The information below will help you understand and develop an emergency plan for your business or premises.
Understanding your emergency plan
An emergency plan is a crucial blueprint for safeguarding your business or premises from fire hazards. If you're responsible for any property that isn't a private residence, it's your legal duty to have a fire safety strategy in place.
Key elements of an emergency plan
Your emergency plan should include the following essentials:
- fire detection: confirm the presence of a reliable fire detection system and specify the areas it covers
- false alarm record: maintain a log for false alarms, detailing each occurrence
- 999 calls: establish a clear procedure for making emergency calls and ensure everyone knows who is responsible for calling 999
- escape routes: regularly check that all escape routes are unobstructed and lead to a safe area
- signage: ensure that the paths to fire exits are clearly marked with signs
- emergency lighting: verify that emergency lighting is present along escape routes to guide people in case of a fire
- doors: check that all doors, especially emergency exits, are easily operable
- staff training: document that all staff members have received fire safety training and understand the emergency procedures
- personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs): prepare individual evacuation plans for those with special needs and train staff to assist them
Additional considerations for your emergency plan:
- immediate action: define the steps to take upon discovering a fire
- alerting others: determine how to warn others in the building about the fire
- evacuation methods: decide on the evacuation method and train staff accordingly
- power isolation: identify who is responsible for shutting down power sources if necessary
- accounting for everyone: establish a system to ensure all individuals have evacuated
- communication with emergency services: assign someone to communicate essential details to the fire service
- awareness of escape routes: make sure everyone is informed about the escape routes and assembly points
- fire fighting equipment: ensure that there is accessible fire-fighting equipment and that people know how to use it
Testing and formalising your emergency plan
Regularly practice the emergency plan with all staff and visitors. Consider formalising your plan if:
- you've received an alterations notice
- you operate a licensed establishment like a pub, club, or cinema
By refining these points, your emergency plan becomes a clear, actionable guide that everyone can follow in case of an emergency.