Fire Risk Assessment: A Check-List

Fire safety is important to us at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/). It’s our business and it’s also your business, and as an employer or landlord you have responsibilities. Fire alarm installations and subsequent fire alarm maintenance are just part of the necessary undertakings needed to comply with fire safety regulations. Our customers are responsible individuals and companies of course, so whilst we know they are working to ensure the safety of the premises and people alike, we think it’s always a good idea to remind ourselves of fire regulations that we all need to adhere to. It’s a moral and a legal necessity. And with the horrific tragedy of the Brazilian nightclub fire that we covered in our last blog still fresh in our minds, let’s take a look at one specific regulation, the fire risk assessment. As with anything legally binding, this blog doesn’t constitute the letter of the law, rather a few basic directives that should be born in mind. Ultimately the responsibility is with you, but here’s a quick check list.

In England and Wales the person responsible for fire safety is the landlord, employer, owner or occupier of a business or other non-domestic premises and as such they are compelled by law to put in place, and maintain, adequate fire safety measures. This also applies if you have paying guests, for example if you run a bed and breakfast, guest house or let self-catering property.

You are required by law to:

• Carry out, and regularly review, a fire risk assessment
• Tell staff and/or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified
• Implement, and maintain, adequate and appropriate fire safety measures
• Plan for an emergency
• Provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training

A fire risk assessment is required to be regularly carried out and reviewed. If you have 5 or more people in your business or premises you must identify the hazards, identify people at risk evaluate, remove or reduce the risks, record your findings, prepare an emergency plan, provide training and review and update the fire risk assessment regularly.

When carrying out a fire risk assessment you’ll need to consider some key factors. They are all essential. Here are a few key ones to remember and assess and, if necessary, improve:

• Emergency routes and exits
• Fire detection and warning systems
• Firefighting equipment
• Dangerous substances – do they need safe storage or complete removal?
• A considered and safe emergency fire evacuation plan
• The needs of vulnerable people, including the elderly, young children and those with disabilities
• Communication – relevant information needs to be provided to employees and all other people on the premises

The safest and most effective way of ensuring a fire risk assessment has been carried out compliantly, is to employ the services of a professional risk assessor. Contact us at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) and we’ll take the guess work and stress out of fire regulations for you.