Fire Safety

We are able to provide a fire risk assessment service to commercial and industrial businesses, small or large. The increased requirement for carrying out fire risk assessment through the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (replacing the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1977 (SI 1977 No 1840)) has placed a substantial additional legal burden on employers, in an area of expertise where knowledge may be less than on other safety matters. We can provide support as necessary to help you comply.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION - THE FIRE PRECAUTIONS (WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS 1997

An Introduction

These Regulations made a major change to how fire safety was managed. Legislation concerning fire precautions had been based primarily in the Fire Precautions Act 1971 which continue to exist.  Carrying out a straightforward check on what activities take place at the establishment, and questioning the matters mentioned below may identify possible fire risks which are easily removed or at least reduced.  The possible benefits are often underestimated. 

The Regulations applied to most workplaces although there are exceptions. Any building site, for example, where the provision of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 apply, did not come under the 1997 Regulations. They did not apply to domestic premises or to premises used only by a self-employed person. The outline of actions and precautions necessary to comply with the 1997 Regulations include:

• carrying out a fire risk assessment,
• making adequate provision for fire detection and warnings,
• provision of adequate means of escape,
• provision of suitable fire fighting equipment,
• having an emergency plan and training staff,
• maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment.  

The guidance to the new Regulations pointed out that for employers already taking sensible and appropriate fire safety measures there may be nothing more to do.  It would however, be a rather imprudent employer who did not properly review existing measures and take to opportunity to identify any worthwhile improvements.

Fire risk assessment

The basis for successful implementation begins with risk assessment.  What fire precautions are necessary depend on the risks.  This will depend on what you do as a business, what materials that may start, be involved in, or fuel a fire may exist, how may a fire be started, who would be at risk?  The Regulations themselves do not require this fire risk assessment but modify the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.  This in turn means that the general assessment of risks to be carried out by every employer must take account of those from fire.

These Regulations are intended to protect people at work from fire risks but the starting point of fire risk assessment should be seen as a good opportunity to identify fire risks that may affect property, vehicles, storage facilities, stored materials, stock, spares etc. 

One of the matters following on from the assessment would be identification of the need for, and provision of, appropriate fire detection and fire warning systems.   What is provided may depend on the size of premise, the fire risk, numbers of people employed at the site etc.  With a small site there may be a need for automatic fire or smoke detection to help minimise potential damage to stock or the premises, but the provision of  small hand bell or even the understanding that the fire warning would be a loud shout of ‘FIRE’ may be adequate warning provision.

The ability of people in premises where a fire is suspected to move quickly and safely to a place not at risk from fire has always been a major consideration for fire safety at work.  For most premises, fire exits are likely to be adequate already and little or no changes may be necessary.  The main principles relating to emergency routes and exits include:

emergency routes and exits leading as directly as possible to places of safety;

the ability for employees to evacuate as quickly and safely as possible;

the number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits to be adequate having regard for the use, equipment and dimensions of the workplace and maximum number of people there at one time

FIVE STEPS TO FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT

This is a basic summary of the steps involved with identifying and reducing fire risks at work: