1. How do I do a fire risk assessment?
There are five basic steps to carrying out a fire risk assessment of your premises. These are:
1. Identify the fire hazards
2. Identify people at risk
3. Evaluating the risks
4. Record your findings
5. Review and revise
2. Do I need to keep a record?
It is a good idea to keep a written record of what you find in your risk assessment. If you employ five or more people (including any who work part time), the law says you must keep a written record of significant findings. Keeping a record will save you time and effort when you come to review and update your fire risk assessment. It will also show that you have carried out a risk assessment if your premises are audited by the Fire and Rescue Service.
3. Can I do it myself?
Yes. We believe that, in many cases, those with the responsibility for premises are likely to be best placed to maintain fire safety precautions and understand and address the risk to lives and property that fire represents to those working there or visiting.
Under the FSO, the duty to carry out and implement a fire risk assessment lies with the responsible person. Achieving fire safety is often a matter of common sense, and in many cases there may be no need for specialist or formal knowledge or training, providing the responsible makes enough time available to go through all the necessary steps.
In carrying out a risk assessment, however, the responsible person may decide that, given the nature of the premises or the people involved, they do not have the necessary competence to discharge their duties under the FSO.
In that case, they could choose to appoint one or more 'competent' persons to assist him/her. The level of necessary competence is not prescribed in the FSO, which recognises that the extent of competency will vary according to the nature and complexity of the premises involved.
4. Do I need a fire certificate?
Fire certificates no longer have any legal standing as they were abolished by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. You may wish, however, to use your fire certificate as the basis of your Fire Risk Assessment.
5 . Where can I get help?
Responsible persons can get help and assistance from whoever they think competent to help them, and this includes being able to get advice from their local fire and rescue authority but they cannot carry out the risk assessment for you.
Communities and Local Government have produced a series of detailed technical guides for a range of specific types of premises. These are designed to help 'responsible persons' understand the risk assessment process and provide advice on every aspect of fire safety (eg, training, fire detection systems, emergency escape routes, etc).
Further guidance is available on this website. However in some instances you may feel you require more expert advice. Companies providing fire safety services are listed in local directories. Alternatively you may be able to ask your insurers for a recommendation.
If you have any questions about Business Fire Safety Legislation or Business Fire Safety in general please contact us on 01429 874109 and ask our Fire Engineering Help Desk for advice.
You can email also us at FireEngineeringHelpDesk@clevelandfire.gov.uk with any general enquiries.
