Each year it is critical that you have conducted an annual fire report, in order to ensure that your business is fit for service to clients, customers and staff. This aspect of fire safety maintenance is a legal obligation, and your own annual fire safety report is critical to ensuring that nothing slips through the net. This is not to be confused with your annual fire check by the authorities, but in doing your own annual fire safety report you are far less likely to run into any incidents when that takes place.
Let’s take a look at exactly why this is so important and when you should look to carry out this important annual check.
Why Conduct an Annual Fire Report?
The main point of this check is of course to make sure that the fire system installation which you implemented when you opened the business, is still in full working order. Over time we see so many details around fire safety change, such as equipment that is outdated, new staff who don’t have proper training and damage to signs for a variety of reasons. Your annual fire safety report will ensure that all of these items are identified and amended in order to keep the business as safe as possible.
When Should You Conduct An Annual Report?
No matter when you have opened the business or been given your fire safety certificate, the best practice is to carry out a full annual fire report at the beginning of the year, when the business resumes after the holidays. The main reason for this is that you are likely to have a vacant business to check out, which will give you full access to all areas with interrupting operations. Another key reason why this is so critical is that it is far less likely to be forgotten about. After all, remembering that a fire check is the first point of business of the year, it is much easier to remember that if it were the 3rd of June — as an example.
Fine Toothcomb
During this important aspect of fire safety maintenance, there should be a checklist that you follow that encompasses every aspect of fire safety in the building. To find out what you should check for you can look at the details which were given during the time when you first got your fire safety certificate. Make this a uniform check which is easy to follow: begin first in checking the training files of all employees to ensure that everyone is up to speed; following this check that all firefighting and fire alert equipment is in full working order and that it has been checked by a professional in the last 12 months, and signed off.
Additionally ensure that you check every aspect of signage which you need to have by law, and check that the business has adapted to any new machinery or products which have been introduced. Don’t forget to check for any fire hazards and make a report on any potential issues which you have spotted, and create a swift action plan to remedy them.
Dealing with this in-house will ensure that the authorities are happy when they come around, and most importantly, that you have done everything possible to keep everyone in the business safe.