Dorset businesses urged to be fire safe
It comes as many, often independent, businesses are having to deal with rising costs
Businesses in Dorset are being urged to protect themselves and staff from fire incidents.
With many, often independent, businesses feeling the brunt of the energy crisis, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue is asking them not to put fire safety at the bottom of the priority list.
Business Fire Safety Manager Emma Turner said:
“So many fires in the workplace are preventable, so our main focus this year has been the introduction of business fire safety checks.
"These came about following some great collaborative work between the training, inspection and business support teams within our Protection department, and our operational crews, who are now out and about supporting small businesses within Dorset and Wiltshire.
Dealing with rising costs
Businesses up and down the country are having to deal with increases in supplier costs, energy bills, toppled with the need to pay staff fairer wages amid rising costs of living.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio Dorset, Fire Safety Manager, Graham Kewley, from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue, told us why it's important for businesses to have the proper protection in place:
"We're very conscious at the moment that the cost of living is impacting a number of businesses, in particular those small businesses.
"It's really important that we get the message across, that we're there to work with businesses, we'd rather they come to us for advice and guidance. Particularly now, as people are considering how they spend their money."
Free checks
Using their detailed local knowledge, fire crews are making contact with small businesses to offer a free check.
This involves meeting with the responsible person at the business, to give simple advice on how to make the premises - and the people within it - safer from the risk of fire, or confirm that they’re doing the right thing regarding fire safety.
Business Fire Safety Manager Emma Turner said:
“In the most recent quarter, crews completed some 240 such checks, and around 10% of these resulted in follow-ups by a Fire Safety Officer.
"This new process is bringing great value to our local communities, by improving fire safety in the places where people shop, work, play and visit, and helps to ensure that our local businesses continue to flourish and prosper.
“We don’t expect businesses to be experts, which is why we are here to provide help and advice. We encourage businesses to work with us to help prevent fires to help them remain productive, safe and legal."
Further information for businesses, including how to complete a fire risk assessment, can be found on the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue website.