Workplace Fire Safety Checklist: Protect Your Team & Property

In South Australia, workplace fires cause millions in damage annually, disrupt operations, and—worst of all—endanger lives. A 2022 report found that 43% of SA businesses failed basic fire safety compliance checks. The stakes? Fines up to $500,000, lawsuits, and irreversible reputational harm.

But here’s the good news: 90% of workplace fires are preventable. This checklist isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about building a culture of safety. Let’s break it down.

The 15-Point Workplace Fire Safety Checklist

1. Fire Extinguishers: Your First Responders

Why It Matters: A blocked or expired extinguisher is as good as a paperweight during a crisis.

Action Steps:

• Monthly Checks:
  • Ensure extinguishers are visible, unobstructed, and mounted at eye level.
  • Confirm the pressure gauge is in the green zone.
  • Check for dents, rust, or broken seals.
• Annual Servicing:
  • Hire a licensed technician (like VD Fire Safety) for Fire Extinguisher testing in Adelaide to refill or replace.
• Training:
  • Teach staff the PASS method:
    • Pull the pin
    • Aim at the base of the fire
    • Squeese the handle
    • Sweep side to side
  • Run hands-on drills using training extinguishers (filled with water or sand).

Pro Tip: Different fires require different extinguishers:

• Class A (paper, wood): Water
• Class B (flammable liquids): Foam
• Class E (electrical): CO2
• Class F (cooking oils): Wet chemical

2. Smoke Alarms: Detect Danger Early

Why It Matters: Smoke spreads faster than flames. Early detection cuts evacuation time by 50%.

Action Steps:

• Installation:
  • Place alarms in kitchens, server rooms, storage areas, and near electrical panels.
  • Use interconnected alarms so all trigger simultaneously.
• Testing:
  • Assign a staff member to test alarms monthly (use a checklist).
  • Replace batteries annually or install 10-year lithium models (no battery changes!).
• Upgrades:
  • Opt for photoelectric alarms in dusty areas (they’re less prone to false alarms).

3. Electrical Safety: Stop Fires Before They Start

Why It Matters: Faulty wiring causes 33% of workplace fires in SA.

Action Steps:

• Daily Habits:
  • Ban daisy-chaining power boards (one board per outlet).
  • Unplug devices when not in use.
• Monthly Inspections:
  • Look for frayed cords, scorch marks, or buzzing outlets.
  • Test safety switches (RCDs) by pressing the “T” button.
• Annual Audits:
  • Hire a licensed electrician to inspect wiring, RCD testing, switchboards, and high-load circuits.

4. Emergency Exits: Clear Paths Save Lives

Why It Matters: Blocked exits contributed to 6 workplace fire deaths in Australia last year.

Action Steps:

• Visibility:
  • Install illuminated exit signs with backup batteries.
  • Use glow-in-the-dark floor tape for low-light conditions.
• Access:
  • Keep aisles, stairwells, and exits free of boxes, furniture, or equipment.
  • Replace key-locked exits with panic bars (AS 1905.1 compliant).
• Drills:
  • Test evacuation routes quarterly, including alternate paths.

Adelaide Alert: SA law requires exit signs to be visible from 20 metres.

5. Fire Drills: Practice Under Pressure

Why It Matters: Panic kills. Drills build muscle memory.

Action Steps:

• Frequency:
  • Conduct drills every 3 months (6 months for low-risk offices).
  • Include night shifts, contractors, and visitors.
• Scenarios:
  • Block a primary exit to test adaptability.
  • Simulate smoke with fog machines (non-toxic).
• Post-Drill Debrief:
  • Note bottlenecks (e.g., jammed doors).
  • Update plans based on feedback.

Example: A Hindley Street café reduced evacuation time from 4 minutes to 90 seconds after quarterly drills.

6. Flammable Materials: Store Smart

Why It Matters: A single spark near solvents = disaster.

Action Steps:

• Storage:
  • Keep flammables (paint, fuel, chemicals) in AS 1940-compliant cabinets.
  • Separate oxidizers (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) from combustibles.
• Disposal:
  • Use metal bins with self-closing lids for oily rags.
  • Schedule weekly waste pickups for high-risk industries.

Pro Tip: Label cabinets with “Flammable – No Smoking” signs in red/white.

7. Heating & Cooking Equipment: Tame the Heat

Why It Matters: Restaurants account for 52% of Adelaide CBD fire callouts.

Action Steps:

• Kitchens:
  • Clean range hoods and grease traps weekly.
  • Keep fryers 1 metre from walls.
• Offices:
  • Ban personal heaters unless approved.
  • Set approved heaters to auto-shutoff after 2 hours.

8. Fire Blankets: Smother Small Fires Fast

Why It Matters: Blankets can extinguish a pan fire in seconds, without toxic residue.

Action Steps:

• Placement:
  • Mount near deep fryers, BBQs, and welding stations.
  • Use bright red boxes with glass fronts (AS 2444 compliant).
• Training:
  • Demonstrate the “wrap and leave” technique.
  • Stress: Never attempt to move a burning pan!

9. Emergency Lighting: Escape in the Dark

Why It Matters: Power outages during fires cause disorientation.

Action Steps:

• Installation:
  • Cover exits, stairwells, first-aid kits, and fire panels.
  • Choose LED models with 3+ hour battery life.
• Testing:
  • Simulate outages monthly by flipping circuit breakers.

10. Staff Training: Knowledge is Your Best Defense

Why It Matters: Untrained staff = liability.

Action Steps:

• Onboarding:
  • Include fire safety in orientation packs.
  • Quiz new hires on evacuation routes.
• Annual Refreshers:
  • Host 30-minute sessions with videos, quizzes, and Q&As.

11. Fire Doors: Your Building’s Silent Guardians

Why It Matters: Fire doors are designed to compartmentalise fires, slowing their spread and giving occupants precious time to escape. A propped-open fire door renders this protection useless.

Action Steps:

• Regular Inspections:
  • Check doors monthly for proper closure and intact seals.
  • Ensure self-closing mechanisms work (no door stoppers!).
• Compliance:
  • Verify doors meet AS 1905.1 standards (fire resistance for at least 60 minutes).
  • Replace damaged doors immediately—never patch holes in fire-rated materials.
• Staff Training:
  • Post signs: “Fire Door – Keep Closed.”
  • Explain consequences: “A propped door could trap colleagues upstairs.”

12. Hazardous Work Permits: Control High-Risk Tasks

Why It Matters: Welding, grinding, or hot works cause 27% of industrial fires in SA. A permit system ensures precautions aren’t skipped.

Action Steps:

• Permit Process:
  • Require supervisor approval for any spark-producing tasks.
  • Specify safety measures (e.g., fire extinguishers on-site, wetting down nearby materials).
• Fire Watch:
  • Assign a trained employee to monitor the area for 60 minutes post-task.
• Equipment Checks:
  • Inspect welding torches and gas cylinders for leaks before use.

Pro Tip: Use heat-resistant blankets to shield flammable surfaces during welding.

13. Evacuation Maps: Your Blueprint to Safety

Why It Matters: Confusion during a fire costs lives. Clear maps eliminate guesswork.

Action Steps:

• Design:
  • Use color-coding: Red for exits, blue for extinguishers, green for assembly points.
  • Include braille maps for accessibility compliance.
• Placement:
  • Install at eye level near elevators, stairwells, and high-traffic areas.
  • Provide digital copies on staff intranets and induction manuals.
• Updates:
  • Revise maps after renovations or layout changes.

14. First-Aid Kits: Prep for Burns and Beyond

Why It Matters: Burns require immediate care to prevent worsening injuries.

Action Steps:

• Supplies:
  • Stock hydrogel dressings, sterile gauze, and emergency burn blankets.
  • Include scissors to cut away smoldering clothing.
• Training:
  • Teach the “Cool, Cover, Call” method:
    1. Cool burns with running water for 20 minutes.
    2. Cover with cling film (never ice or ointments).
    3. Call 000 for severe burns.
• Accessibility:
  • Store kits near high-risk zones (kitchens, workshops).

15. Maintenance Logs: Your Paper Trail to Compliance

Why It Matters: SA law mandates keeping records for 5+ years. No logs = no proof of due diligence.

Action Steps:

• Digital Tools:
  • Use apps like SafetyCulture for real-time checklists and alerts.
  • Back up logs to cloud storage (avoid lost paper trails).
• Entries:
  • Record dates, findings, and actions taken for every inspection.
  • Sign and date entries—anonymous reports won’t hold up in court.

VD Fire Safety Adelaide: Your Compliance Partner

Fire safety isn’t a solo mission. For over a decade, we’ve helped Adelaide businesses

• 🛠️ Install & Maintain: From extinguishers to emergency lighting.
• 📋 Audit & Certify: Pass inspections with confidence.
• ⚖️ Stay Legal: Navigate SA’s ever-changing regulations.

Don’t Wait for Smoke to Signal Trouble.

👉 Book your Fire Safety service in Adelaide now at +61-493-534-746. Together, let’s build a fire-safe future—one checklist at a time