Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessors

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, and the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 all require the Responsible Person to conduct a “suitable and sufficient” assessment of the risks on the premises, the form of which depends on the type and size of the premises.

Someone with sufficient competence and experience should conduct the assessment and must consider for safety in the following areas:

Means of detection and giving warning in case of fire
The provision of means of escape
Means of fighting fire
The training of staff in fire safety
Fire Risk Assessment
Fire Risk Assessment
Responsible Person Legislation

To achieve an acceptable level of protection to employees and other ’Relevant Persons’ the RP must: –

  • Carry out a fire risk assessment of the workplace
  • Identify the significant findings of the risk assessment and detail anyone who might be at risk in case of fire. Under the Management of Health and Safety Regulations, this must be recorded if more than five persons are employed
  • Provide and maintain such fire precautions as are necessary to safeguard those who use the workplace in the form of a fire management plan
  • Provide information, instruction and training to employees and other ‘Relevant Persons’ regarding the fire precautions in the workplace
  • Review as necessary

Fire Safety Legislation was changed in October 2006 with the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Order places the responsibility on individuals (Responsible Person) within an organisation to carry out fire risk assessments to identify, manage and reduce the risk of fire.

The meaning of Responsible Person within the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) is:

  • In relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control
  • In relation to any premise not falling within paragraph (a)
  • The person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him/her of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or
  • The owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carry on by that person of trade, business or other undertaking.