Fire protection and prevention officers and firefighters from Merseyside Fire & Rescue (MFRS) visited approximately 165 businesses in diverse communities across Merseyside during Business Safety Week 2016 from September 5-11 2016.




Specialist fire officers gave arson prevention advice to traders about how they can protect their businesses from deliberate fires and offered guidance on their legal responsibilities as employers.

Architectural Liaison/Crime Prevention Officers from Merseyside Police were on hand to give crime prevention advice and owners were advised about planning for emergencies in the event of a flood or fire.

Operational crews and teams of fire officers visited local businesses and spoke to owners and landlords about the benefits of business safety, specifically how it can support economic growth and provide a safe environment for employees, customers and stock.

Protection Compliance Manager, Karen Hughes, who lead the community engagement campaign for MFRS said: “Fire can cause major disruption for businesses and we wanted to help owners look at ways they can protect themselves from fire hazards.

“A fire in a commercial building can put the lives of staff and customers at risk and can damage valuable stock as well as the business premises.

“This can make it impossible for a company to continue its day-to-day work, which not only affects the organisation but also its employees, reputation, suppliers and customers.

“Business Safety Week was a great opportunity for us to visit diverse communities in Merseyside and offer advice and support to vendors about how they can keep their premises and their employees safe from fire.

“We ask employers across Merseyside to make fire safety a priority for their businesses, staff and customers and encourage them to contact Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service for practical advice and guidance on implementing fire safety measures.”