stand well back as fire extinguishers should only be used at a secure distance of 8-12 feet from the fire.
  • As you make your way to the nearest designated fire assembly point, close windows and doors behind you if you can in an attempt to limit the oxygen supply which will spread flames. Don’t be a hero and don’t go back in until the fire service says it’s safe.