What you need to know about Fire Risk Assessments

As a result, all suitable and sufficient risk assessments should identify the fire hazards and people at risk, evaluate, remove, or reduce the risks, record the findings, prepare an emergency plan, provide training, and review and update the fire risk assessment regularly.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), it is a requirement that all workplaces have a fire risk assessment to maintain fire precautions. Fire risk assessments keep businesses safe and compliant by managing and reducing the risk of life and business loss in the premises under their responsibility.

A fire hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm such as ignition sources, fuel, and oxygen. This includes electricity, smoking, and combustible materials such as cardboard and furniture. Then it needs to be considered who the key people at risk are: employees, contractors, visitors, customers, and vulnerable people

 It is essential that everyone at risk can vacate the premises quickly and safely, with particular attention paid to visitors and members of the public who may be unfamiliar with the premises’ layout and exit routes. All risks must be identified and rated in order for the most significant risks that require immediate attention to be understood.

When carrying out a fire risk assessment, it’s important to consider emergency routes and exits, fire detection and warning systems, firefighting equipment, the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances, the needs of vulnerable people, and staff fire safety training.

Control measures are the most important part of the fire risk assessment process. It is critical for a fire risk assessor to make recommendations to eliminate and reduce fire risks using the principles of the hierarchy of control, which follows elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE.

SOCOTEC recommends regular workplace inspections by competent persons, routine equipment servicing, security and access, training for fire marshals, and fire drills to ensure the fire safety of the premise is up to standard.

There are national registers of assessors to help you place your confidence in a competent professional for your fire risk assessment.