With much of the UK suffering from extended periods of hot weather, it is important for businesses to consider how heatwaves affect the fire management of their buildings and premises.

Arson accounted for 50.5% of all fires attended in 2017/18 by UK fire and rescue services (108,024 of 213,782 fires attended), an upward trend since 2014/15. [1]

I have seen many businesses store wooden pallets up against the walls of their building, sometimes blocking fire escape routes. Businesses need to consider how combustible their waste is when reviewing their fire risk assessments, especially noting how easy it can be to ignite it in prolonged periods of hot weather.

For more information visit the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) [2]