What are the most common causes of office fires? Total Safe has had a look at some of the top causes of fires in offices throughout the country.

COOKING. Cooking apparatus and facilities are now relatively common in many offices. A toaster here, a microwave there, multiple kettles for making those ‘just one more’ cups of coffee to see you through your working day. All it takes is a loss of concentration or lack of care for a fire to break out. Something like leaving the toaster on too high is a simple mistake to make but is one that can have serious consequences.

ELECTRICAL. Electrical fires are rarely the fault of human error; but they can be. Overloading your sockets with all those pieces of technology that you can’t get through your day without, for example. However, the usual cause for electrical fires is faulty wiring. Ensure regular PAT testing is carried out to ensure your electrical items are as safe as they can be.

SMOKING. Even a stubbed-out cigarette can catch fire if the conditions are right for it. A third of fire-related deaths in non-domestic buildings were caused by a smokers’ materials, which shows how serious a problem this is.

HEATING. Mini heaters come in handy on those bitterly cold days when the office heating just isn’t cutting it. But they pose a huge potential risk if you don’t treat them with caution. If left on too long, they can overheat. If they are left on and too close to flammable objects, said objects can ignite very easily.

The common causes of office fires can be avoided with some easily followed steps. Contact Total Safe UK today to see how we can help keep your office and team safer.