Fire Risk Assessments

PHHEnvironmental (UK) now carries out Fire Risk Assessments, as required by law.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force on the 1st October 2006 and replaced earlier fire safety legislation for England and Wales. In brief 'The Order' covers general fire precautions and fire safety duties which are needed to protect people within and around most premises excluding individual private dwellings e.g. individual flats in a block or family homes, and it is your responsibility to make sure your workplace reaches the required standard.

The responsible person (employer, owner, tenant etc) must make a suitable assessment of the risk to life is made and provide employees with adequate fire safety training. The enforcing authority have the power to inspect your premises and check you comply with your duties looking for evidence a competent person has carried out an assessment and that you have acted upon the significant  findings.

Adequate fire safety training would generally include:               

• Induction training (general fire awareness)
• Periodic refresher training (or where the level of fire risk increases as a result of changes)
• Training to support people in fulfilling their fire safety duties (e.g. responsible person)
• Training towards competence (fire risk assessment, fire warden, fire extinguisher)

Other places covered by the Order include common parts of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and common parts of blocks of flats and maisonettes.

What does a fire risk assessment involve?

There are five key steps in a fire safety risk assessment:

1. Identify fire hazards - eg, how could a fire start? what could burn?
   
   
2. Consider the people who may be a risk - eg, employees, visitors to the premises, and anyone who may be particularly vulnerable such as children, the elderly and disabled people.
   
   
3. Evaluate and act - think about what you have found in steps 1 and 2 and remove and reduce any risks to protect people and premises
   
   
4. Record, plan and train - keep a record of what risks you identified and what actions you have taken to reduce or remove them.  Make a clear plan of how to prevent fires and, should a fire start, you will keep people safe. Make sure your staff know what to do in the event of a fire and if necessary that they are trained for their roles.
   
   
5. Review - An assessment must be reviewed regularly by the responsible person especially where changes to the property layout or usage occur. It is good practice to action a full assessment with documentation yearly.  

How we can help

Due to the often confusing amount of current legislation, building regulations and guide lines for fire safety why not let our competent and experienced assessors take the strain out of your assessment. We will review your current policy's and procedures ensuring all documentation is compliant with HSE guide lines. We will provide a workable document for your property's fire safety looking at all passive and active fire protection. We will provide a workable document with clear findings and recommendations which can also be used for staff training.

Useful Links

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/