How to Reduce Fire Risk When Workloads Increase in Early Q1

The first quarter is one of the busiest periods for many industries. In this article from Kevin Howlette, we’ll discuss how to reduce fire risk when workloads increase in early Q1.

Projects restart, maintenance backlogs are cleared, new equipment is mobilised and staffing levels increase rapidly. This rise in operational activity creates unavoidable pressure. Unfortunately, it also creates predictable fire risks when controls fail to keep pace with workload.

At EHS International, we support organisations across construction, manufacturing, logistics and energy. Every year, we see a clear pattern. Q1 fire risk increases because basic controls become stretched. These risks are not caused by poor systems, but by the pace at which work expands.

Reducing fire risk during this busy period requires a practical, proactive and realistic approach.

1. Increased activity stresses existing fire controls

When workload grows, the demand on fire controls grows too. Escape routes become more congested. Storage areas fill faster. Charging stations are used more frequently. Temporary works expand. More people are on site.

All these changes introduce:

• Additional ignition sources
• More combustible materials
• Higher equipment turnover
• Greater supervision challenges

If controls are not adjusted, risk increases.

2. People need to know exactly what they are responsible for

Clear responsibility is fundamental to effective fire safety. When roles are vague, critical actions are delayed or missed entirely. Everyone on site should understand their specific responsibilities during both normal operations and an emergency.

This includes reception and front-of-house teams, who are often the first point of contact during an incident. Reception staff may control access, receive fire alarm activations, interact with visitors and contractors, and be responsible for contacting emergency services. Their role in early response and information flow is critical and must be clearly defined, trained and rehearsed.

Fire safety fails fastest when people assume someone else is responsible.

3. Fire wardens require confidence, not just a title

Appointing fire wardens is not enough. They must have the confidence to act decisively under pressure and the situational awareness to manage real people, not just procedures.

During Q1, this challenge increases as new or returning staff may have temporary mobility limitations. This can include recovery from injury, illness, pregnancy, or a prolonged period away from site work. These factors change evacuation speed, behaviour and support needs during an emergency.

Fire wardens must be aware of these realities, understand who may require assistance, and feel confident adapting evacuation support accordingly. Fire safety is ultimately about people, not floor plans.

4. Lithium ion charging becomes less controlled under time pressure

In busy periods, equipment charging becomes rushed and space becomes limited.

This leads to:

• Overloaded charging areas
• Batteries placed too close together
• Use of incompatible chargers
• Charging in unsafe locations
• Failure to inspect damaged equipment

Lithium ion batteries demand control. When workload increases, those controls must strengthen, not loosen.

5. Hot works increase but oversight does not

Q1 is a major period for construction, maintenance and repair. Hot works are one of the highest risk activities on any site, yet permits often become rushed during busy periods.

Strong hot works control includes:

• Clear permit procedures
• Active supervision
• Adequate fire watch duration
• Pre and post work inspections

The majority of hot works fires occur because of insufficient fire watch, not the work itself.

6. Training should align with real site conditions

Fire safety training must reflect how the site actually operates, not how it looks on a drawing. One of the most effective but often overlooked controls is physically walking evacuation routes during inductions and refresher training.

When people walk the route, they store spatial information in their cognitive memory, filling synaptic gaps. This gives the brain vital reference points such as distances, obstacles, lighting conditions and decision points. In an emergency, this information supports faster, more instinctive movement and reduces hesitation.

Training that connects procedures to real movement on site significantly improves evacuation performance.

7. Storage layouts drift as stock increases

Busy periods lead to poor storage discipline. Without oversight, combustible materials can spread quickly into escape routes, block doorways or be stored near heat sources.

Common issues include:

• Temporary storage becoming permanent
• Containers overfilled
• Segregation controls ignored
• Stock placed in front of extinguishers

A five minute daily inspection prevents many of these problems.

8. Supervisors become stretched

As workload increases, supervisors often have less time to monitor fire controls. This is when fire safety drift occurs. Not intentionally, but operationally.

Leaders should:

• Assign fire responsibilities clearly
• Increase fire checks during busy periods
• Reinforce expectations with teams
• Support supervisors by reducing unnecessary administrative load

Fire risk increases when oversight decreases.

Busy periods require stronger, not softer, fire controls

Fire safety must adapt to changing conditions. Q1 brings growth, pace and pressure. These are positive indicators for business, but they also demand heightened attention to risk.

At EHS International, we help organisations strengthen fire controls during mobilisation, delivering practical strategies that align with real site behaviour. When activity increases, so must fire safety.