"Don't let your dreams go up in smoke - practice fire safety"
Fire Safety
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the main piece of fire protection legislation that significantly changed fire safety law and practice in recent years.
It places the onus of responsibility squarely on the responsible person. This may be an employer, landlord or any person who has to any extent control over the building.
This new fire legislation also includes those who are self-employed. With this new fire legislation in place, there is now a greater emphasis on fire protection.
The main objectives are to:
- Produce a comprehensive Fire Safety scheme applicable to all workplaces and other non-domestic premises. Fire precaution, fire protection etc.
- Place the responsibility for Fire Safety upon anyone who has control or a degree of control over their premises.
- Replace fire certificates for higher risk premises with fire risk assessments. A detailed risk assessment must be carried out in order to assess the risks to which people might be exposed and to determine what precautions must be taken to eliminate, minimise and manage those risks. The risk assessments should be undertaken by a competent person.
Employers, managers and employees must play an active role to create, and maintain, a standard of fire awareness to comply with policies and statutes.
Responsibility for complying with the new fire safety legislation rest with the “responsible person”. For a workplace, this will be the employer or any other person who may have control of any part of the workplace. For example, the owner or occupier. Under the new fire legislation, the responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment. The employer must also take reasonable steps to remove or reduce fire risks.
RFS Consultancy can assist you with:
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Fire risk assessments.
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Emergency Plan. An emergency plan is required if you employ more than five people and this must specify nominated employees who are trained and equipped to implement such a plan.
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Fire detection and fire alarms. Fire protection systems shall be installed and maintained in accordance with statutory requirements.
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Fire evacuation plan. There shall be a contingency plan to deal with fire emergencies including clearly marked exit routes with appropriate signage and emergency lighting.
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Fire fighting equipment. Adequate fire fighting equipment is required which employees can use without exposing themselves to undue danger.
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Staff training in Fire Safety Awareness.
