Blocking a fire exit.
Discussion
Just been in a large shop in a city centre, and noticed that a large fire exit was blocked by 2 clothes rails, full of clothes, there was a small gap down the middle but looked like it would've been difficult to get out easily in an emergency.
What would you do if you noticed that?
Discuss.
What would you do if you noticed that?
Discuss.
wazztie16 said:
Just been in a large shop in a city centre, and noticed that a large fire exit was blocked by 2 clothes rails, full of clothes, there was a small gap down the middle but looked like it would've been difficult to get out easily in an emergency.
What would you do if you noticed that?
Discuss.
If the fire alarm went off, I'd move the clothes rails (what with 'em being on castors, it shouldn't be too hard), then I'd leave the building via the fire exit.What would you do if you noticed that?
Discuss.
But, until and unless the fire alarm went off, I'd just do my usual and try to get out of retail hell as quickly as possible, with my sanity intact.
As a qualified fire officer, I could go in there and asses and order the fire exits to be cleared. If the shop doesn't comply I can then report this further up the chain.
What you can do is mention it to the stores manager, and explain what the consequences could be if there was, a fire. Doubt they would listen though.
What you can do is mention it to the stores manager, and explain what the consequences could be if there was, a fire. Doubt they would listen though.
Simples, request a member of staff to get a senior manager to the location, point out the blocked emergency exit, suggest they conduct an inspection of all emergency exits and fire fighting appliances throughout the building to ensure no exits are equipment has been similarly rendered potentially useless, question the adequacy of the inductions they provide to new staff to familiarise the staff with emergency exit locations, why they're there, why they shouldn't be blocked, same with the fire fighting equipment, further suggest they might appoint individuals to be responsible for conducting daily inspections of their particular work area (although under the health and safety at work act everyone has the responsibility to maintain a safe place of work). Oh, and I'd probably ask them if all staff have read and understood the mandatory work place hazard identification and risk assessment reports... and when they were last reviewed... I could go on but you get the idea 
Byker28i said:
It's a deliberate policy. Any one in the shops during the working day is probably a layabout, benefits scrounger, possible a fat shoplifter if complaining about the size of gap to the fire exit 
Majority probably are, not this one. 41-46 hour per week (not including overtime) worker with a day off. Didn't realise I'd posted in the wrong forum, brain wasn't awake when I posted the topic, mods please move.
ChilliWhizz said:
Simples, request a member of staff to get a senior manager to the location, point out the blocked emergency exit, suggest they conduct an inspection of all emergency exits and fire fighting appliances throughout the building to ensure no exits are equipment has been similarly rendered potentially useless, question the adequacy of the inductions they provide to new staff to familiarise the staff with emergency exit locations, why they're there, why they shouldn't be blocked, same with the fire fighting equipment, further suggest they might appoint individuals to be responsible for conducting daily inspections of their particular work area (although under the health and safety at work act everyone has the responsibility to maintain a safe place of work). Oh, and I'd probably ask them if all staff have read and understood the mandatory work place hazard identification and risk assessment reports... and when they were last reviewed... I could go on but you get the idea
This......and then get some frozen sausages and.....My experience of fire exits being blocked was at a well known Sports shop. They declined to do anything, so I phoned my nephew (a fire station manager) who got his colleague to turn up and threaten them with immediate shop closure unless they sorted things out - which they did. Only to do the same weeks later. So phone call again, and this time the shop was given written warnings not just by the Fire Service but also local Health & Safety and Planning Officers.
But they still do it! Maybe someone needs to DIRECT someone in the SPORTS shop to keep the exits clear!
But they still do it! Maybe someone needs to DIRECT someone in the SPORTS shop to keep the exits clear!
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