Don’t let your business go up in smoke: new fire hazards you might not know about

02 February, 2021

What can cause a workplace fire?

There are three elements needed for a fire to start: oxygen, an ignition source and fuel. If conditions are right, almost any material can act as a fuel. Fires can be started on purpose, i.e. through arson, or by accident. Examples of accidental fires include those started by:

Faulty wiring
Cooking equipment
Badly-placed cigarettes
Gas explosions
Stray fireworks

Which types of businesses are likely to have a fire?

Some premises are more of a fire risk than others. You won’t be surprised to read about fire hazards in restaurants and takeaways. However, retail and service-based businesses can also be affected. In late 2023, an arson attack destroyed an ice cream shop in Scotland. Other notable recent fires include one in a department store that spread to two more shops and the headquarters of the local Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Staying up-to-date with the latest fire hazards to businesses

As new products hit the market, fire risks change. Here are some fast-growing risks to look out for:

E-bikes

If a member of your team wanted to use an e-bike to miss the traffic, you may not think twice about letting them charge the battery on your premises. However, faulty e-bike chargers are responsible for a growing number of fires. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) noted an 80% increase in e-bike fires between 2021 and 2022. By September 2023, LFB had dealt with more e-bike fires than in the whole of 2022. In one case, an apartment block was engulfed by flames started by an e-bike charging in a garden. There are now calls for tighter regulation to improve the safety standards of e-bike and e-scooter batteries.

Air fryers

Unfortunately, as ‘air fryer’ isn’t a specific incident category in fire incident reports, there are no official figures. That said, Home Office data shows that there were almost 100 fires in England in 2023 with ‘air fryer’ mentioned in the additional information field. This represents a 403% increase compared to 2022. If you’re considering adding an air fryer to your kitchen facilities, make sure you choose a model which has automatic shut-off and overheat protection. You also need to keep the area around the air fryer clear of other objects.

Vapes

Although businesses can be fined up to £2,500 if they don’t stop people smoking in the workplace or up to £1,000 if they don’t display ‘no smoking’ signs, the use of e-cigarettes, a known fire safety risk, is at an employers’ discretion.

Are workplace fires preventable?

Many are. The correct training enables employees to reduce fire risk.

How can we prevent a workplace fire?

We don’t have room to go into detail, but here are some ideas to get you started. If you want to know more, you can take one of our online courses or book an on-site fire safety course at your workplace.

Good Housekeeping

Store flammable materials correctly
Maintain clean and tidy premises (a significant build-up of dust can cause fires)
Keep fire exits clear
Don’t daisy chain extension leads

PAT testing

Regularly test electrical items

Maintain equipment correctly

Carry out routine tests and checks on:

Fire doors
Extinguishers
Alarms
Signage
Emergency lighting

Educate your team and visitors

Have clear policies
Provide training
Ensure people are aware of the risks of bringing substandard chargers to work

Additional risks in care homes

Residential care homes and hospices can offer individual smoking rooms but only for residents. If you operate one of these businesses, ensure that any smoking rooms are well-ventilated to prevent smoke from getting into other rooms. You should also be aware that the LFB warns against vaping near emollient cream, medical oxygen or airflow mattresses.

Additional risks for other businesses

Tumble dryers are a known fire risk thanks to the potential for lint to build up. If you don’t believe us, have a look at MrLintGuy on TikTok! If you operate a beauty salon, hairdressers, pet grooming business, hotel or B&B, make sure your tumble dryer filters (there may be more than one) and vent hoses are cleaned regularly.