COVID-19 Fire Safety Advice for Businesses

Posted by City Fire Protection Services on 4th March 2021 -

COVID-19 has changed the landscape of the entire country, particularly for businesses. For the foreseeable future, lives, jobs and operations have been changed and we’ll all be working to find ways of moving forwards. Few sectors in the business world have been left untouched because of the lockdown measures used to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, but what does the future look like for those businesses still continuing? 

This month we’re going to look at how COVID-19 has impacted businesses and provide guidance on fire safety for companies continuing to operate or looking to reopen in some capacity.

How COVID-19 Has and Will Impact Businesses

Since March 2020, many businesses have been unable to operate in any capacity due to strict guidelines on which businesses are deemed essential. Some non-essential businesses have been able to carry on due to their ability to provide contactless service, but where close quarters are required, it’s been against the rules to reopen.

This will mean a number of different things for different businesses, but one thing it certainly impacts is fire safety for commercial premises. Whether your building, shop or complex has been re-imagined as a different working space or it’s been totally unoccupied and you’re looking to start up again, there is plenty to consider.

Fire Risk Assessments for Businesses

All non-domestic premises require a fire risk assessment, and while it might not feel necessary if the business is not actually running right now, if anything, it’s more necessary than ever. It’s your legal duty to ensure everything has been done to reduce the risk of a fire and protect lives. 

Those who were expecting a periodic review of their risk assessment may have postponed it, but here’s why it shouldn’t be put off any longer.

• If you plan to open your business soon, it’ll be easier to have a risk assessment carried out for the empty property, helping with social distancing and ensuring the building is ready for staff to return to.
• For those businesses not due to have an annual review, but with changes to where staff or materials will be located, it’s important to have a new fire risk assessment to ensure that new arrangements are adhering to fire safety guidelines.