Fire safety in a small office: a ten-minute weekly routine

Escape routes and doors

• Open-plan layouts should leave clear, wide routes to exits, with nothing stored in corridors or on stairs.
• Fire doors, especially on stairwells, should close fully and not be wedged open.
• Exit doors should open easily from the inside. Check locks, bolts and handles work.

Alarm and equipment

• Test one call point each week and note which one and the result.
• Check extinguishers are in place with seals intact, and emergency lighting indicators are lit.
• Check exit signs are visible and undamaged.

Kitchenette, electrics and heaters

• Kettles, microwaves and toasters should be switched off at close and have nothing stored on top.
• Look for damaged plugs and leads, overloaded extension leads and chargers left on overnight.
• Portable heaters and fans should be in a safe position, away from paper and furniture, and switched off when leaving.
• Server, comms and print rooms should be ventilated and not used for storage.

Paper, storage and e-bikes

Keep paper, archive boxes and cardboard away from heaters and exits. If staff bring e-bikes, scooters or batteries, do not store or charge them on escape routes.

Visitors and lone workers

Keep your visitor and staff sign-in list up to date so everyone can be accounted for in an emergency. Think about anyone who works alone or out of hours, and make sure they know what to do and how to leave.