Michael Kiddle
Managing Director of Hawkesworth and a nationally recognised leader in electrical and fire safety, Michael (GIFireE) directs one of the UK's leading compliance companies, safeguarding thousands of businesses each year. Through his voluntary Safe Home Initiative, he has identified and removed thousands of dangerous household appliances from vulnerable people's homes, replacing each one with a safe alternative free of charge.
Portable heaters are one of the biggest fire risks in offices during winter. Staff bring in their own equipment to stay warm, older heating systems get switched on after months sitting idle, and faulty equipment can introduce fire hazards that weren’t there a few weeks earlier.
Getting ahead of these risks is part of running a safe, compliant workplace.
What Makes Portable Heaters a Higher Risk Appliance
Heaters generate heat deliberately, which means they need more care than most office appliances. Place one too close to combustible materials and you have an ignition source. Leave one running unattended and there’s no way to respond if something goes wrong.
Older heaters can be particularly problematic. They may lack tip-over switches or overheat protection. And if they’ve been stored since last winter, cables could be damaged without anyone noticing.
Personal heaters brought from home are a common example of this. They haven’t been checked for workplace use, so there’s no way of knowing whether they’re safe until someone looks. That’s exactly where PAT testing comes in. It’s the process of having a qualified engineer inspect and test portable electrical appliances to confirm they’re safe to use in a workplace environment.
Winter Heater Safety Tips for Office Spaces
Most office fires start small. A heater left too close to paper. A damaged cable that sparks when plugged in. An overloaded extension lead that overheats behind a desk. These are everyday scenarios that happen across the UK every winter, and they’re all preventable.
- Always plug heaters directly into a wall socket, never an extension lead
- Keep heaters at least one metre away from paper, furniture and combustible materials
- Switch heaters off at the end of every working day
- Check cables and plugs for visible damage before use, especially after storage
- Only use heaters that have been tested and approved for workplace use
How PAT Testing Supports Workplace Fire Safety
PAT testing checks every portable appliance in your workplace, including heaters, to confirm they’re safe to use.
A qualified engineer identifies damaged cables, failing plugs and components likely to overheat. Anything that isn’t safe gets flagged and removed before it becomes a problem. You also get clear, documented evidence that your equipment has been checked, which supports your compliance position with insurers and fire authorities.
Most commercial premises arrange annual PAT testing. If staff are bringing heaters in mid-year, it’s worth getting those checked before they go into regular use.
Setting a Workplace Heating Policy That Works
You can’t stop staff from being cold. But you can manage how they stay warm.
Some businesses provide approved heaters and ask staff not to bring their own. Others allow personal heaters but require them to be tested first. Either approach works when the policy is clear and applied consistently.
Staff should know where heaters can be placed, when they must be switched off, and how to flag equipment they’re unsure about. Make it part of your induction process so new starters understand the rules from day one.
The policy should also cover extension leads. Plugging a heater into a multi-way adapter that’s already powering a computer and monitors puts serious strain on the circuit.
If your building’s heating system works properly, fewer people will feel the need to bring in their own heaters. Cold spots should be investigated and fixed rather than left for individuals to manage themselves.
Keeping Your Fire Risk Assessment Current
Managing heater risks is one part of office fire safety. Having the right assessment in place is the other.
A Fire Risk Assessment is a formal review of your workplace that identifies hazards, evaluates your existing safety measures and recommends improvements. It covers everything from equipment condition to escape routes to staff training.
Assessments work best as living documents. They should be reviewed when circumstances change, including when seasonal risks like portable heaters appear. If your last assessment didn’t account for portable heating equipment, now is a good time to revisit it.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, carrying out and maintaining a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for employers and building managers.
A Simple Winter Checklist
- Arrange PAT testing for all portable appliances, including heaters brought in by staff
- Review your Fire Risk Assessment to reflect seasonal changes
- Update your workplace heating policy and communicate it to all staff
- Train staff on fire safety procedures and confirm they know where extinguishers are located
Staying Compliant This Winter
Portable heaters will always be part of office life during cold weather. With the right checks in place, managing that safely is straightforward.
Hawkesworth works with commercial premises across the UK as a trusted compliance partner, providing PAT testing and Fire Risk Assessments to keep your workplace safe and compliant.
Request a quote and we’ll help you get everything in order before the coldest months arrive.
