Who is responsible for Fire Safety in a business?

If you are the owner, employer or landlord then you are responsible for Fire Safety and are classed as the ‘Responsible Person’. The Responsible Person must;

• Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment.
• Consider people who may be at particularly risk
• Eliminate or reduce any Fire Risks as far as possible
• Provide Fire precautions to deal with any remaining risk
• Put in place any additional Fire Safety measures where flammable or explosive materials are stored
• Create an emergency plan and document their findings
• Review their findings as necessary.

By law, what Fire Safety Training must I give to my staff?s

It is the responsibility of the management to make sure that staff are adequately training on what actions to do in the event of a fire. Training should be given at time of induction to the workplace or ideally in the first month of employment. It is down to the discretion of the management as to how often refresher training should take place, however it should be given at least once a year.

Training should be undertaken by a competent person and a record should be kept. It can be carried out in many ways such as in-house, class room based course or distance learning course.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment is an evaluation of your place of work which will identify potential hazards and will determine any risks in your workplace.

Who should carry out the Fire Risk Assessment?

Risk Assessments should be completed by someone with sufficient training or experience in fire safety.

What are the main points of a Fire Risk Assessment?

Fire Risk assessments can be broken down into the following points;

• Indentify Fire Hazards
• Indentify people at risk
• Evaluate, reduce, remove and protect from risk
• Record, plan, inform and train
• Review and revise as needed.

Is a Fire Risk Assessment a one-off process?

No. Fire Risk Assessments must be reviewed and amended regularly to meet any changes in circumstances or procedures. There is not a specific time scale given but it is widely excepted that the Fire Risk Assessment should be reviewed at least every 12 months.

How can I stop arson in my work place?

Most serious Fire Risks to common places of work is from deliberate arson attacks. Many building fires start from outside the premises and then spread inside. Do not stack or store combustible materials against outside walls or next to fences. Make sure waste material is stored securely and kept to a minimum.

How do I manage Fire Safety correctly?

Unfortunately one of the main causes of fatalities from fire is the failure of occupants of the building (both staff and members of the public) to take appropriate action when fire is discovered or a fire alarm is raised. The most effective way to combat this is effective management alongside appropriate staff training.

Fire routines regarding different actives that take place must be drawn up. The responsible person should also ensure that all Fire Safety features are in working order and that no undue fire risks are apparent.

A vital part of any Responsible Person’s duties is the training of staff. All staff members, including part time, temporary, contractors and cleaning staff must be familiar with the actions to be taken in the event of a fire. They must also know how to call the fire services, any main fire prevention measures and where the exits and exit routes are.