Car garages are dangerous places by their very nature, being full of electrical equipment, vehicle parts, chemicals and many other hazards. While garage owners will have a number of health and safety processes and procedures in place, when it comes to fire safety, many businesses are falling short. Where some garages are simply missing a fire extinguisher or two, others are completely ignoring their fire safety duties and responsibilities altogether. This means a huge proportion of businesses are leaving themselves open to being issued fines and actually experiencing a fire outbreak at their premises. Here at Twenty4 Fire and Security, we work with all types of businesses across South Wales and Bristol, providing tailored fire safety solutions to ensure our customers are covering themselves and remaining safe at work. Below, we look at a few fire safety-related recommendations car mechanics should be thinking about.
Conduct PAT tests
From ramps and tools to the much-needed coffee machine, nearly everything inside a car garage is powered by electricity, therefore needs to be plugged into a power source. This is why ensuring all of the plug-in devices found at the garage need to be PAT tested. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) comprises of visual inspections and testing of electrical equipment. Tests include earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance checks, all conducted with the intention of preventing electrical fires.
Get the right fire extinguishers
Many businesses simply buy in a few fire extinguishers to show that they have taken precautions. However, there are a huge variety of fire extinguishers, all of which are designed to extinguish specific fires caused by specific materials and properties. For mechanics, it is fair to suggest that CO2 extinguishers will be required given that they are predominantly used for an electrical fire. This will be in addition to Class B fire extinguishers which can extinguish fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol.
Maintain fire alarms
While most garages will have a fire alarm installed, many devices are left idle, not regularly checked or maintained to ensure they are working efficiently. For business owners, they need confidence in their fire and security equipment, knowing that in an emergency situation they will work perfectly. This is why regular fire alarm drills and full maintenance checks are paramount, especially for businesses like car garages.
Fire risk assessments in Cardiff
There are hundreds of ways you can protect your garage from the threat of fire. However, to uncover exactly what your threats are and who is most at risk you will need to conduct a fire risk assessment. These need to be conducted annually by law.
How Twenty4 Fire and Security can help your business
If you are looking to enhance the safety of your business then we at Twenty4 Fire and Security would be happy to help, offering a long list of services at commendable rates. Fire safety services include fire alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, fire risk assessments and much more. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote on any of our services.
