Did You Know — Facts Editor

There are no more than 5 types of fire extinguishers: Water, Foam, CO2, Dry Powder, and Wet Chemical. But now there are some new additions to the market with FireXO, P50 Foam and Water Mist and more. Using the wrong type can make a fire worse!

Fire exit signs must be visible from at least 25 metres away. They use internationally recognised pictograms so anyone can understand them.

Manual call points should be positioned between 1.2m and 1.4m from the floor and within 45m of any point in the building.

Fire evacuation plans should be reviewed at least annually and updated whenever the building layout changes.

A fire door can hold back fire for 30 to 60 minutes. Propping open fire doors is one of the most common fire safety violations.

Fire blankets are ideal for small kitchen fires, especially chip pan or cooking oil fires. Never use water on a fat fire — it can cause a violent explosion of burning oil.

Emergency lighting must remain illuminated for at least 3 hours during a power failure. Buildings must test them monthly and carry out a full 3-hour discharge test annually.

Smoke detectors reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by around 50%. They should be tested weekly in commercial premises and the batteries replaced annually.

Automatic sprinkler systems are 99% effective at controlling or extinguishing fires. Each sprinkler head activates individually — only the head nearest the fire operates, not the whole system at once.

Dry and wet risers are tested under BS 9990. Dry risers must be pressure-tested annually and wet risers every 6 months.

Fire assembly points should be at least 15 metres from the building. Never re-enter a building until the fire brigade or a responsible person gives the all-clear.

Electrical distribution faults are the single largest identifiable cause of UK workplace fires, responsible for ~18% of all incidents. Faulty wiring often means a fire starts before any alarm sounds.

Cooking equipment accounts for ~49% of all house fires and is a leading cause of fires in hospitality and food premises. Grease buildup in ovens and extractors is a major culprit.

Despite the improvement, 25% of businesses affected by a serious fire never reopen. Fire safety pays for itself many times over.

Only 58% of fire safety audits conducted by fire and rescue services in 2024/25 were satisfactory — meaning nearly half of inspected workplaces had issues.

In the UK, employers must provide adequate first aid equipment. The minimum is a properly stocked first aid box — even for small offices.

Using a defibrillator within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest can increase survival chances from 6% to over 74%!

Workplaces with 5+ employees must display first aid information. The appointed person doesn't need full first aid training but must manage supplies and call for help.

The triage system (Immediate, Urgent, Delayed, Expectant) was developed by military doctors and is now used worldwide in emergency medicine.

Abdominal thrusts should not be used on infants under 1 year or pregnant women — use back blows only for these groups.

Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries, accounting for over 30% of all non-fatal accidents.

Electricity kills around 5 people per year in UK workplaces and injures many more. Most incidents are caused by contact with overhead or underground power lines.

Blocked fire exits have been a contributing factor in many fatal fires. In an emergency, every second counts — a clear escape route can save lives.

Falls from height remain the biggest cause of workplace fatalities. Even a fall from 2 metres can be fatal.

Musculoskeletal disorders from poor workstation setup account for over 6.6 million lost working days per year in the UK.

The TILE framework is recommended by the HSE and forms the basis of manual handling risk assessments across all industries.

Manual handling injuries account for over a third of all UK workplace injuries. Most are preventable through good storage design and mechanical aids.

The 'power zone' for lifting is between hip and shoulder height. Always store the heaviest items here to minimise strain.

The spine is strongest in its natural S-curve. Keep that curve during lifting — bent knees, not bent back.

Your leg muscles can exert up to 3× more force than your back muscles — always use them to do the heavy work.