Fire Safety at the Workplace: A Practical Checklist for Employers

Fire risk assessments are a legal requirement in most jurisdictions, but the paperwork itself does not stop a fire from spreading — the daily habits it produces do. This checklist covers the areas ZISP consultants check first on any site visit.

Escape Routes and Exits

• All fire exits are unlocked and free of obstruction during working hours, without exception.
• Escape routes are wide enough for expected occupancy and clearly marked with illuminated signage.
• Doors along escape routes open in the direction of travel and are never wedged shut for convenience.

Detection and Alarm Systems

• Smoke and heat detectors are tested on a fixed schedule, not only after a complaint or near miss.
• The alarm is audible in every occupied area of the building, including noisy production floors.
• Staff have actually heard the alarm during a drill — not just been told what it sounds like.

Fire-Fighting Equipment

• Extinguishers are the correct class for the specific hazards present (a Class A extinguisher does not belong next to a flammable-liquid store).
• Extinguishers are serviced annually and visually checked monthly for pressure and obstruction.
• Staff have received hands-on training, since reading an instruction plate under panic conditions is not a realistic first-time experience.

Storage and Housekeeping

• Flammable materials are stored away from ignition sources and in quantities that match what is actually needed on site.
• Combustible waste, especially packaging, is cleared regularly rather than allowed to accumulate near exits or electrical equipment.
• Fire doors are never propped open, even “just for airflow” or during a delivery.

People and Procedure

• A documented fire evacuation plan exists, is displayed, and is actually followed during drills — not filed away and forgotten.
• Fire wardens are named individuals with a clear role, not an assumption that “someone” will take charge.
• Evacuation drills happen at least annually, ideally unannounced, so the response is tested realistically.
• Vulnerable individuals — visitors, staff with mobility limitations — have a specific, planned means of assisted evacuation.

Why the Checklist Alone Is Not Enough

A fire risk assessment that sits in a drawer protects no one. The organisations that handle fire risk well are the ones that treat this checklist as a living routine — reviewed after any building change, retested after any near miss, and reinforced through drills that staff take seriously because leadership visibly does too.