Why do fire safety officers visit?
A Fire Safety Officer, also known as a Fire Inspector or Fire Marshal, wants to ensure that bars and restaurants comply with fire safety regulations to protect the safety of patrons and employees.
When could I receive a visit?
Similar to the EHO, generally, Fire Safety Officers can visit at any reasonable time during your business hours or during their regular working hours. Your business does not have to be open and trading to receive a visit.
It's a good idea to ensure you know how to access your fire related compliance records in Hopsy. Efficiently complying with a fire officers request will give them greater confidence that you are running a safe business.
What might they need to see?
Working Fire Alarm System: A functional fire alarm system that includes smoke detectors, heat detectors, and break glass call points. These should be regularly tested and maintained and they might want to see evidence of you checking this.
Fire Extinguishers: Adequate fire extinguishers that are in good working condition and appropriately located throughout the establishment. They should also be regularly inspected and serviced.
Emergency Lighting: Emergency lighting that activates in case of a power outage or fire to guide people safely to exits.
Exit Signs: Clearly marked and illuminated exit signs that are visible from all areas of the establishment, indicating the way to exits.
Exit Routes: Unobstructed and clearly marked exit routes that provide a safe path to evacuate in case of a fire.
Fire Doors: Fire-resistant doors that are kept closed when not in use to prevent the spread of fire.
You should be familiar with all of these checks in your business and the 'daily, weekly and monthly compliance checks' that you complete in Hopsy provide you with the evidence that you need should you need to prove that you are checking.
How do I access these checklist records?
Step 1
Log into Hopsy and head to the 'Compliance Checks' tab under the 'Compliance' dropdown:
If you are regularly completing your checks in Hopsy, you should know which checklist contains the evidence that the Fire Officer has requested to see.
Step 2
Click into the correct check to load the history.
In this example, the fire officer wishes to see that we are maintaining our fire extinguishers.
Step 3
Show the Fire Officer the history of the check to prove that regular checks take place:
Step 4
Click into a historical record and show the Fire Officer the content and what is checked regularly.
If appropriate, you can also tell the fire officer about 'Hopsy Actions' and how these are used to manage problems found.
What else might they need to see?
Fire Drills & Fire Evacuation records
Conducting fire drills in your bar or restaurant is a crucial aspect of fire safety planning, they help ensure that your business is well-prepared for emergencies and the fire officer may wish to see evidence that you have conducted a drill.
Hopsy tasks a fire drill into your tasks list every 6 months. If you have been completing your tasks, you should have the necessary evidence that you need to satisfy a Fire Officer.
In addition, any false alarm evacuations or indeed real fires should also be logged into Hopsy. Here's how:
Step 1
Log into Hopsy and head to 'Fire Evacuations' under the 'Compliance' dropdown to access all of your records.
This is where all of your fire drill logs are stored.
You can click through to view the detail of each drill.
Here, you can also add logs for false alarm evacuations, or real fires!
Company Related Fire Documentation
Your company can use Hopsy to share legally required fire related documentation such as:
Your venue's Fire Risk Assessment
A company Fire policy
The company Evacuation Policy
You can find shared documentation in the 'Documents' tab in Hopsy:
Here you can see which folders contain files. Click through to browse the files and access the documents.
As a venue manager, you should make yourself familiar with the documentation that your company has shared with you and your venue. You should be displaying some of it on your team notice boards.
If you feel there is documentation missing, speak to your area manager / BDM.
(Only 'company employees' can upload documentation. Click here for instructions)
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