Don’t Let Christmas Go Up in Smoke: Fire & Electrical Safety Tips for Small Businesses

The festive season is one of the busiest times of year for small businesses — but it’s also one of the riskiest. With decorations, heaters, and longer hours all adding to the load, fire and electrical hazards can creep in without anyone noticing.

A few simple precautions now can help protect your business, your staff, and your customers — and make sure your Christmas ends with cheer, not chaos.

1️⃣ Check your electrics before things get busy

Christmas lights, extension leads, heaters, and displays all add pressure to your electrical system. Before plugging in extra items:

• Make sure your sockets aren’t overloaded.

• Check that all plugs and cables are intact — no frays or scorch marks.

• Only use surge-protected extension leads, and never daisy-chain them together.

• Keep extension blocks off the floor and away from water or cleaning products.

A quick PAT (Portable Appliance Test) check before December can save you a major headache later.

2️⃣ Keep decorations away from heat

It sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most common causes of festive fires. Paper, tinsel, artificial trees, and cardboard displays can all ignite easily. Keep them at least one metre away from:

• Heaters

• Radiators

• Light fittings

• Candle displays (or better yet — avoid candles altogether)

  
  

3️⃣ Turn everything off at the end of the day

When the day’s done and the lights are out, make sure everything else is too. Unplug decorations, coffee machines, printers, and heaters before locking up. If possible, assign a member of staff to do a daily close-down check — that five-minute routine can make a world of difference.

4️⃣ Don’t block fire exits with stock or displays

It’s tempting to fill every inch of the shop floor with Christmas deals, but safety comes first.Keep escape routes, stairways, and exit doors completely clear. In a fire, blocked access is one of the biggest dangers — and one of the easiest to prevent.

5️⃣ Check extinguishers and alarms now — not later

If you’ve been meaning to check your fire extinguishers, emergency lights, or alarm call points… do it before the rush hits. The law requires regular testing under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and your insurance may depend on it. Set a reminder to test weekly and record the results in your fire log book.

6️⃣ Brief your team — especially temporary staff

Christmas often means extra hands behind the counter or in the stockroom. Take ten minutes to show them:

• Where the fire exits are

• What to do if the alarm sounds

• Who’s the designated fire marshal

Even if they’re only working a few shifts, that knowledge could save lives.

7️⃣ Review your Fire Risk Assessment

If you’ve changed your layout, added new stock, or brought in temporary displays, it’s time to review your Fire Risk Assessment. You don’t need to redo it from scratch — just make sure it still reflects how your business looks today.

🎁 A safer Christmas means a calmer one

Staying on top of fire safety doesn’t take long, but it protects everything you’ve built. If you’d like a simple, editable Fire Risk Assessment template for your business,

visit:👉 www.risksmartuk.co.uk

Because peace of mind is the best gift you can give your business this Christmas.