Fire safety compliance is a necessary requirement for every residential and commercial property. This is to ensure that all residents and building occupants will be spared from any fire-related risks and damages. A fire can cause serious damage to your company’s facility and equipment, not to mention employees. Below are questions every business owner should answer in better assessing their company’s fire safety compliance. You have to make sure you have these five ‘checks’ taken care of within the boundaries of your office and facilities.
Are your fire hazard risks assessed properly?
While some businesses have greater fire risks than others, there are very few businesses that have none. They all need to be properly assessed so the proper prevention can be implemented accordingly. Some local governments offer fire marshal visits, or workplace fire risk assessment guidance from your building’s property manager. A commercial fire safety firm can also help you mitigate problems.
Do you have emergency plans in place?
Do you have an evacuation plan and do your employees know what to do in case of a fire? Do they fire training, so that they know how to use fire extinguishers, and when to use them?
Do you have the right fire protection equipment installed?
Your fire safety equipment needs likely include sprinkler systems, but you might need more to be up to code or compliant with regulations. Industries dealing with machinery that overheats or flammable substances might need a suppression system tailored to your business.
Do you have scheduled routine equipment inspections?
Even if you have the right sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and suppression systems, they also need routine inspections (at least annually) to keep everything in working order. Know what tests you can do yourself, and which require professional visits from fire alarm technicians.
Do you have a fire suppression system?
An activated fire suppression system can work quickly and effectively if used properly. They can be deployed with amazing speed, and for a building of enormous size and calibre, these systems could save countless employee lives and millions in property damage. The suppression systems can be designed for specific type of fires depending on your needs and preferences.
In order to fully assess your company’s fire safety compliance, consult Key Compliance. We will ensure that your commercial property is completely compliant with all New South Wales fire safety regulations. Also, if any repairs or replacements are needed for your fire safety equipment, our fine team will recommend expert repair and maintenance companies to handle these improvements. Our objective is to conduct fire safety inspections and to work with owners and managers to mitigate the fire risk in achieving and maintaining essential services compliance.
Workplace safety is vital to the success of any business. When you implement safety standards and practices, you demonstrate social responsibility and you are making your business more successful. In order for most companies to remain competitive and stay in business, they must provide a safe work environment for all of their employees. There are instances where you might have the best safety and training program, however, human error is impossible to predict and control 100 percent. Therefore, in most cases, it is very cost effective to hire a safety consultant to take a fresh look at your company policies, training, accident prevention programs, and a multitude of other issues that may be particular to your type of industry and company.
Ensure Expert Advice
Most business owners are only concerned with the day-to-day operations of their businesses. They do not have free time learn about workplace safety. They usually neglect the safety of their employees. Do not be like these business owners. Fire safety consultants are experts in workplace safety and fire risk assessments. This is how they earn their living. They know the best practices. A good fire safety consultant looks at a business operation and knows immediately the improvement that must be done. Follow what the consultant tells you, especially if you don’t want to get fined for violations.
Employee Safety Priority
Do not just focus on your business and forget about your employees’ safety. Know and want what is best for your employees. Make sure that they are working in a safe working environment. Focus on the workplace safety. Your team members should work in an environment that is risk-free. This is the reason why you should hire a fire safety consultant. The consultant will make changes in your workplace. Make all the changes you are told to make. Make the changes immediately. Your employees will work hard because they know that you care about them and their safety.
Cost Effective
First, a professional consultant is not bogged down by your company’s internal affairs, nor is he/she influenced by your past safety record. Nor will he or she alter reports just to make your company look good. You also have the opportunity to find someone, although this person may not have a lot of initials and titles after her name, he or she has a proven record of actual, hands-on skills and has the ability to save your company a serious amount of money through recommendations or implementation of new ideas.
In order to comply with the fire safety assessment procedures, consult Key Compliance. We will ensure that your commercial property is completely compliant with all NSW fire safety regulations.
Fire safety systems are implemented as required by state or territory regulatory requirements. In order to protect the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment, building and property owners must comply with fire safety systems. Aside from that, by doing so, they will be able to avoid legal liabilities and financial penalties due to non-compliance.
Localised Fire Safety Systems
In Australia, fire safety systems vary depending on their respective areas. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Emergency Services Agency is responsible for bushfire safety resources and advice. They also have fire safety policies for building owners, occupants and agents for fire evacuation processes. New South Wales (NSW), on the other hand, relies on their Rural Fire Service Plan and Prepare. Northern Territory has their own Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Prepare for Bushfires. In Queensland, they have the Rural Fire Service Bushfire, while South Australia (SA) has Emergency and Safety Bushfire. Tasmania has Fire Service Bushfire, Victoria with Business Victoria and Western Australia with State Planning Policy and Guidelines.
Regular Inspections
Regular inspection and testing of electrical equipment can save lives. It helps identify damage, wear and electrical faults and will make sure you detect electrical faults and deterioration you can’t see. Inspections and testing must be carried out by a competent person, which depending on your jurisdiction might be a licensed or registered electrician or a licensed electrical inspector. Most states have their own electrical safety regulations, and additional information is also available in the National standard AS/NZS 3760 service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
SDS’s are documents that provide critical information about hazardous chemicals. They include information on chemical’s identity and ingredients, health and physical hazards, safe handling and storage procedures, emergency procedures and disposal considerations. Businesses should use SDS when they assess the risks of hazards in the workplace.
Safety Management Procedures for Confined Spaces
It is a requirement under AS2865-2009 and under your State or Territories Workplace Health and Safety (WH&S) Act to have written safety management procedures for all work involving confined space entries. Organisations that enter confined spaces are required to have the following documentation namely confined space policy, confined space entry work instructions or safe work procedures, confined space register, confined space risk assessment for each confined space identified, confined space entry permit and permit to work policy and procedures. There will be Fire Safety Assessment (FSA) that will visit your workplace to determine the gaps between your current documentation and that of the Australian Standards and WH&S Regulations to put together specific confined space entry documentation for your workplace. Further, FSA often undertakes confined space audits to determine if a space is in fact a confined space for our clients.
In order to comply with the fire safety assessment procedures, consult Key Compliance. We will ensure that your commercial property is completely compliant with all NSW fire safety regulations.
Fire safety is highly important in healthcare facilities due to the number of potentially vulnerable people that may be at risk on the premises, whether a hospital, care home or medical practice of any kind. With the likelihood of many patients struggling with mobility, evacuation procedures become more complex, and being able to understand what the common hazards might be in these environments becomes all the more important. Listed below are possible fire hazards in the healthcare industry that should not be ignored.
Faulty Electrical Wiring
One possible fire hazard in the healthcare industry that should not be ignored is the danger that comes with faulty electrical wiring. With the prevalence of electrical equipment on the premises of many healthcare facilities, the potential for fires breaking out through faulty or overworked sockets, cables and the like is high.
Kitchen Fire Hazard
Kitchen facilities, too, are a constant threat – particularly in care home environments where ongoing, round-the-clock care is provided for a large number of people. Cooking fats, electrical ovens, hobs or toasters, open flames and more are all potential hazards.
Cigarette Fire Hazard
Surprisingly for healthcare environments, cigarette smoking is still a common hazard. Despite all smoking now taking place outdoors, any open flame presents a risk – especially when coming into contact with flammable materials on site.
Medical Equipment Fire Hazard
Less common, but equally dangerous, are fires caused by specialised medical and surgical equipment. Laser and electrosurgical tools provide a genuine ignition hazard, while compressed oxygen tanks, surgical clothing and flammable sterilising/disinfecting liquids are perfect fuel.
Know more about the possible fire hazards in the healthcare industry that should not be ignored. We here at Key Compliance are established to specifically assist owners and property or asset managers in fire risk assessments and address fire safety issues in properties. We are an independent fire safety and compliance consultancy servicing the property industry.
Since all types of properties are required to have a certain level of fire safety protection – this is required by various regulations and it is the legal obligation of all property owners to provide a safe and healthy environment in their buildings. Our objective is to conduct fire safety inspections and to work with owners and managers to mitigate the fire risk in achieving and maintaining essential services compliance. Assistance is provided for fire risk assessments, building upgrade works, provision of Annual Fire Safety Statements, assisting with resolving Council imposed fire safety orders, and fire safety inspections of properties to determine what level of fire safety protection is required.
There are important aspects of fire safety measures assessment for operational compliance in New South Wales that all business owners need to understand. Whether you own the building in which your company operates or lease floor space in a commercial building to run your business, you must comply with all fire safety regulations as a business owner. You want to ensure that your entire staff and any business associates or other visitors to your company premises are well-protected if a fire should break out.
Even small fires that are quickly contained and extinguished may cause injury or personal property damage to employees and other individuals who may be present. Your professional fire safety consultant can guide you in updating, repairing or installing any fire safety equipment and measures needed to make your company’s facilities completely fire safety compliant.
Essential Fire Safety Operational Compliance Measures that Business Owners Must Understand
Basic operational compliance measures that company owners need to understand and adhere to for satisfying all NSW fire safety regulations include the following:
• Working Fire Detectors, Extinguishers and Alarms. All of the floors, rooms and areas of your company premises should be equipped with fire detectors, extinguishers and alarms that are in excellent working condition. Only with these items of fire safety equipment in place can you ensure the best possible fire safety protection for your employees and company visitors. Each fire extinguisher should be in a highly visible location for the use of your staff members if a fire should occur.
• Good Operation of Fire Sprinklers and Hose Reels. When your office, factory or showroom fire sprinklers and fire hose reels are in good condition, your business will be well-equipped to contain any large or spreading fire that may break-out in your company location. This will be of great help to your local fire department in extinguishing your fire when firemen arrive at the scene to assist you and help ensure the safety of everyone on the premises.
• Working Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs. It is essential to make sure that all of your company floors and separate entry and exit doors are equipped with emergency lighting and exit signs. Otherwise, your staff will have difficulty in locating these doorways if a fire should occur and the general electricity and lighting go out in your company facilities.
• Strong and Correctly Installed Fire Doors. Every fire door in your company location must be a regulation fire door with strong construction. Your fire doors must be installed securely, without any cracks between the doors and door frames. Any cracks can admit airflow from outside that can cause flames to increase and fires to spread rapidly, endangering your company staff, visitors, equipment and property.
By contacting Key Compliance, headed by principal consultant and fire safety practitioner, Dennis Lyons, located in Kogarah, NSW, you will receive expert information, advice and a thorough inspection and audit of your company premises for fire safety compliance. Our top-rated fire safety consultancy serves clients in many areas of NSW including the Sydney Metropolitan Areas, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
Following your company facility’s assessment, our experts will provide a written report and recommend any repairs, updates or new installations needed to make your business location fire safety compliant. Once your facilities meet all requirements for NSW fire safety compliance, you will receive your Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) and Fire Safety Certificate (FSC), copies of which should be displayed in a prominent place in your building lobby or the entrance to your company facilities.
