Fire and Safety

All about Fire and Safety in the Workplace in Malawi, Safety Rules in the Workplace in Malawi, Safety at Work in Malawi and more on Mywage.com

Prevention of Fire

It is important for employees to know how to prevent fire in the workplace. The Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act in Malawi has more on the prevention of fire.

What employees and employers need to know

  • There shall be provided and maintained in every place, adequate and suitable means of extinguishing fire, which shall be readily accessible
  • Chemical fire-extinguishers shall be freshly charged at intervals not greater than those specified by the manufacturers or otherwise once annually, and tested by the application of such hydraulic pressure
  • All stocks of inflammable substances need to be kept in a fire resistant store or in a safe place outside any occupied building, provided that no such store shall be so situated as to endanger the means of escape from the workplace or from any part thereof in the event of a fire occurring in the store
  • No fire, flame, open light or other agent likely to ignite volatile and inflammable substances shall be allowed or used in any part of a workplace in which volatile and inflammable substances are used
  • No person shall smoke in any part of a workplace where volatile and inflammable substances are used, and a notice prohibiting smoking shall be posted in a conspicuous place in every such part of the workplace

Escaping in case of Fire

  • Every workplace needs to have adequate means of escape in case of fire for the persons employed therein
  • Every means of escape in case of fire needs to be properly maintained and kept free from obstruction
  • The contents of any room in which persons are employed needs to be so arranged so that there is a free passageway for all persons employed in the room to a means of escape in case of fire
  • The doors of a workplace and of any room therein, and any doors which afford a means of exit for persons employed in the workplace from any building or from any enclosure in which the workplace is situated, shall not be locked or fastened in such a manner as not to be easily and immediately opened from the inside in case of fire

 Conclusion

 Employers need to take note of these rules and regulations. Failure to observe this will result in an individual being found guilty of an offence. Any person or firm found guilty shall be liable to a fine of K10,000  while if a person dies or suffers bodily injury, the penalty is K20,000.

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Find out about Minimum Wages in Malawi.


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