Festive fire safety: Top tips for protecting Gloucestershire businesses, staff and customers this Christmas

The festive season is a bustling time for businesses across Gloucestershire, with increased stock, decorations and customer footfall meaning fire safety could be overlooked. Businesses can keep fire-safe this Christmas with the help of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service — read on for top tips!

By Kaleigh Pritchard | Published Wednesday 4 December 2024

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service helps businesses in the county stay fire-safe during the festive season with helpful information and tips.

With the festive season bringing increased activity to businesses across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, fire safety can often be overlooked — but a succinct plan and risk assessment can be critical to protecting lives and livelihoods.

Beware of blocked exits

A busy Christmas period means ordering more stock, which also means increased inventory inadvertently blocking fire exits.

Make sure to double check all escape routes are clearly marked and easy to access at all times.

Understand the latest legislation

What many local businesses may not know is that fire safety legislation was updated just over a year ago — meaning updates may be necessary.

This emphasises the importance of fire risk assessments and keeping them up-to-date, and with the new year just around the corner, it could be the perfect time to review and renew fire safety measures.

How to conduct a comprehensive fire risk assessment

Step one: Identify fire hazards

Identify potential sources of ignition, such as heaters, decorative lights, fuel, stock and packaging, as well as sources of oxygen that will stoke up fires.

Step two: Identify people at risk

Consider everyone who might be on the premises, especially vulnerable individuals such as staff members who are working late, customers with disabilities or temporary seasonal staff.

Step three: Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk

Assess the probability of fire, as well as the impact that it can have on people onsite. Then remove or reduce hazards, by safely managing excess stock, for example, before implementing measures to protect staff and visitors.

Step four: Record, plan, inform, instruct and train

Once the assessment has been carried out, document all the findings and actions that have been taken. Then develop a clear emergency plan, ensuring that everyone knows their role and responsibilities, providing ongoing training to empower employees to feel that they can handle fire emergencies with confidence.

Step five: Review

Fire risks evolve, so assessments do need to be regularly reviewed, particularly during high-demand periods like Christmas, and plans and procedures need to be updated as appropriate.

For more information and guidance, visit the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service website at gloucestershire.gov.uk/glosfire.

In partnership with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service | gloucestershire.gov.uk/glosfire

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service