How to Choose a Fire or Legionella Risk Assessor: Questions to Ask
A risk assessment is only as useful as the person who carries it out. Whether you need a fire risk assessment or a legionella risk assessment, a few simple questions will help you choose well. 1. What experience do they have? Ask about the types of buildings they have assessed. A nursing home, a hotel […]
Good Housekeeping: The Simplest Way to Cut Fire Risk
Many workplace fires start with something small: a pile of cardboard near a heater, an overloaded socket, a bin full of oily rags. Good housekeeping costs very little and removes many of these risks. Look at what can burn Waste and packaging: do not let cardboard, paper and pallets build up, especially near exits or […]
Positive Legionella Sample: What to Do Next
A positive legionella sample can be worrying, but it is not a reason to panic. It is a sign that your water system needs attention, and a good plan will help you act quickly and sensibly. Step 1: Read the report carefully Your laboratory report will say where samples were taken and what was found. […]
Fire Safety Awareness for Staff: What Everyone Should Know
The best fire safety equipment in the world will not help if people do not know what to do. Staff awareness is a simple, low-cost way to make your workplace safer. The basics every employee should know What the alarm sounds like and what it means. Where the nearest exits are, including a second route […]
Fire Safety Signs: What Every Workplace Needs to Get Right
In an emergency, people rely on signs to find the way out. If signs are missing, faded, blocked or confusing, even a well-planned evacuation can go wrong. Signs that most workplaces need Exit and escape route signs that lead people along the way out and make final exits clear. Fire door signs such as “Fire […]
Legionella Control for Part-Time Premises: Clubs, Halls and Holiday Lets
Some buildings are busy at weekends and quiet the rest of the week. Others are full all summer and empty all winter. These patterns create exactly the conditions legionella bacteria like: water that sits unused for days or weeks. Who is this for? Community and parish halls Sports and social clubs Holiday homes and self-catering […]
Dead Legs and Little-Used Outlets: Hidden Legionella Risks in Pipework
Legionella bacteria thrive where water is warm and does not move. That makes two features of building pipework worth a closer look: dead legs and little-used outlets. What is a dead leg? A dead leg is a section of pipework that no longer serves an outlet, or serves one that is rarely used. Water inside […]
Fire Evacuation Drills: How to Run One That Actually Works
A fire evacuation plan on paper is a good start. A drill shows whether it works in real life. Regular drills help people react calmly and quickly if the alarm goes off for real. Before the drill Check your plan against your fire risk assessment so everyone is practising the actual escape routes. Choose who […]
Fire Alarm Systems: Testing, Servicing and Keeping a Record
A fire alarm system is one of your most important safety measures. It gives people early warning so they can leave safely. But it only does that if it has been looked after. Design and standards In Ireland, the standard for the design, installation and servicing of fire detection and alarm systems in buildings is […]
Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Workplace
Not every fire extinguisher is right for every fire. Putting the wrong type in the wrong place can make a small fire worse, which is why the choice should follow your fire risk assessment rather than a quick shopping trip. The main types and what they are typically used for Water: suited to fires involving […]