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No matter of your industry, all businesses must be fire conscious in their workplace. A fire has the ability to kill employees and ruin properties, therefore it must be a top priority to try and prevent. In this blog, we discuss 5 of our top tips for preventing fires in the workplace. Waste - Try to keep work areas clear of any paper, waste or any other items which could catch on fire. Keep bins away from plug sockets, this further decreases the risk of the rubbish catching alight. Wiring - If any electrical wiring is damaged, replace or fix it immediately. Wires which could be walked on decreases the quality of the outside coating, exposing the inside wires which carry the electric. Try to keep all wires safely stored away. Plugs/circuits - Do not overload extension leads, plugs or circuits as they could overheat and catch fire. Appliances - Turn off any electrical appliances at night/when everyone leaves the office. Machines that are constantly running have more chance of overheating due to having to constantly be on and working. Equipment - If the equipment produces heat (e.g. microwave, printer, computer, toaster etc) try to keep it away from anything flammable. Also, do not put the equipment directly against a wall! Being directly against a wall means the piece of equipment room cannot ‘breathe’ and therefore cool down, meaning the process of overheating can happen quicker than normal. WINNS Services has been established for over two decades providing cleaning and security services to clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, don't hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

It is time to question your hygiene.

You may be thinking ‘No not me, I always clean everywhere’, but there may be a few spots missing their regular disinfect and polish. This post highlights 5 places you may be forgetting to clean in your office! Inside drawers - Drawers hold a variety of different items, whether that be a desk drawer, filing cabinet or kitchen drawers. The insides need to be cleaned due to containing some of the most germ-ridden items in your office. A build-up of dirt, dust and grime is not somewhere you will want to be storing your items which you will be handling. Company fridge - Yes you may be cleaning the inside of the fridge, but remember to include the outside and back of the fridge in this clean as just as many germs can be found upon the outside. Dust builds up in the vents and coils (dust is mainly made up of plant pollen, human and animal hairs, textile fibres, paper fibres, human skin cells etc) therefore cleaning in those areas are also a priority. Plants - Plants in the office get dusty too! When it is eventually noticed, it is usually wiped away with a hand. However, most people do not know that the natural oils in our skin are harmful to plants. The best option for cleaning houseplants is a dampened cloth with water and regular soil watering, without cleaning, plants are often left to accumulate dust- not a good look for prospective clients or a clean employee workspace. Litter bins - Regularly changing bin sacks is a good way of reducing the number of germs in the bin. However, it is often forgotten that the bins will need cleaning too, both inside and out. This includes normal bins, recycling bins and consumable waste bins. It is advised to disinfect at least once a month, especially the consumable waste bins as these often harbour and breed germs. Computer - A simple wipe down is not good enough for a computer, this includes the mouse, keyboard and computer tower. Make sure to clean ALL aspects fully, but remember not to spray directly onto any electrical equipment! Also, do not place the hoover directly over your items as the process creates static electricity which could damage your computer. WINNS Services has been established for over two decades providing cleaning and security services to clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the cleaning services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, don't hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

Fire is still as much of a threat today than it was 100 years ago. Although security and safety are often at the forefront of every business’ mind, fire detection may still not be as commonly thought of. All fire officials will tell you how important a few seconds is to save lives, as well as minimal property damage. Although safety measures will be in place to try and prevent fire in the workplace, it is important to have a system in place to warn people if a fire is caused. GOV.UK says that it is required for a business to have a fire detection and warning alarm system in the workplace. It is a necessary outline in the fire safety risk assessment. Businesses must also make sure that the mechanism is properly installed in order for it to work properly. When installing the system, make sure to consider the placement. The placement determines how successful the device is at detecting fire, as well as being effectively visible and audible of its warning. It is important to know that the proper placement will depend on the type of device and the layout of the building. The piece of equipment must also be placed at a safe distance from any lights, air conditioning vents, radiators and ceiling fans as these could cause inaccurate fire detection. Fire detection systems must be tested weekly in order to know if the alarm is consistently working. If it is not regularly tested, this could cause an emergency to be undetected. The device should also be properly serviced, the frequency of the service will depend on the size and capacity of the device- although usually, this is every 12 months. Although a business may have an appropriate fire safety risk assessment in place, it is crucial that you communicate that everyone takes instant action as soon as the alert is sounded. The system is there to detect a fire quickly so those inside the premises can leave the building swiftly- any delay can result in injury, damage and even loss of lives. Here at WINNS Services, we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the fire detection services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, please do not hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

The cleanliness of a workplace can sometimes be debatable. The office may look clean, but is it actually ‘clean’? Clean by definition, provided by Oxford Dictionaries, is something that is ‘ Free from dirt, marks, or stains.’ Something or somewhere can be free from marks or stains, but it is the dirt which we need to focus on. Dirt can be invisible to the naked eye, it is only upon inspection we can see that it is contaminated with germs. Here are 3 places in the workplace that are a lot dirtier than they seem: Computer - Did you know your computer is, on average, 20,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat? Therefore if you are a ‘sit at your desk and eat’ type of person maybe it is time this changed. You should try to clean your computer at least once a month. This includes the monitor, keyboard, mouse and system unit. The Kitchen - Communal areas are often the places which contain the most germs. Although they may appear clean and clear, particular items are unknowingly harboring bacteria. Items such as milk bottles, the kettle and handles to drawers are some of the most contaminated areas of the office, wiping them with some antibacterial cleaners will help contain the spread of germs. Stairs/Lift - Everyone in the office will be using the stairs and/or lift to enter the premises. Numerous hands are being used upon the handrails and buttons, meaning the opportunity for microbes to multiply in these areas are high. Although they may not appear to be ‘dirty’, the germs will still be making a home of the rails and buttons. It is important to focus cleaning efforts on areas where a large number of people will be touching and using the items, as they will have the most hidden bacteria. By being aware of these unknown areas, it can allow your workplace to reduce its risk of illness due to the containment of germs, bacteria and viruses. This helps the workplace to be a happier and healthier environment for both employees and visitors, therefore, improving company productivity. Here at WINNS Services, we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and working with clients to offer the best solution to their queries. If you have any questions regarding the cleaning services offered at WINNS or would like a quote, please do not hesitate to call us on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk

Health and Safety is a crucial part of any business' operations. This blog runs through the control measures which can be used to approach hazards and how to reduce them within the workplace, as issued by the Health and Safety Authority.