Fire Risk Assessment

The Fire Safety Order (FSO) applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect in October 2006 replacing over 70 pieces of fire safety law. The order applies to common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

Legislation applies to you if you are:

• Responsible for business premises
• An employer or self-employed with business premises
• Responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
• A charity or voluntary organisation
• A contractor with a degree of control over any premises
• Providing accommodation for paying guests

Under the FSO, the responsible person must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and implement and maintain a fire management plan. This is where Salvum can help, we can survey the premises and comply thoroughly with the current legislation providing your company with risk assessment and implement the appropriate course of action.

What do i need to do to comply?

Employers (and/or building owners or occupiers) must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and keep it up to date. This shares the same approach as health and safety risk assessments and can be carried out either as part of an overall risk assessment or as a separate exercise.Based on the findings of the assessment, employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.To help prevent fire in the workplace, your risk assessment should identify what could cause a fire to start, ie sources of ignition (heat or sparks) and substances that burn, and the people who may be at risk.

Once you have identified the risks, you can take appropriate action to control them. Consider whether you can avoid them altogether or, if this is not possible, how you can reduce the risks and manage them. Also consider how you will protect people if there is a fire.

• Carry out a fire safety risk assessment
• Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart
• Avoid accidental fires, eg make sure heaters cannot be knocked over
• Ensure good housekeeping at all times, eg avoid build-up of rubbish that could burn
• Consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start, eg installing smoke alarms and fire alarms or bells
• Have the correct fire-fighting equipment for putting a fire out quickly
• Keep fire exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed at all times
• Ensure your workers receive appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including fire drills
• Review and update your risk assessment regularly