Many fires on business property, like factories and construction sites, could be prevented annually if businesses carried out more effective fire risk assessments.
A fire risk assessment is designed to highlight the failings of a property when it comes to fire safety. This document, when completed properly, will identify areas for improvement so that a business can take any necessary actions to ensure the property is safe for everyone using it.
It’s tempting to whizz through the fire risk assessment so that you can just get on with running your business but, as we’ve documented on this blog several times, the law takes a harsh view of employers who put employees and members of the public at risk of fire.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005 will tell you everything you need to know about fire safety in the workplace or public premises but we’ve put together a brief guide on things you could take into account when performing or reviewing a fire risk assessment.
Who Should Perform A Fire Risk Assessment?
- A responsible person should perform the Fire Risk Assessment. This is usually the building owner or employer.
- The responsible person should familiarise themselves with the appropriate Fire Safety Guides. These are provided by the government and are designed to assist you in performing a Fire Risk Assessment for a variety of applications.
What Should The Assessor Consider?
- Identify Hazards: This includes any flammable items that could be a source of ignition for a fire including fuel, oxygen, electricity and the possibility of arson.
- Identify People At Risk: This includes people who work in the building, people who may visit the premises and members of the public. Also identify if there are any high-risk personnel such as disabled people and people who aren’t familiar with the building or site.
- Evaluate & Protect: Can you improve the way the hazards you’ve identified are stored or used? Can you put provisions in place to protect vulnerable workers or visitors? If a fire does start, are your fire alarm and emergency lighting systems safe and suitable?
- Remove & Reduce: Can you reduce risk by having machinery and electrical systems tested and serviced more regularly? Can you remove potential fire hazards by having waste collected more frequently?
These are just a few points to consider. It is important that if you are ever in any doubt about your fire risk assessment that you contact your local fire service.
You can even employ the services of a specialist risk management company to perform the fire risk assessment for you and make recommendations on how to improve your property’s fire safety.
Discount Fire Supplies stocks a wide range of fire equipment such as emergency lighting, fire alarm system components and gas detectors to help you meet fire safety requirements.
