Conducting a risk assessment - for the good of your business

It is important that employers take precautions and put in place safety measures to ensure their workers are safe from fire in the workplace. Every year employees and workers are killed or seriously injured as a result of fire.

Auditing

Audits involve the auditing of all of your fire safety controls, policies, procedures and training within your organization. By conducting an audit on your premises it allows for detailed drawings and schematics to be produced. Organizations often outsource this element of their workplace safety to a professional consultant to ensure they get it right the first time round. On completion the consultant who conducted the audit would meet with you to discuss the findings and explain practical methods of reducing risk to an acceptable level.

Risk Assessment & Prevention

Anyone who has some control over their premises must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can safely escape in the event. Employers should nominate a person to be responsible for fire safety within their organization.

To comply with the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 it is a legal requirement to conduct a fire risk assessment. During the process and upon completion of an assessment an accurate record of the findings should be kept.

Training

Employers must provide all employees with fire safety instruction and training so that they know what to do in the event of a fire. All employees must know how to raise the alarm if they discover a fire, how to contact the fire brigade, how to use the fire-fighting equipment, how and where to evacuate the building, where to assemble and who to report to.

Fire-Detection & Warning System

You must have an appropriate fire-detection and warning system. Whatever system you have, it must be able to warn all people in the building in all circumstances.

You need to decide which type of detector is suitable for your premises. It may be that one type of detector is suitable for one part of your premises and another for the rest. Before installing a system, you may wish to discuss your proposals with your local fire authority or take the advice of professional fire safety consultants.

Equipment

Your risk assessment may highlight that it may be appropriate to provide portable multi-purpose fire extinguishers so that people on your premises can tackle a fire in its early stages. These extinguishers should have a guaranteed shelf-life, and there should be one for every 200 square metres of floor space, and at least one on every floor. Depending on your type of business and the outcome of your assessment, you may need other specialised fire-fighting equipment.

Who Do Regulations Apply To?

The fire safety regulations apply to all non-domestic premises

Non-Compliance

Owners, directors and managing agents can face imprisonment and personal prosecutions as a consequence of non-compliance. By not conducting a risk assessment you are at risk of invalidating your insurance cover.