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Employers 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

• There is separate guidance on fire safety in the construction industry
• GOV.UK has advice on fire safety in the workplace
• The Welsh Government website has guidance on fire and rescue
• The Scottish Government provides information on non-domestic fire safety

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety in England and Wales.

In Scotland, requirements on general fire safety are covered in Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

In the majority of premises, local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation. HSE has enforcement responsibility on construction sites and on ships under construction or undergoing repair.

 As an employer, you're required by law to protect your employees, and others, from harm.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum you must do is:

• identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards)
• decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
• take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn't possible, control the risk

Assessing risk is just one part of the overall process used to control risks in your workplace.

Depending on the location/design/risk and the use of the location the risk assessment will include an inspection report on the following as an example: 

• The occupants   
• Occupant's especially at risk
• Fire loss experience 
• Fire safety legislation
• Electrical sources of ignition
• Smoking
• Arson 
• Portable Heaters/appliances 
• Ventilations systems 
• Cooking
• Lightning protection
• House-keeping 
• Hazards- construction sites/general work place
• Dangerous substances 
• Means of escape 
• Significant fire hazards
• Measure to limit fire spread
• Emergency escape lighting
• Fire safety signage and notices 
• Manual fire extinguishing appliance's
• Automatic fire extinguishing system
• Relevant fixed systems and equipment
• Procedures and arrangements
• Training and drills 
• Testing and maintenance 
•  Records
• Fire information related documents 
• Action plan 

So how do we support.  firstly understanding your needs and requirements. Not sure...not a problem we can advise on the requirements and create a schedule  plan that can support your compliance.

Stage one 

Pre-consultation - understanding requirements- create a plan that will provide clear guidance.

Document review: Required documents-  We would request documentation that reflects the premiss, this would be in the form of: (examples) Site drawings,  Fire Health & Safety management documentation, Training or emergency support programs, Test and maintenance, Life safety equipment documentation, Work place Incidents reports.   

Stage two

Conduct a site audit inspection.

Stage three

What you will receive from us!

1) Site assessment-

2) Notes and site images-

3) Submission of the assessment and action tracker-

4)Follow up consultation-

For more information contact us or drop us a call, info@safetycompliance.uk