YES. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a full fire safety risk assessment is a legal responsibility for all non-domestic premises. You are also required by law to keep a full written record of your Fire Risk Assessment if your business employs five or more people. Landlords.
A cheap and cheerful checklist, tick box type fire risk assessment often produced by many fire risk assessors is likely to ensure legislative requirements have NOT been met. A tell-tale sign of a poor risk assessment is one with scant information. Therefore, you need to ensure that your business’ fire risk assessment is worth more than the paper it is written on. The potential upshot could otherwise be fines or imprisonment. JD Fire Safety goes well beyond the basic tick box approach to meet the suitable and sufficient legislative requirements.
We have had numerous clients come to us for advice and support after receiving a Fire Safety Audit request from the Fire and Rescue Service. We have been able to work with these clients to support them through the process, leaving both the client and the Fire and Rescue Service satisfied.
Fire safety legislation is there to protect you, your employees, and any visitors. Compliance is therefore compulsory and a business that chooses not to put in place appropriate fire safety measures is acting illegally. Should a fire accident occur without having completed a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, your business may be subject to substantial fines, or in the event of a fatality, even manslaughter charges.
A fire risk assessment (FRA) assesses the potential dangers of a fire breaking out in your premises and makes suitable recommendations to reduce the risks and protect both your employees and visitors.
The fire risk assessment looks at:
• how likely a fire is to start in your workplace
• measures to minimise the risk of fire starting or spreading
• measures to keep people (employees/visitors, etc) safe
What does a fire risk assessment include?
There are five key steps in the fire risk assessment checklist, as set out by UK legislation, which includes:
1. Identify fire hazards
2. Identify people at risk
3. Evaluate, remove or reduce the identified risks
4. Record your findings, create an emergency plan, and provide suitable training
5. Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly
Our fire risk assessments are not the usual ‘tick-boxing exercise. We carry out a comprehensive, objective fire risk assessment of your premises to help you assess your current situation and fire prevention measures. The detailed report will include:
Premises Description & Use
Emergency Lighting
Persons at risk
Portable/Fixed Firefighting Equipment
History of Arson/Fire
Facilities for Fire & Rescue Services
Fire Hazards and Preventative Measures
Signage
Sources of Ignition, Fuel & Oxygen
Emergency Plan
Means of Escape
Fire Safety Information & Training
Compartmentation and Fire Separation
Testing & Maintenance
Fire Detection and Alarm System • Management & Record Keeping
Action Plan