Making your office or workspace safe from fire

• Ensure all your electrical work equipment such as PCs, laptops, phones and printers are in good working order.
• If you don’t have enough plug sockets for your office equipment, consider getting a certified electrician to install some extra sockets.
• Only use chargers and adaptors which you have purchased with your equipment – or those recommended by the manufacturer.
• Don’t overload plug sockets – use this overloading socket tool here .
• Replace any old block adaptors with 4-way multi-gang adaptors.
• Don’t overload your 4-way multi-adaptors or daisy-chain them by joining them together.
• Watch out for signs of plugs getting hot or showing signs of scorching.
• Keep combustibles such as paper, fabric etc. away from your equipment, including the wiring and sockets.

During your working day

• If you smoke, smoke outside your property and ensure that cigarettes are extinguished properly when done.
• Take regular breaks from looking at your screen.
• Keep drinks away from any electrical equipment.
• Avoid trailing wires which may cause a trip hazard.
• Always use your laptop on a hard surface if possible – this will allow for appropriate ventilation.
• If you have an office chair, make sure it doesn’t get tangled up in any trailing wires.
• Store any papers and files safely and away from any exit routes and sources of heat.
• At meal breaks, take care not to be distracted when cooking – this might be more difficult than usual if you have children at home or your phone is always ringing.