Life Safety & Security January 2021

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Article UpdateWhy isFire Safety inthe Workplace Important?Making sure a workplace is fire safe is one of the most importantresponsibilities an employer has to their employees and thegeneral public.As fire safety awareness has increased and health and safetylegislation has improved in this area, the amount of fire-relateddeaths in the workplace has steadily gone down over a thirty yearperiod. There is still a long way to go, however, with around22,000 workplace fires happening annually and several fatalitiesevery year. Fire safety training plays a crucial role in continuingthe positive trend towards fewer deaths and injuries, and one daypossibly eliminating workplace fires altogether.Safety FirstThe most crucial aspect of fire safety is how it protects people. In2016-17, there were 17 recorded deaths from workplace fires inthe UK; 11 died from fires started accidentally, six from fires thatoccurred on purpose. These shocking numbers illustrate howimportant fire safety is for employers and the terribleconsequences when things go wrong.In early August 2018, an explosion and fire at the Chemring52January - 2021Countermeasures military equipment facility in Salisbury killedone person and seriously injured another. As well as the tragichuman cost of the incident, the firm suffered extensive financiallosses. They were unable to resume production for some timedue to the damage and their annual profits were expected to dropby up to £20 million.The Chemring Countermeasures incident is an extreme example,leading to the worst possible outcome of a fire: loss of life. Thereare unfortunately many examples of workplace fires that havecaused injuries, damage to buildings, loss of earnings and even ahazard to the people living in the surrounding areas, with nearbyresidents often being advised to close their windows and doorsto prevent inhalation of potentially toxic fumes.An Employer's ResponsibilityFire safety is important to all employees and visitors to a worksite and it's reasonable to expect that everyone does their shareto minimise the dangers. This includes following all fire safetyprocedures and recalling all fire safety training they have beengiven.
Legally, the responsibility for complying with fire legislation fallsto the "responsible person" in an organisation. That can be theowner, employer, occupier, landlord or building manager of a site.Failure to comply with fire safety legislation – especially afterbeing warned that your facilities are in violation of the law – cancarry stiff penalties. When the Radnor Hotel in Bayswater,London was inspected in 2015, inspectors raised several seriousconcerns including the lack of a working alarm system, amissing fire risk assessment, missing fire doors and emergencylighting in bad conditions. The owner, Salim Patel, did notaddress these concerns to the satisfaction of the authorities andwas eventually taken to court by the London Fire Brigade. He washanded a fine of £200,000 and a four month suspended prisonsentence for risking the lives of guests and staff with inadequatefire safety measures.Steps to TakeBecoming fire safe doesn't have to be particularly expensive ortime-consuming for a business but making a small investment inquality fire training for staff, adequate equipment and a solidunderstanding of the relevant legislation can be the mostimportant decision a company makes.All companies must ensure they have completed a fire riskassessment, which should be revisited often. This needs toidentify fire hazards, any people at higher risk, evaluations of allrelevant factors and an emergency evacuation plan. Thishighlights any potential issues before they become a problemand can help with minimising fire risk in that particular setting. Itis also a handy way of keeping track of fire safety measuresalready in place, such as fire extinguishers and emergencylighting, and of checking that these are still fit for purpose.Staff must be trained in fire safety, be aware of the riskassessment and its findings and know how to safely get out ofthe building if a fire breaks out.Fire safety is one of the most important aspects of health andsafety in the workplace. Most workplaces, be they offices,shops, building sites, factories or laboratories, contain multiplepotential fire hazards. By identifying these promptly and takingthe proper steps to minimise them, you can make sure your siteis safe from the devastating consequences of a workplace fire.Article UpdateThese Things Can Cause aFire at Your WorkplaceWhen fire breaks out at your workplace, the results could bedevastating. You might suffer a total loss. At the least, cleanupfrom a fire is costly and time-consuming. During this process,you could also lose valuable employees and preciouscustomers/clients. The aftermath can take a toll on your patienceand bottom line. Who has the time or energy to put up with thatsort of frustration?Thankfully, there are ways you can notice potential fire risks andtake steps toward their solutions. The process includesemployee training, vigilance in fire safety, and safeguarding yourorganization with proper insurance.While there’s no way to guarantee fire will never plague yourplace of business, practicing vigilance is the essential first stepto avoiding possible pitfalls. Use these suggestions to getstarted:Recognize HazardsAs you’re focused on the growth and prosperity of yourbusiness, it can be difficult to stay on top of every minute detail.Still, by being aware of potential fire issues, you put yourself andteam members in the position to avoid potential fire issues.For instance, electrical issues are a major cause of workplacefires. Ensure the electrical system at your building is up to code,and educate employees on the proper use of electricalequipment around the workplace. It’s also essential to keepflammable liquids and other combustible materials properlystored and secured at all times.Now’s also an ideal time to review your company’s firesuppression insurance coverage. Speak with a knowledgeableinsurance agent who can review your company’s policies andmake important suggestions for thorough coverage.January - 2021 53
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Volume 10 Issue 01 January 2021
Page 8: 72, Siddhi Vinayak Estate, Opp. Ram
Page 22: “DealerEnquiriesSolicited”
Page 26: News UpdateHeathrow installs biomet
Page 29 and 30: Product UpdateJanuary - 2021 27
Page 32: Article Updatelimits the number of
Page 36 and 37: As building managers and floor supe
Page 38 and 39: There is no room for error in resto
Page 42: Every WorkplaceDeath is a TragedyOu
Page 45 and 46: Article UpdateCut-resistant glovesH
Page 47 and 48: industry. The heavy weight of the e
Page 49 and 50: Article UpdateTop Benefitsof a Busi
Page 51 and 52: Fire FightingArticleStudy CasePress
Page 53: Article UpdateFire protection doors
Page 57 and 58: How to Prevent Fires fromStarting i
Page 59 and 60: Security IndustryArticle UpdateCase
Page 61 and 62: Tech Updateeffectively to potential
Page 63 and 64: Why touchlessidentification isthe
Page 65 and 66: Solving key and accesscontrol chall
Page 67 and 68: Matrix Comsec wins the prestigiousQ
Page 69 and 70: Safe + Sound week is an American in
Page 71 and 72: Case Studyliability for workplace i
Page 73 and 74: Product UpdateVertiguard Automated
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Life Safety & Security January 2021