[C]umbria Fire and Rescue Service will be offering safety advice and information to businesses as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) UK Business Safety Week 2017.
The week runs from 11 – 17 September and aims to make sure businesses and their staff have the information they need to prevent, protect and respond to fire incidents in the workplace.
The week has been scheduled to run at a time when many businesses are likely to be recruiting additional members of seasonal staff in the run-up to the Christmas period.
New recruits may not have the same level of fire safety awareness as permanent members of staff, and may not be aware of the steps needed to protect themselves, their customers and colleagues. It’s also a good opportunity to remind employers of the need to review fire risk assessments and training and make sure existing staff know the importance of fire safety.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) will be asking businesses to:
- Ensure they have taken action to prevent fires in the workplace.
- Take action to protect themselves from arson.
- Make sure all staff know how to respond appropriately in the event of an incident.
- Work with the fire service to reduce false alarms.
Fire and rescue services across the country will be holding a range of events and activities to engage with businesses in their communities, working with them to help improve their knowledge of fire safety.
CFRS will be calling into businesses to offer fire safety advice and information during Business Safety Week and will be visiting industrial estates in Barrow, Workington, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Kendal and Penrith.
Station Manager Paul Hanby of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “Business Safety Week is a reminder to businesses that the fire and rescue service is here to offer advice and help on making the workplace safe from fire. We ask employers to make this a priority by contacting us if they haven’t addressed fire safety, reviewing arrangements and training staff regularly. Complying with the law means you are protecting your business, premises and employees. It also means you are likely to be prepared if the worst happens and a fire occurs at your business.”
