Look after your Employees working from home in these unprecedented times!

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As an Employer, you have the same Health & Safety responsibilities for your Employees even if they are working from home. Many Employees have been asked to temporarily work from home – here are a few things you must consider:

How will you keep in touch with them?

Can their work activity be done safely?

Do you need to put control measures in place to protect them?

Employees working alone are more at risk as they have no direct supervision or anyone to help them if things go wrong. Keep in regular contact with them to ensure that they are healthy and safe. If contact is poor, Employees may feel isolated or abandoned and this can affect their stress levels and mental health. Put procedures in place so you can keep in direct contact with your Employees – Look after your people and they will look after you!

Contact London Fire Risk Assessments if you feel you need some support – our advice is free and we are only a phone call away 0781 8888626

Unoccupied Buildings – Fire Safety Guidance

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Unoccupied buildings continue to generate significant findings and concerns caused mainly by deliberate Fires, theft of fixtures and fittings and malicious damage.

Insurance Companies see an increase in the number of claims when Premises, Buildings are not in use, which they believe could have been prevented if the properties were properly secured and effectively managed.

In order to help persons protect these properties, a leading Insurance Company have developed the following guidance to outline the level of protection they recommend for vacant properties.

“Fire – the most common cause of fire in the United Kingdom is deliberate Fire setting (arson). Unoccupied Premises, Buildings are particularly vulnerable as they are unattended and therefore become a target of thieves and vandals, who often also start Fires for reasons including to destroy evidence of committed crimes.

To reduce the risk of deliberate Fires, it is very important to ensure that all material that could help to start and spread a Fire is removed from both inside and outside of the Premise, Building.

Non occupied sites can also be vulnerable to fly-tipping, therefore it is also important that a regular inspections regime is implemented to ensure that any damage to the Premise, Building or accumulations of waste and rubbish are quickly addressed.

It is typical that once minor damage has been caused to a property or low level fly tipping takes place, this tends to escalate into more damage and larger incidents. Prompt repairs and waste removal are essential to minimise the risk of the property being targeted for further attack.

It should be considered if it is appropriate for Mains electrical services to be disconnected, other than circuits required for Fire alarms or intruder alarm systems.

Contents and fixtures are often left in the buildings, which provide ready fuel for a Fire and it should be decided if these should be removed or minimalised. Additionally any internal doors that are missing or left open should be repaired and closed. Such actions can assist significantly in preventing a Fire from developing quickly and minimise damage in the event of a Fire taking place.”

London Fire Risk Assessments advice is for you to inform your insurance Company of any proposed closure or any other circumstance which could affect any future Claim. Also, even unoccupied Buildings should still be the subject of appropriate Risk Assessments, including an up to date Fire Risk Assessment. If you need help with this call us on 0781 8888626 or email and we will talk you through the best way for you to complete a Fire Risk Assessment.

London Fire Risk Assessments – message from MD Clive Lewis TIFireE

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London Fire Risk Assessments is continuing a working lifetime’s vocation in Firefighting and Fire Safety, devoted and committed to saving lives and we are “Self-Isolating” and “Working from Home”.

We are only an e-mail or telephone call away and we are available, as always to help you with any Fire Safety concerns you may have.

Remember our advice is free – Keep safe!

London Fire Risk Assessments Approach To The Coronavirus

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LFRA’s Obligation:

The Appointment will be cancelled and hopefully rescheduled as soon as possible if the designated Assessor is unwell.

LFRA will confirm on the morning of the appointment if the Inspection is to take place.

This will be after the following steps have been taken:

The appointed Risk Assessor will take his/her temperature before he/she leaves the office/home. If their temperature is above 37 degree centigrade the inspection will be terminated.

If the Risk Assessor or any of his/her family members have any Coronavirus symptoms (i.e. Temperature, Sore Throat, Dry Cough) OR has contact with any persons with Coronavirus symptoms the Inspection will be terminated.

Procedures for the Assessor:

The Assessor will wash his/her hands with soap and water. If the facilities are unavailable, he/she will use a sanitiser immediately before and after the inspection.

The Assessor will not have any contact (i.e. shaking hands) with the Clients or the representative.

The Assessor will keep the recommended distance (2 meters min) from other persons and will, as far as possible, avoid contact with any surfaces.

Any items the Assessor brings to site will be disinfected.

If the Assessor sneezes or coughs whilst onsite he/she will use a tissue and place it in a plastic bag (which will be provided by LFRA) and disposed of accordingly.

If either the Assessor or the Client is “uncomfortable” at anytime, then either party can terminate the Inspection.

All LFRA Report Folders will be wiped with disinfectant before packaging and posting.

CLIENT’S OBLIGATION:

As far as possible the Client is to confirm on the morning of the Inspection/Audit that all employees are clear of Coronavirus symptoms.

If possible, hand washing facilities to be made available.

The Client or the representative will not attempt any physical contact with the Assessor.

The Client or representative must maintain a safe distance.

All keys given to the Assessor to access cupboards and service rooms must be wiped with disinfectant.

All relevant persons should continue to follow existing Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work

THESE ARE UNPRESEDENTED TIMES AND WE HOPE THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAINTAIN BUSINESS CONTINUITY.