Pubs get fire strike warning

Pubs are being urged to make sure their fire safety procedures are up to date as firefighters prepare to go on strike.With the first of a series of...

Pubs are being urged to make sure their fire safety procedures are up to date as firefighters prepare to go on strike.

With the first of a series of strikes due to start on Tuesday (October 29), the government has issued safety advice to businesses.

The Fire Brigades Union is planning two 48-hour strikes, followed by a series of eight-day walkouts running up to Christmas if the dispute is not resolved. It is calling for a 40 per cent pay increase.

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations' (FLVA) chief executive Tony Payne said: "This highlights how important it is for licensees to make sure that they have carried out a fire risk assessment and have told staff what to do in the case of an emergency."

Businesses are advised to carry on as normal, but to postpone activities which have an increased risk of fire, such as delivery of flammable substances. Pubs planning firework displays will also need to consider cancelling them if the strikes go ahead.

While the 999 service will operate, the government warns that:

attendance times to some incidents will be increased
the emergency services attending will have fewer specialised capabilities
the emergency services attending will not be familiar with the incident site or the local geography.

The FLVA has produced a checklist, based on the regulations covering fire precautions in the workplace, to enable licensees to carry out a risk assessment of their pub. For more information call 01484 710534.