Fire safety should top small business agendas

Small business owners have a wide range of obligations, but perhaps one of the most important is making sure their premises are as fire safe as possible.

After all, it's your legal duty to protect staff from the risk of fire, so it really does make a difference to pay attention to every little detail at your place of work.

Following these simple steps could help you avoid making a claim on your business interruption insurance and may even save lives in the process.

Regular servicing

Should your business regularly use large machinery, it's essential to get it serviced on a regular basis.

The older equipment gets, the more hazardous it becomes, so having a licensed electrician take a look on at least an annual basis will give peace of mind, while also enhancing your safety.

Smoke alarms

You'll also need to ensure all smoke alarms in your business premises are in full working order. Press the test button at least once a week to be certain.

It's also important to have the right number of working smoke alarms in place for the size of your premises, otherwise you could find they don't work as they should.

Storage of dangerous goods

Some substances you have on your business premises can prove especially dangerous, so it's up to you to make sure they're stored away properly.

This means keeping them out of the way of your workers and any equipment that has the potential to start a fire.

Be water aware

Water and electricity don't mix, which is an important mantra to remember when you're a small business owner trying to keep everyone safe.

Keep any connections away from water and you can help reduce the likelihood of an electrical fire, which has the potential to cause widespread problems for your company.