Fire Risk Assessments

What is the objective of a Fire Risk Assessment:

A fire risk assessment will Identify fire hazards and the people at risk. Fire Risk Assessments are detailed documents which should eliminate or reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm by determining what fire safety procedures and policies are necessary to ensure the safety of people in the building should a fire occur, considerations to take into account:

• Identifying people at risk, this could include members of the public.
• Identifying any sources of Fuel, Ignition or Oxygen.
• Considering any unsafe conditions.
• Ensuring that all occupants are alerted and can leave the premises safely in the event of a fire, including those with disabilities.
• Ensuring the right type of equipment is in use and also maintained, such as Fire Panels, Emergency lighting, Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• Limiting the effects should a fire occur by considering good compartmentalisation within a building. This should include a review of Fire Doors and Fire breaking.

Who should have a Fire Risk Assessment?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 works in conjunction with The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to carry out Risk Assessments in order to reduce accidents and preserve life

Where five or more employees are employed (whether they are on site or not) or your business is subject to licensing or registration or an ‘Alteration Notice has been issued requiring this, you’ll need a Fire Risk Assessment to be a conducted and recorded. This means that the assessment should be retained and made available, on request, to the enforcing authority.

A Fire Risk Assessment should indicate:

• Date the assessment was made
• Who completed the Assessment
• The hazards identified and level of risk.
• Any staff and other people especially at risk
• Recommendations to be taken and within what timeframe.
• The conclusions arising from the assessment
• Review dates.