Avoid the Sparks on Bonfire Night
Bonfire night is almost upon us… yippee! I love fireworks and now that the kids have reached an age where they are no longer climbing up your legs terrified it is one of those family traditions that should never be allowed to die out because of “health and safety”. Hey… no bonfire night is complete without the odd misplaced rocket having the crowds dive for their lives… but that’s why I no longer brave the “backyard fireworks party” and prefer to support the arranged displays.
Unfortunately fireworks also represent a significant risk to both commercial and residential properties. Something about bonfires brings out the pyromaniac in many, in particular those with little to occupy their time. It is perhaps little known that every week sees over 2,000 arson attacks in the United Kingdom (as stated by the Arson Prevention Bureau) and that the estimated cost of arson was over £2m last year.
Perhaps another little known fact is that a Fire Risk Assessment will also assess your risk from arson and help you to find ways to significantly reduce (preferably eradicate) that risk. Despite the obvious legal implications of ignoring their requirement for a Fire Risk Assessment, many business owners are still burying their heads in the sand and not understanding that fire is, indeed, a risk to every premises. Managing your Fire Safety is not only a legal requirement, but it will help you minimise the risk of fire, whether that be from faults, mistakes or indeed arson.
Business owners fall into many categories, but if you bury your head in the sand the risks will not go away and if your local Fire Service chose to inspect your premises you could be in line for a hefty fine and even the closing down of your premises. If you’re not sure whether you comply with the law relating to Fire Safety you can check your status here.
Businesses can undertake a Fire Risk Assesment themselves, however, the person assessing the risk must be deemed “competent” and the assessment itself to be “suitable and sufficient”. Appointing a Fire Risk Assessor who has local knowledge, experience, Professional Indemnity Insurance and has passed an IFE approved Risk Assessors course will mean you can sleep soundly in the knowledge that your Fire Safety is covered… literally.
As outlined by Sadiq Khan - MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in his speech at the Arson Control Forum Conference in April this year… “detailed understanding of local circumstances and trends provides FRAs with a clear line of sight to the risks they and their business community face. The flexibility of and process offers a real opportunity for FRAs to take a proactive and partnership approach to supporting their local business communities whilst striking the right balance between prevention, protection and response.”
Of course, a Fire Risk Assessment will absolutely not keep your friends and family safe when the man in your life trips over a rocket and sends it on it’s merry way through the crowds. But it might just give you an idea of how to secure your wheelie bins… or install a fire-proof letter-box and this may mean the difference between bonfire night securing itself in your mind as a happy family event… or it being the night your livelihood was destroyed.
January 11th, 2010 at 8:34 am
yes it is rampant especially in Holidays season. it is very important for the safety tips like this. thanks