Fire Safety & Business Continuity

Safeguard Your Future: Why Business Continuity Matters Now 

Any business, large or small, should take simple, practical steps now to become more resilient to fire, floods and other major risks.  

Here are some stark facts: after a serious fire, 25% of businesses never re-open, 80% that fail to recover within a month are likely to close, and 75% without continuity plans fail within three years.  

Business continuity planning doesn’t have to be complex. Identify essential activities, people, premises, suppliers, and data, and consider how you would continue operating if any were suddenly unavailable.  

The types of disruptions you might encounter vary according to your business but are generally accepted as:

• Loss of premises – Do you have an alternative location? Can you hire a temporary building? Being prepared for fire, by having up to date fire risk assessments and adequate working fire detection systems, is just part of the wider picture of being prepared for any type of emergency such as flooding, theft or vandalism.
• Staff shortages – Could you use agency workers to cover short term?
• Loss of utilities – Do you have portable heaters, an electricity generator and access to bottled water?
• Loss of IT – Do you have a maintenance contract, or could you revert to a paper based system in the short term?
• Loss of vehicles – Do you have a call off hire contract in your insurance?
• Loss of supply chain – Do your suppliers have a business continuity plan? If not, do you have a backup supplier?

So think about your critical products and services and the measures you could put in place should any of the disruptions listed above happen.

Preparing today helps minimise downtime, protect jobs, and give your business the best chance to recover and thrive. 

For more information go to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Business continuity management