When it comes to fire safety at work, UK law requires businesses to carry out risk assessments, appoint a responsible person, implement precautions, and train staff. Yet a 2023 survey revealed alarming gaps. Forty percent of businesses lacked a current risk assessment, over half of employees didn’t know where to assemble during a fire, and only six percent had participated in a fire drill in the past year. Meanwhile, the average fire costs £78,000 in losses, not including reputational damage.
Turning near misses into actions
At Prime Systems, we help organisations go beyond the basics. Our bespoke software allows businesses to track and investigate every fire-related event, from full-blown fires to near misses, like smoke without flame, and hazards that could have sparked a fire.
Users can record detailed information about equipment involved, the cause of the incident, how the alarm was raised, whether the fire service was called, their arrival times, and whether evacuations were carried out successfully. This level of insight informs staff training, improves communication, and builds a proactive safety culture. Instant email alerts ensure the right people are notified immediately, enabling swift action.
Case study: Furniture Village
Furniture Village, the UK’s largest independent furniture retailer, faced a huge challenge: 54 stores, each requiring accurate fire risk assessments, with limited central oversight. Working with Prime Systems and Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, they developed a bespoke fire safety workbook so store teams could carry out thorough assessments while centralised data gave full visibility across all locations. As a result, what normally took six months was completed in just one week, providing greater efficiency, reduced administrative burden, improved safety ownership, and a clear, auditable trail for leadership and insurers.
Paul Ramsell, Prime Systems’ director explains, “Fire safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about ensuring people, processes, and technology work together to prevent incidents and respond effectively. Our tools give organisations clarity on what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it happening again, creating accountability and a proactive safety culture.”
Lessons from the real world
Recent events highlight why being reactive isn’t enough. In September 2025, a fire broke out at the Escape Lounge at Stansted Airport, forcing a full evacuation. No one was injured, but the disruption was significant: flights delayed, terminals overcrowded, and passengers inconvenienced. Even highly regulated environments can be caught off guard without systems in place to track, report, and act on fire risks in real time.
Building a culture of readiness
Prime Systems equips businesses to be prepared for both expected and unexpected fire risks. Bespoke reporting forms, live incident tracking, automated alerts, and actionable dashboards give organisations the visibility and control needed to safeguard people, property, and reputation. Fire safety is no longer just a compliance exercise; it’s about creating a culture of readiness that turns potential hazards into managed, preventable outcomes.
