Regulatory
Fire Risk Assessment: Understanding the Legislation
Even if you have a Fire Certificate issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, you now need to carry out a fire risk assessment. The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 were designed to implement the fire safety provisions of the 1989 Framework and Workplace Directives. They originally only applied to premises not covered by a valid fire certificate. However, the European Commission objected because the exceptions applied to workplaces with the "highest fire risks". Therefore, since 1st December 1999, the 1997 legislation has applied to all workplaces (where one or more persons are employed).
What do you have to do?
- Fire safety law now holds you, the employer, responsible for carrying out a fire risk assessment and recording the findings if you have five or more staff. You must be able to demonstrate that you been proactive in doing a full fire risk assessment for your business
- You must keep your risk assessment up to date and progressively change it as the size and risks in your building/business change
- You must make sure your staff are trained in evacuation and the use of the fire fighting equipment in your business
Fire Risk Assessments are the systematic examination of potential sources of fire in the workplace the dangers that fire poses to those who use the workplace and how the risk and spread of fire can be minimised. To download a list of questions you should consider when carrying out your fire risk assessment click here.
90% of all UK businesses must now adhere to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations as amended in 1999. The only exemptions are for:
- Fire Alarms
- People who work in fields, woods or agricultural land
- Construction sites
- Offshore installations
- Ships and other means of transport
- Mines (below ground)
