Protect Your Business Series – Restaurant/Cafe

Do you work in or own a Restaurant/Cafe? Do you know all the regulations surrounding Fire, Security and Safety? Below we have compiled a guide for Fire and Electrical Saftey within your restaurant/cafe. This is an easy way for you to compare what is currently being done within your work space and what is expected or should be done.

Are you meeting all of the regulations and requirements? If so great news! You can click out of this post happy! If you are not, we are more than happy to answer any questions free of charge, call us on 01-4087077. If you have more than is required in place you can also give us a call aboutreducing your costs!

Electrical faults in wiring, lights and equipment, burning fat and grease, flareups in cooking appliances are the main causes of fires. Poor or no maintenance of gas appliances can cause incidents.
Staff training is critical in prevention and must cover
- the details of the emergency plan
- periodic fire drills to check that the plan works
- peoples roles within the emergency plan.

Here are some tips and safe guards to ensure Fire and Electrical Safety in your Cafe/Restaurant:

Fire Safety Safe Guards:

  • Train all staff on Fire Prevention and Safety Procedures
  • Ensure that all means of escape are properly maintained and kept free from obstruction, unlocked and easy to open
  • Emergency Procedures and Evacuation Drills should be carried out at regular intervals
  • Ensure that the fire alarm can be heard in all parts of the building including the stores
  • Ensure electrical systems are checked regularly and faults reported and repaired immediately
  • Site/fix heaters so they cannot be knocked over and they are away from combustible materials, e.g. furnishings
  • Avoid heaters with exposed heating elements
  • With real fires, avoid burning material that expels hot material
  • With real fires, ensure the surrounding floor cannot catch fire
  • Regular inspection and maintenance of appliances by competent people is essential
  • To help prevent fires, remove dirt and deposits in ventilation filters and ducting
  • Train housekeeping staff to spot and report fire risks, e.g. faulty wiring
  • Maintenance of Fire Protection Equipment (including Fire Alarm and Extinguishers) is essential
  • Carry out periodic checks of emergency exit routes, e.g. that doors are in working order
  • Never wedge fire doors open. Fire doors must close automatically in the event of a fire
  • Always keep Fire Safety Records

Electrical Safe Guards:

  • Do not carry out any electrical work unless you are qualified and have sufficient practical experience in the work
  • Ensure electrical equipment is properly installed and kept in good condition - Electical Maintenance is essential
  • Plug and cable connections should be checked and maintained in good repair
  • Ensure equipment is tested as needed by a competent person and any necessary work safely completed by a competent person
  • Prevent unauthorised access to switchboards and fuse-boards. Keep them secure
  • Ensure fuses/ miniature circuit breakers are properly identified and clearly labelled
  • Provide adequate sockets to prevent overloading and the need to use adaptors
  • Ensure electrical equipment and electrical installations are protected from ingress of moisture or particles and foreseeable impacts
  • Ensure electrical equipment is protected from danger from exposure to hazardous environments, including wet, dirty, dusty or corrosive conditions
  • Do not site electrical controls, outlets where they may become wet, e.g. potential splash zones near sinks
  • Train staff to carry out visual inspections and report faults, e.g. worn cable, scorching, loose connections into plugs, etc.
  • Ensure faulty equipment is taken out of use until repaired (label as faulty or remove the plug to prevent use)
  • Ensure external cables are protected against damage and the environment.
  • Never touch electrical equipment with wet hands unless the equipment is designed for such contact

Any Fire/Electrical Safety plans should;

  • Provide measures for first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation taking into account the nature of the work and the size of the place
  • Arrange necessary contacts with appropriate emergency services (first aid, emergency medical care, rescue work and fire-fighting)
  • Designate employees to implement these plans
  • Ensure all designated employees have adequate training and equipment.
  • In the event of an emergency or serious and imminent danger the employer must:
    •  Inform all employees of the risk and steps taken to protect them
    • Refrain from requiring employees to carry out or resume work where there is still a threat to their safety
    • Ensure employees take appropriate steps to avoid the consequences of the danger
    • Take action and give instruction to stop work and go to a safe place
    • Ensure that an employee who leaves the place of work in the case of emergency is not penalised because of such action
    • Ensure that access to specifically hazardous areas is restricted only to employees who have received appropriate training

A fire alarm system is required in every premises to give early warning of an outbreak of fire and to ensure that the escape routes can be safely used.

If you have any other questions or are unsure of any information outlined above please feel free to call us or to refer to The Fire Services Act, 1981, where all of the relevant standards and regulations are outlined in full.

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