FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS
Do not ignore this !!!!

It's No Longer An Option. Recent European and United Kingdom legislation now means that ALL employers are personally responsible for the provision of Fire Safety within the workplace. Employers are also required by legislation to carry out Fire Risk Assessments and record their findings.

• The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended 1999 require all employers to carry out a fire risk assessment of their premises.



• Where there are five or more employees the risk assessment shall be written and the significant findings recorded.



• A fire certificate is NOT a fire risk assessment, although it may complement a risk assessment.



• The risk assessment should be undertaken by a competent person or may be provided by a consultant.



• The risk assessment must be available for scrutiny by the Fire Authority who, as the enforcing authority, will determine whether the risk assessment is suitable and sufficient.



• The risk assessment should include an emergency plan clearly explaining the actions necessary in case of fire and to ensure the work place can be safely evacuated.



• The fire risk assessment should identify the following five steps:-
1. Identify the potential fire hazards in the work place.



2. Decide who (e.g. employee’s, visitors etc) may be in danger in the event of fire in the building, or escaping from it and note their location.



3. Evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether your existing fire precautions are adequate or whether additional measures may be required to control the risks.



4. Record your findings of the action taken as a result. Ensure employees are made aware of the significant findings.



5. The assessment should be reviewed annually or when material alterations are made e.g. structural changes or significant increase in number of employees or customers.

Failure to comply with fire legislation can lead to serious, personal consequences.

It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement imposed by an enforcement notice.

Any person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) of the new legislation shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or on conviction on indictment, to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

In any proceedings for an offence under this regulation it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he/she took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

Could YOU prove you have completed your fire risk assessment?