Workers don’t know how to react to a fire
Fire in the workplace. New research has revealed that 51% of construction workers would not know what to do in the event of a fire at work. This is worrying as each year there are around 22,000 workplace fires around the UK, highlighting the importance of having adequate fire safety knowledge.
The study also found that 66% of construction workers don’t know their fire safety assembly point, and only around 6% have had a fire safety drill in their workplace during the past year. As well as this, barely over 25% would be able to state who the fire officers in their workplace are.
It’s not just for construction. Under UK fire legislation, all workplaces should have a fire drill at least once a year, more if your workplace is at high risk. A fire drill is an important part of training for any workplace as it equips all staff with the knowledge of how to act when discovering a fire, or reacting to a fire alarm.
Tip. Use our Fire Evacuation Record to compile a log of when you have conducted fire drills and any issues that may arise, such as staff not knowing what to do when they hear the fire alarm (see The next step ). This builds a picture of the fire culture in your workplace and identifies strengths and weaknesses in your management of the hazard.
For our Fire Evacuation Record, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 22 issue 16.
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