How Often Should You Do Fire Drills?
All workplaces need fire safety provisions and procedures so that, in the event of a fire, employees know what to do to safely exit the building and alert the relevant emergency services. But how often should you be doing fire drills? Are there any other checks you should be doing? Read on to find out.
As a general rule of thumb, all employees should run through a fire drill at least once a year. However, because it isn’t guaranteed that your entire workforce will be present on the scheduled date of the fire drill, it is good practice to have two fire drills each year, giving employees a reasonable chance of being present for at least one of them. Some premises, such as care homes, may need to have fire drills more frequently as some people may need assistance in evacuating and staff will need to be well trained and practiced in this. The results of fire drills should be recorded and retained as part of your fire safety procedure. Particular attention should be paid to feedback from participants who may have concerns or questions about the drill.
In addition to this, you should also be making sure that your fire detection system and equipment is in good working order. Regular checks should cover:
- All fire alarm systems in your premises
- Emergency lighting
- Fire escapes
- Fire exit signs
- Automatic fire doors
You should record any faults you find when carrying out checks and have them rectified immediately.
For more information on fire drills, or to book a Free Review, call on 0844 8797286.
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