Warehouse Fire Safety Risk Assessments: What You Need To Include

We recently published a comprehensive warehouse health and safety policy checklist. In this post we will take a closer look at fire safety risk assessments for warehouses. This is a guide for warehouse owners and managers to help you ensure you are doing all you can to protect your staff, your stock, and your premises from the risk of fire.

Why is Fire a Serious Risk For Warehouses?

Fire is a serious risk for any business. But warehouses especially are particularly vulnerable to fire.

Warehouses are filled from floor to ceiling with large quantities of stock. Even if this stock is not itself flammable, then the components use to store the stock might well be: Wood, cardboard, packing materials, and so on.

So, if a fire breaks out in a warehouse, the sheer volume of combustible materials mean that the fire could rapidly spread before anyone has a chance to contain it.

What To Include in Your Warehouse Fire Safety Risk Assessment

There should be five steps to your warehouse fire risk assessment:

1. Identify the possible fire hazards
2. Identify who is at risk
3. Determine how you can manage, mitigate, or eliminate these risks
4. Record the steps you take to address the risks
5. Periodically review your assessment

Step 1 – Identify The Possible Fire Hazards in Your Warehouse

You need to identify all sources of:

• Ignition – This could include naked flames, such as cigarettes, matches, and lighters; vehicle exhausts; faulty or misused electrical equipment; heat sources such as gas, electric, and microwaves; friction generated by mechanical processes; and sparks from bonfires, welding apparatus, and other processes. Also check any equipment for hot surfaces and make sure their ventilation ports are not obstructed.
• Fuel – As well as your stock, identify all flammable liquids and chemicals, such as cleaning products, paints, varnishes, and spirits; flammable gases such as aerosols and LPG cannisters; and materials such as plastics, rubber, paper, textiles, soft furnishings, insultation, and timber.
• Oxygen – Fire needs a source of oxygen to burn. If a fire breaks out in your warehouse, the air itself will provide this oxygen. But there may be additional sources of oxygen which could help the fire to spread. For example, certain chemicals might act as oxidising agents, and welding and other processes make use of oxygen cylinders.

Step 2 – Identify Who Is At Risk

If a fire were to break out in your warehouse, who would be at risk?

All employees would be at risk, of course. But you should pay particular attention to:

• Anyone who works alone, such as cleaners or security staff, and employees who work in isolated areas.
• Employees who are less familiar with your premises and processes, such as contractors, customers, delivery drivers, and seasonal workers.
• Employees with mobility issues, or language issues.

These are employees who may need extra support in effectively responding to a fire breakout. You may need to consult such employees in order to fully understand their individual needs, and how you could accommodate them.

Step 3 – Determine How You Can Manage, Mitigate, or Eliminate These Risks

Once you understand the possible sources of fire, and once you have identified who is at risk, you need to outline how you are going to manage these risks.

The specific steps you take will depend on the risks you have identified, but it might involve the following:

Staff training

Ensure that everybody understands the fire risks in your warehouse, and the role they can play in managing these risks. Also ensure that everyone understands the proper evacuation procedure in the event of an outbreak, including those you identified in step 2, who may be particularly at risk.

Addressing sources of ignition

This could include setting designated areas for smoking, for burning waste, for welding, and for other activities and processes that could create sparks or naked flames. You could also ensure that all electrical equipment is regularly inspected, and properly installed, used, and maintained.

Addressing sources of fuel

You might have to rethink how you store certain items. For example, you should not store combustible solids, liquids, and gases in the same space. You should also ensure that there is adequate spacing between any stacks of stored stock, and you should review your security systems to reduce the risk of arson.

Address sources of oxygen

Set some best practice guidelines. For example, any doors, windows, or other openings that are not required for ventilation should be kept shut as much as possible. You should also avoid storing any oxidising agents near any sources of heat, or flammable materials.

Review your fire safety equipment and procedures

Are your fire extinguishers all in code, and suitable for fighting the sort of fires that could break out? Are you fire alarms, emergency lights, and sprinkler systems in good working order? Do all staff, including any temps or seasonal workers, understand the procedures to follow should a fire break out? Are your fire exits clearly marked, and are all escape routes clear of obstructions?

Step 4 – Record The Steps You Take to Address The Risks

Keep a record of any risks you identify, including those members of staff who may be particularly at risk, along with any action you take to address these risks.

Also keep a record of any additional staff training requirements you identify. And if you meet with any staff members to discuss their individual needs, keep a record of this discussion, and of the agreed actions.

Keeping such records will prove invaluable should any enforcing authority ever call upon you to evidence your fire risk management procedures. Your records will also act as a benchmark, which you can refer to when reviewing your fire risk management procedures.

Step 5 – Periodically Review Your Risk Assessment

You should periodically review your fire risk assessment in order to ensure that you are managing all existing risks while effectively responding to any new or emerging risks.

At minimum, you should review your fire risk assessment once a year. But you should also review your fire safety policies and procedures whenever you make any significant changes to your warehouse operations, including:

• Substantial changes to the working patterns, including the acquisition of new equipment
• Alterations to the warehouse premises, including any changes to the furniture, fixtures, and fittings.
• Major staff overhauls, such as the recruitment of seasonal staff or contractors.

Get The Right Cover For Your Warehouse

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your business. We can help you get the dedicated cover you need for your warehouse. We can also show you how to evidence your fire risk management procedures to your insurer, which could help you make a saving on the cost of cover.

Learn more about our specialist office insurance services, or to speak to someone call us on 0330 024 0755  or email enterprisenb@jameshallam.co.uk