Risk Assessment
Fire risk assessment is vital to any person wherever you live or work. This cannot be stressed enough. Too many people die each year due to faulty measures that could have easily been prevented. By assessing risk you can realize what the potential hazards are and do something about it. Each one of us needs to take responsibility for the safety of our environments.
Everyone is at risk, but there are some people more at risk than others. This includes people who work alone, with, or near fire hazards. Other people include children, elderly and disabled people. They are more at risk due to their fragile state. There are many causes for the possibility of a fire in the home or office and just as many things we can do to prevent them.
Some hazards that you might be able to identify in the home or office include anything that can start or burn a fire. Some examples are heaters, dryers, and candles. Other examples that primarily would be found in a workplace include items that are electrical or contain oxygen. Once these potential fire starters or burners are identified they need to be taken care of.
If possible, remove anything that you can. You should remove any excess trash or dry debris. Do not leave unnecessary things running that might cause a fire to start, if left on. You need to look around your environment and see if something could potentially burn like furniture. Secure items that could be seen as having the potential to fall over or knock into something that could cause a fire.
There will be things that are hazardous, that you are unable to remove entirely. Make the attempt to reduce them, if possible. Sometimes there will be items that you can replace with other less flammable ones. Make sure that items that cannot be disposed of and are hazardous are marked with warning signs.
Expect the possibility that a fire can happen. Do not think that it will never happen because you will not be prepared in the event that one does. Have a planned escape plan for everyone to follow. It is a good idea to have practice runs. In the workplace, it is also a good idea to make sure that all your staff has some safety training. If you allow smoking on your premises everyone should be aware of the designated smoking areas.
In your home and workplace there should be smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Smoke alarms can alert you to the fire starting and in many cases you can do something before it does too much damage. Carbon monoxide detectors can save your life as carbon monoxide is an odourless gas, so many lives have been lost that could have been prevented if carbon monoxide detectors had been fitted. Hopefully, a fire extinguisher will be enough to put it out. You should have an emergency kit with necessary items in it. Things that should be included are bandages, blankets, flashlights, and water.
As you can see there are many things to consider when it comes to the safety of your home or work environment. Fire can be easily prevented when the right measures and precautions are taken. Make sure you have a plan in place in the event of a fire emergency.