Ensure a Safe and Secure Season With These Autumn Safety Tips
The changing seasons are upon us, and the end of the year is in sight. Autumn is a beautiful season for Dorset, bringing with it early sunsets, crisp weather and vibrant, falling leaves, but this does not mean it is without its challenges.
The change in seasons marks a significant time for your safety, as annual checks along with some upgrades. The longer nights are the perfect opportunity for you to enhance your security systems and consider investing in better protection for your home or business.
At Dorset Fire & Security, we offer a range of safety systems, maintenance and repairs to help protect what matters the most to you. Using our expertise in the safety industry, we are sharing the essential checklist for better autumn safety so you can stay safe in the last few months of the year.
Better Fire Precautions In Autumn: Safety Tips
While fire safety is vital no matter the season, the colder temperatures of autumn are the perfect opportunity to ensure your property is fully protected. The changing season indicates how much time has passed, and this may be your reminder to perform annual safety checks and fire risk assessments.
For our autumn safety tips, there are specific areas of fire safety that should be addressed including:
Fire Extinguisher Servicing
Fire extinguishers are vital tools for fire safety and should be implemented in all kinds of properties for protection. These can be reliable pieces of fire safety, as long as they are serviced annually by certified professionals.
For enhanced autumn safety, book your fire extinguisher service now and ensure that you are relying on a registered contractor like those on our team. The changing seasons are the perfect reminder to perform these annual checks and ensure your property is going to be protected well into the new year.
We offer a complete fire extinguisher service, during which a certified member of our team will examine all aspects of the extinguisher to ensure they align with current fire safety regulations and deliver the protection you need.
During these annual assessments, all area of the fire extinguisher is assessed including the pressure gauge and whether there is any damage which can hinder the effectiveness.
If you do not currently have fire extinguishers on your premises, then now may be the perfect time to consider having them installed. These can be vital tools for fire safety and are ideal in areas such as kitchens and rooms containing electrical equipment.
Test And Replace Fire Alarms
Another essential test that should be performed as part of your autumn safety routine is fire alarm testing. Fire and smoke alarms are your primary mode of defence during a fire, offering a quick and early response should a fire break out on your premises – as long as they are in proper working order.
Fire alarms should be tested regularly and autumn is an ideal time to get them tested again. AT Dorset Fire & Security, we offer professional fire alarm testing service to check that your current systems are up to the necessary standards and will operate as needed during an emergency.
We also offer maintenance and repairs to help keep your premises protected, delivering the necessary servicing or replacements so you can rest assured that you are protected this autumn and beyond.
Improve Your Fire Escape Plan
Everyone should have a fire escape plan – no matter what kind of property you own or inhabit. A fire escape plan is an essential element of autumn safety, as well as your safety at any other time of the year because it ensures a safe evacuation from the premises during an emergency.
While maintaining and testing other aspects of your fire precautions for enhanced autumn safety, take the time to also review your current fire escape plan. This is something all businesses should have in place automatically, with regular fire drills being part of everyday proceedings.
However, the changing seasons and the upcoming events, where the premises may see varying degrees of traffic, are the perfect opportunity to ensure everything is up to par.
Review your fire escape plan and ensure that all employees or occupants are aware of the procedure. Perform fire drills to make sure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Not only does this keep everyone prepared, but also allows you to see whether there are any issues in your current plan so it can be improved for better autumn safety.
Test And Upgrade Heating Devices
As the temperatures drop, we will start relying on our heating devices much more. It has likely been several months since radiators, space heaters, electric blankets and the like have been used so they will need to be tested this autumn.
Testing heating equipment is vital for your autumn safety because it prevents the outbreak of fires. Professional testing and servicing should be done for all your heating equipment, including your boiler, to ensure it can withstand heavy use in the near future.
Outdoor Autumn Safety: Maintenance Tips For All Premises
Autumn brings drastic weather changes across the UK, which means additional efforts are needed to safeguard your property and ensure you are protected during the final months of the year.
As part of your autumn safety checks, you may need to do some light maintenance to the exterior of your property such as:
Check Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is a great tool for your safety and should be inspected periodically to ensure it is still functioning properly. With the shorter days of autumn, safety is paramount and your outdoor lighting may be causing issues.
Now is the time to replace any burnt-out bulbs from across your premises to ensure the place will be illuminated in the dark. Now may be the perfect time to consider upgrading your outdoor and safety lighting, or to get new elements installed for additional protection.
Cleaning And Inspection
Falling leaves are a staple of the autumn scenery, but they can cause issues when left unattended for too long. For your security, piled-up leaves and debris can provide hiding spots for intruders as well as being a significant fire hazard.
The wet weather across autumn is also a safety risk because the additional debris makes the floors more slippery thus increasing the risks of falls and injury.
Leaves and debris can also clog up the gutters and pipes across your property, causing water damage and flooding throughout the season. Make these maintenance tasks part of your regular autumn safety routine to ensure that no issues arise during the season and as the weather progressively gets worse.
Secure Outdoor Equipment
Any outdoor equipment is not only a threat because of the autumn weather, but may also be appealing to intruders and make your premises a target.
As part of your autumn safety checks, make sure that all outdoor equipment and furniture is secured or stored away safely. This not only prevents them from being damaged or becoming hazardous during the stormy weather of the season but also prevents would-be burglars from being interested in your home or business.
Autumn Saftey And Security Tips
Security is a year-round priority that Dorset Fire & Security takes seriously. However, the onset of autumn delivers yet another prime opportunity to reassess and upgrade your security measures to protect yourself during the cold, dark days.
Some of our best autumn safety tips include:
Implement Lighting Timers and Motion Sensors
The longer, dark hours of autumn and winter can make your premises a target for intruders. Keeping the space bright and visible is a deterrent, as criminals know they will get caught and will therefore not be attracted to your home or business.
This is why motion sensor lighting is so useful for your autumn safety, as it will trigger at any sign of movement around the premises and illuminate the behaviour taking place. This is also a great tool to keep people safe as they go to and from the premises during the dwindling daylight hours, keeping the path visible and safe.
For additional autumn security, consider implementing lighting timers at home or in your business to give the impression that someone is present on-site at all times. The days are shorter during this season, which means your premises may appear dark and empty more than you’d light.
Lighting timers will trigger at the same time every day, giving the impression that someone is present on site and keeping the same illuminated for better autumn safety.
Update Existing Security Systems
Much like with your annual fire safety checks, autumn presents another great opportunity to enhance your safety – but this time with your security systems. Security systems should also be serviced regularly and the changing seasons are the perfect time to ensure you are being protected.
At Dorset Fire & Security, we offer professional servicing solutions to keep your safety systems in check. If it is time to replace your current security system to be better protected, we can help with this also.
We offer a range of security systems, such as intruder alarms, access control and CCTV which can offer enhanced autumn safety as well as deliver peace of mind at any other time of year. Working with us can help you provide better safety across your premises, and we will advise you on the best system for your needs.
Secure Entry Points
Entry points, such as windows and doors, are often the most vulnerable spaces and are therefore a prime target for intruders. As part of your autumn safety checks, make sure that all windows and doors across your premises are secure. Make sure they can close completely and are fitted with durable locks, to prevent tampering.
For additional autumn security, consider adding deadbolts or security bars to the windows to hinder break-ins even further.
Conclusion
At Dorset Fire & Security, we are committed to providing top-of-the-range fire and security solutions for our clients.
We take safety incredibly seriously, no matter the time of year, and will work closely with you to deliver the best results.
As the end of the year draws near, we encourage you to invest in better fire and security measures to protect your property from all potential hazards. These autumn safety tips can help enhance your current measures and ensure you are better prepared for the darker months.
Contact Us Today
Contact us today to upgrade your fire and security systems or for professional advice. Our experts are here to help you create a safer, more secure environment – no matter the season.
