Proper fire safety precautions saves lives

We came upon this good advice from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, which equally applies to the Republic.

It is a legal requirement for employers to ensure fire safety onsite to protect the workplace, its employees, and visitors. For this reason, business owners must perform a fire risk assessment and introduce any necessary precautions and training to keep people safe at all times.

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service annually attends to thousands of large fires, and many often occur in businesses in various industries, such as factories, shops, warehouses, and offices. For example, 70 firefighters tackled a major blaze at a recycling plant in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, in January (2025).

Fire safety is imperative, and it is vital for employers adhere to various legal obligations for businesses. Continue reading to learn more.

Current Regulations
Businesses of all sizes must adhere to the main laws specific to Northern Ireland. To keep your employees safe and protect your premises, you must comply with laws from The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services (NIFRS) Order 2006 and The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. The 2006 order covers all structures, buildings, and places that aren’t deemed domestic properties.

Every employer has a responsibility to ensure their premises adhere to the strict standards and must provide employees with the appropriate fire safety training. For instance, all staff members should receive general fire awareness training, periodic refresher courses, and extra training if operational changes increase fire risks,

Also, you must regularly complete fire risk assessments to pinpoint potential fire hazards, assess the possible risks, and introduce the best solutions to prevent them, such as:

• Fire extinguishers
• Fire blankets
• CO2 extinguishers
• Foam extinguishers
• Fire suppression systems
• Fire alarms
• Water fire extinguishers
• Smoke alarms
• CO2 alarms
• Fire doors

The Importance of Safety Signage
Fire safety signage is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland, as it plays a crucial role in preventing fires and protecting employees. All commercial premises must ensure they introduce the appropriate signage to keep staff safe at all times. For example, if your warehouse, factory, or manufacturing business stores drum pallets or other materials in a chemical storage area, it must display highly visible flammable warning signage to warn all staff members that dangerous substances are stored onsite.

Best Practices to Reduce Risks
There are essential steps you must take to reduce your business’s risk of a fire. For example, you must:

• Install fire detection systems (introduce smoke alarms and heat detectors and routinely test them to ensure they are in working order)

• Strategically position fire extinguishers across the premises, especially in high-risk areas, such as kitchens, near electrical equipment, and inside storage rooms.

• Ensure fire exits and escape routes remain clear from obstructions and are always accessible.

• Train staff on fire safety regulations to keep the workplace safe and ensure they act appropriately and swiftly in the event of a fire.

• Routinely inspect electronic equipment and professionally repair or dispose of damaged or malfunctioning technology.

• Safely store flammable materials, such as chemicals, cleaning supplies, and other hazardous substances.

• Introduce a clear evacuation plan to ensure employees safely and quickly exit the premises during a fire. It should include marked escape routes, strict procedures, and designated assembly points.

Conclusion
Fires can kill and cost businesses a considerable amount of money. Keep your employees and premises safe by gaining an in-depth understanding of NIFRS’s legal requirements (NB this may vary in the Republic), displaying the applicable signage across the business, and taking the necessary steps to reduce the business’s risk of a fire.

Remember, you must continually assess and act on potential risks and remain committed to following best practices to protect the lives of all staff members, customers, and visitors each day.

This link leads you to Fire Safety Guides For Businesses: https://www.nifrs.org/home/staying-safe/business-fire-safety/fire-safety-guides/