With Christmas fast approaching many commercial premises and households in London and Manchester are getting ready to create their festive displays! London Fire Risk Assessments suggests that the first job in the Christmas preparations should be a quick Fire Safety check!

Many people keep Christmas decorations for years and why not they are only used once a year! That said, during this period have you ever checked the internal and external Christmas lights for fraying wires, or signs of overheating – probably not!

Christmas lights are just one of the many ignition sources that can cause a serious fire – here are just a few additional checks for you to make

Check that plugs and sockets are not showing signs of overheating

Don’t overload multi point connecters and never plug one connector into another.

Ensure all decorations are kept away from any forms of heating.

Never leave candles unattended and ensure they are placed on a safe surface away from any combustible materials.

Put in place an end of day procedure to ensure all electrical sources are turned off, plugs removed from their sockets and candles are extinguished properly.

Finally, make sure your employee’s or family members all know the Fire Safety Emergency Plan.

Keep safe and enjoy the Christmas festivities!