Did you know that 86% of businesses that have a fire never recover from it? Between 2015 and 2021, our firefighters attended 491 incidents in Merseyside takeaways. Don't become a statistic, follow our advice to keep your takeaway business safe from fire.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is committed to improving fire safety standards in business premises and works closely with local authorities in order to do this. If you need help in getting your business up to standard in terms of fire safety, please get in touch.
What must I do?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes YOU responsible for taking steps to protect the people using your premises from the risk of fire. If you don't take fire safety seriously, your business could be shut down and you could be prosecuted.
CASE STUDY: In November 2020, a landlord and takeaway owner based in Kensington, Liverpool were prosecuted after not taking adequate measures to reduce the risk of fire. They had failed to adhere to general fire safety precautions to ensure the safety of residents living above the takeaway.
They had previously pleaded guilty to offences committed under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order (2005) and were sentenced today, for a term of 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years to be served concurrently for the offences committed. They were further sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard how as a result of a serious fire at Abe's pizza shop, in Kensington, two men were forced to escape via windows from the upper floor accommodation. One man fell from the second floor and sustained serious injuries. Read the full story on our website here.
To help ensure your business is compliant with fire safety legislation, you should MAKE SURE YOU COMPLETE A FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
A fire risk assessment is a thorough look at your premises and the people who are likely to use them. It considers the risk of fire breaking out and what measures you need to put in place to prevent it and keep people safe.
Follow these key steps:
- Identify fire hazards
- Identify people at risk
- Evaluate, remove or reduce and protect from risk
- Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
- Review your fire risk assessment regularly
ENSURE YOU:
- Fit an alarm to provide early warning in case of fire
- Keep escape routes clear of obstructions and things that can burn
- Keep fire exits unlocked
- NEVER wedge open a fire door or remove a door closing device
- Enclose staircases with fire resisting construction to ensure all exit routes are safe
- Make sure firefighting equipment is maintained
DO YOU HAVE A FIRE ACTION PLAN?
This must (where appropriate) include the following features:
- What you do on discovering a fire.
- Warning if there is a fire - how will you, staff and customers be alerted to a fire?
- Calling the Fire & Rescue Service - in the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999 immediately.
- Evacuation of the premises, including those particularly at risk. What steps need to be taken to isolate power?
- Places of assembly and roll call - you need to select a safe place where you can check everyone is present following evacuation.
- Liaison with emergency services and identification of key escape routes.
- The firefighting equipment provided.
- Specific responsibilities in the event of a fire - do any of your staff need training on what to do?
- Provision of information to relevant persons.
USEFUL LINKS:
- Is your takeaway too hot to handle? - fire safety leaflet
- For more information on keeping your business safe from arson, please read our 'Safer Business' leaflet on our website here.
Have questions about your business that aren't related to fire safety? If you're in Liverpool, you can contact:
Liverpool City Council Housing by calling 0151 233 3055 or emailing privatesector.housing@liverpool.gov.uk
Environmental Health by emailing environmental.health@liverpool.gov.uk or visit www.liverpool.gov.uk/business/environmental-health