Fire safety

The advice to ‘stay put’ and wait for rescue is standard practice for large blocks of purpose built flats, as lots of people moving around the building can help smoke to spread and can cause panic as people try and exit the building through narrow corridors or down narrow staircases.

Some of our buildings have a ‘stay put’ policy in place and tenants in these properties have recently received instructions about what to do in an emergency.

It is vital that shared stairwells and landings are kept clear of all furnishings, stored items or other articles which could get in the way of people leaving the building (especially if visibility is reduced, as might be the case in a fire).

We will ask you to remove anything that you may have placed outside your flat and we reserve the right to remove without warning anything we consider to be a hazard. If you see any issues, please make sure that you report them to us.

Access for emergency vehicles should be kept clear at all times. We will ask people to move any vehicles that are blocking access. We will take any necessary steps if these areas are blocked by tenants or visitors.

Yorkshire Housing carries out regular compliance inspections, and relies on the co-operation of tenants to give access to ensure that these vital safety inspections can take place.

The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous places in the home, so follow these tips:

• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Double check the oven/hob is off when you have finished cooking.
• Keep pans out of the reach of children.
• Don’t put anything metal in the microwave.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean. A build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.
• Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication that might make you drowsy.
• We always recommend using a thermostat controlled deep fat fryer. If you are using a chip pan to deep fat fry never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat or oil and never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on.

Electrical equipment is also a common hazard:

• Look for signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or circuit-breakers that trip.
• Avoid overloading wall sockets and extension leads.
• Keep portable heaters clear of curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.

Escape plan:

• Make an escape plan and make sure everyone knows it if ever you need to escape your property
• Alert other people in the property that there is a smoke alarm going off
• The best route is the normal way out of your home (Make sure exits are kept clear.)
• Door and window keys should be kept where everyone can find them
• Keep fire doors closed. They help to slow down the spread of fire and will give you extra time to get out.