Burning question for our business

The threat of intense bushfires is a growing risk to Tasmanian businesses, and small to medium operations are particularly at risk, says Michael Bailey

THE Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is deeply concerned about the coming Tasmanian fire season and its potential impacts on the state’s business sector.

The national warnings released in August have the East Coast of Tasmania as the major disaster area already.

We know that many of our rural brothers and sisters on the East Coast have struggled to maintain stock numbers without significant rainfalls over recent years.

But it’s not just the East Coast. The TCCI is very worried about the regional and remote towns throughout Tasmania.

They are the heartland of the state’s economy and the driving force for employment within their communities.

If these communities are threatened — businesses, homes and vital town infrastructure — then those hubs can fail.

We have seen the devastation and loss suffered by entire regions like the

Huon Valley and the Dunalley region in recent years.

As summer approaches, it’s time for everyone in Tasmania — particularly our small and medium business enterprises — to think about their insurance cover.

Is your insurance up to date. Have you got enough insurance.

At the TCCI we have advisers ready and willing to help you as well as direct to the right agency to assist.

It is a free call statewide on 1300 559 122.

What are you doing and what have you done to protect your property?

From the Tasmania Fire Service, it urges all Tasmanians to create a defendable space around your home or property. If you have prepared properly then your home or property will be more likely to survive.

The advice for homeowners is also extremely relevant for business owners — modify the vegetation as well as remove most flammable material from around your premises.

This will reduce the danger of sparks and embers igniting or, if they do, they can be put out quickly and easily.

A defendable space makes it much easier to defend your home or business.

And if you live or work in a regional area and decide to evacuate, the clearing of vegetation or flammable material around your premises will assist Tasmanian Fire Service members or volunteer firefighters to protect your business.

As mentioned, the Tasmania Fire Service website has a lot of information on preparing your premises for the fire season as well as specific information on your options when bushfire threatens.

I urge you to check it out at www.fire.tas.gov.au.

You can also contact your local brigade — whether you live or work in the North, North-West or South.

Don’t put off preparing your property or business. It puts your assets at risk and it could put firefighters at risk too. The Tasmania Fire Service also sells and services portable fire protection equipment so that people at home and at work have the equipment they need to extinguish small fires.

The TFS can also audit your business property. Business owners wanting advice or audits to assess whether their buildings meet the requirements of fire safety legislation can rely on TFS Building Safety staff for assistance.

TasFire Equipment, an arm of the Tasmanian Fire Service, has been operating for more than 40 years.

It specialises in the sale, maintenance and repair of portable fire protection equipment, operating on a statewide basis with offices in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.

The TFS sells and services essential fire equipment such

The TCCI is very worried about regional and remote towns. They are the heartland of the state’s economy and the driving force for employment

as hose reels, fire extinguishers, fire blankets and smoke alarms.

The TFS team of Fire Equipment Officers across the state assists business in making sure that their fire protection equipment is able to do its job in a fire emergency.

If you have a business, who are the people given responsibility to fight fires on your premises if an emergency occurs?

Again, the TFS has a training unit that provides accredited training to businesses to help them keep their employees safe and protect their business in the event of an emergency.

What the TCCI wants is for Tasmanians and Tasmanian business to be protected this summer — in fact, all year long. For advice, call us on 1300 559 122.