• 
• New South Wales Government
• 
• 

• Home
• Incidents
• Recruitment
• Home Fire Safety
• For Schools
• For Business
  • Workplace safety
    • Small business fire safety
    • In case of fire
    • Evacuation
    • Hazardous materials at work
  • Alarms and extinguishers
  • ComSafe - Commercial Safety Training Services
  • Fire Safety Forms
  • Guidelines for built environment
  • Sponsorship
  • NSWFB Statement of Business Ethics
  • High Rise Forum
  • Film and photo requests
  • Factsheets
• For Community
• Our Partners
• Research
• About us

1. Home
2. For Business
3. Workplace safety
4. Small business fire safety

Small business fire safety

Small businesses need to have plans to prevent fires and to help their business recover should an unforeseen emergency occur.

Is your small business fire safe?

The NSW Fire Brigades recommends this simple safety checklist to assist your small business prevent damage that could be caused by fire.

• Teach your staff about workplace fire prevention and safety
• Avoid storing or stockpiling flammable materials such as packaging materials or waste where they could be accessed by the public, including areas immediately outside your business premises
• Make sure all machinery is serviced as recommended by manufacturers and is kept clean. If possible, switch machinery off when the business is unattended
• Secure all doors, windows or other access points when the business is unattended, and make sure your business has adequate lighting to deter trespassers
• Ensure your business has an adequately serviced and functional fire alarm system that is suitable to your small business e.g.: Remote serviced alarm systems, sprinkler systems, thermal or smoke alarms etc
• If your business stores dangerous goods, ensure their storage and use adheres to legislative requirements
• Make sure your business has a written and practiced fire escape plan that includes full staff lists and designated meeting points
• The NSW Fire Brigades recommends this simple safety checklist to assist your small business to reduce damage caused from fire and to assist in a speedy business recovery
• Ensure that all of your staff has sufficient training in what they should do if your small business is exposed to an unexpected fire. Depending on your business, this will at least mean knowing where to escape to and dialling 000
• Make sure you know what information is important for your business continuity. This should include having contingency plans to protect and/or restore all important information (hard copy & IT) like supplier and client lists, business contracts and insurance details
• Consider having an off site secure location to store important information in your contingency plan.

Small business fire safety tips

• Remember that smoke from a fire will make you confused and that you cannot see in smoke
• Always ensure your business has sufficient fire insurance
• If your feel your staff require Commercial Fire Safety Training contact our ComSafe section on 1800 78 78 48 or another commercial provider.

For more information contact your local fire station.