Frequently asked questions
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There are 5 different types of extinguishers:
- Wet Chemical Extinguisher are yellow.
- Water Extinguishers are a solid red colour.
- Foam Spray Extinguisher – (also known as AFFF extinguishers) are cream coloured.
- Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher – these extinguishers are coloured black.
- Dry Powder Extinguisher – these extinguishers are coloured blue.
- Fire Blankets – although not an actual “fire extinguisher”, fire blankets can be used to extinguish fires.
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There are 3 different ways a for a fire to spread. Through:
- Convection – is when heat from liquids and gases is transferred from hot to cold areas via particles that become lighter through heat.
- Conduction – is when heat moves through objects or materials.
- Radiation – is when heat transfers via empty space to another object. An example is a candle making your hand warm when you put your hand close to it.
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The employer or owner is responsible for fire safety, they can either designate themselves as the appropriate person or assign an appropriate person – here at iHasco James Lakeman is our Health and Safety Manager and Fire Warden. This person must arrange for a fire risk assessment to be carried out at a business and must, therefore, ensure the right safety measures are put in place to deal with a fire.
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Yes, it’s a legal requirement. As a responsible person, you must ensure that you provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training. Whether you create your own approved training or supply the training from somewhere else, you have a responsibility to ensure your employee’s safety.
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Fire risk assessments will indicate where your fire assembly points should be. Assembly points should be clearly signposted. Upon joining a company staff should be made aware of where their fire assembly point is.
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You should test your fire alarm once a week at work.
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The ‘Responsible person’ should conduct the fire safety risk assessments.
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Fire Drills should be conducted normally every 3 months if working in a place where there are serious fire hazards, but in some workplaces, it could be every 6 months.
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If you discover a fire the first thing you must do is raise the fire alarm, then you tell everyone to evacuate if they haven’t begun to do so anyway.
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Yes. If you set off a fire alarm when there is no fire, you are subject to a £2500 fine or 12 months imprisonment.
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No. As of October 2013, no first aid training course can claim to be HSE Approved. However, any first aid training courses should be able to show that they meet the criteria set by the HSE. You can find out more on our blog about first aid training!
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The legislation surrounding this question is actually very vague, and doesn’t give a definitive answer to the question. However, the type of work you carry out and the number of people that you employ will determine the number of first aiders that you’re legally required to employ. So, it’s always advised you carry out a first aid needs assessment, and regularly update it. In a high-risk workplace, it is advised that you have one first aider for every 50 employees you have. Find out more about low risk and high risk workplace first aid requirements on our blog.
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This decision should be one influenced by your first aid needs assessment. However, a low risk workplace may contain the following:
- individually wrapped plasters of different sizes
- eye pads
- bandages
- safety pins
- disposable gloves
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It is considered good practice to have a designated book in which you can report incidents in the workplace. In the long run, this will help you identify recurring accidents at work, and give you an idea of accident trends and help you be better prepared to deal with similar situations. However, this isn’t to be confused with an accident record book, which is required by law. But the two may be combined into one.
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Though we are not able to give any specific advice on this issue, it is extremely unlikely that legal action would be taken against somebody performing first aid, as long as they were qualified and following best practices. We recommend that you seek legal advice or advice from your employer’s insurance on whether or not their policies cover first-aiders’ liability. You can find out more on our blog about the topic.
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This responsibility would usually belong to the first-aider or appointed person who looks after the book. However, employers have the overall responsibility and would be held liable for this not being completed.
Documents & other resources
Fire Safety Checklist
Fire is a threat to every business. Around 70% of businesses fail within 3 years of a major fire. Download our checklist today!
Fire Safety roles & responsibilities
This guide will focus on the statistics, business owner responsibilities, risk assessments, evacuations and more…
Fire Classifications Chart
This free printable PDF explains the different fire classifications including classes A, B, C, D, F and Electrical.
Fire Safety Awareness Poster
Here are some simple preventative tips to keep our business fire-safe…
Fire Safety considerations when returning to work in light of COVID-19
It's likely that there has been some changes to how you do business that will have a direct impact on your current fire safety measures.
When Should You Call the Fire Service
This free printable PDF gives clear guidance on the process which should be followed when calling the fire service.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force on the 1st of October 2006 and repeals and revokes all previous fire legislation in England and Wales.
AFFF Foam Fire Extinguishers
AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) fire extinguishers are ideal for any office environment.
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for Schools
This form should be completed for anyone who requires assistance with any aspect of an emergency evacuation.
People at Risk in a Fire Emergency
The risk assessment must pay particular attention to people who may be particularly at risk in a fire situation. They could include…
Fire Extinguishers Chart
The extinguishers chart provides a simple look-up table reminding you which fire extinguisher is suitable for which class of fire.
Fire Classifications Chart
This free printable PDF explains the different fire classifications including classes A, B, C, D, F and Electrical.
