Fire Risk Assessment

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

The principle of the new fire regulations and the risk assessment approach, is goal based and flexible to business needs. In all premises that are not single private dwellings, the responsible person must carry out an assessment to remove or reduce risks.

Providing the premises have been built and maintained in accordance with Building Regulations and the use of the workplace can be described as normal risk or lower, undertaking a risk assessment will be a simple matter and is unlikely to cause significant expenditure. If however, the premises are not in accordance with the above categories and are classified as a high risk, substantial action may be necessary and an action plan should be produced and implemented based on the complexity, size, occupancy and consequential risks.

The guidance provided in the fire safety risk assessment and guides published by the Government will indicate how to comply with the fire regulations. The guides are new and published to allow premises and their ‘responsible persons’ to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These guides will allow you to comply with the Fire Regulations, current & future.

The responsible person can enlist the help of other people who have the necessary experience or skills and competence to carry out part or all of the risk assessment. This 'competent' person (possibly a current employee with knowledge of safety and company working practices) does not have to be an expert , but they need to have sufficient experience and training with regard to the problems they are advising on.

The responsible person always remains accountable for the outcome. This is worth remembering, should you require help with your risk assessment.

Should your completed fire risk assessment result in the production of an action plan indicating that significant works or expenditure are necessary, contact your local Fire Safety Department and a Fire Safety Officer will advise you, to ensure you are undertaking the most effective method of complying with the regulations for your particular workplace.

What are the requirements?

Employers are required to:

• Carry out a fire risk assessment
• Monitor & Review the risk assessment & revise as appropriate
• Inform staff or their representatives of the risks
• Plan for an emergency
• Provide staff information and training
• Nominate people to assist

Employers are required to provide and maintain: (to the extent that it is appropriate as determined by the fire risk assessment)

• Means For detecting & giving warning in case of fire
• Emergency lighting
• Means of escape
• Fire safety signs
• Firefighting equipment

Risk Assessment Guides

The Department for Communities and Local Government currently produces eight guides on business-related risk assessment.

These are basic guides, but they should give you a good overview of a suitable approach to making fire risk assessments. Detailed guidance on fire safety risk assessment is published by the Government in several volumes specific to different uses of premises.

The current guides are:

1. Offices and shops
2. Factories and warehouses
3. Sleeping accommodation
4. Education premises
5. Small and medium places of assembly
6. Large places of assembly
7. Theatres and cinemas.
8. Healthcare premises

The guides can be viewed on the Department of Communities and Local Government websites

 http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/

An entry Level guide – A short guide to making your premises safe from Fire -  is also available at this website. The guides are contained in the "what we do" section "Fire and Resilience".

The Health & Safety Executive has also produced a guide - Five Steps to Risk Assessment