Why You Need One - Fire Risk Assessments

We're all concerned with making the world a safer place, but our responsibilities start closer to home. If you're a business owner that employs more than four people (full or part time), own a HMO (house in multiple occupation) or premises for public use, it is now law in the UK, under the Regulatory Reform Act 2005, that you carry out fire safety assessment for your premises.

Fire safety assessments MUST be carried out by a professional fire risk assessor and every business must have a nominated 'responsible person' - it is their job to ensure that the business acts in compliance with the assessment and that fire safety is monitored and reviewed at regular intervals. When you are visited by fire safety assessors, they will work alongside the 'responsible person' to identify any potential safety risks and check that you are acting in accordance with regulatory requirements. Fire risk assessors are well trained and conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation. They will look at the alarm system and log book, existing fire safety equipment, emergency lighting, procedures already in place and any service documents relating to on-site equipment such as fire extinguishers.

Your fire risk assessors will then take their findings and produce a detailed report, including a list of recommendations for improved safety on your premises. These risk assessments can be used for insurance purposes and will act as a reference point for future fire safety reviews. It is important to distinguish here between fire certificates and fire risk assessment; the former are no longer legal and were abolished to make way for the new, legally required, risk assessments - so if you still have a fire certificate, it is vital that you appoint a trained fire safety assessor without delay to get your fire risk assessment done as soon as possible - or you are breaking the law.

Once your fire risk assessors have produced their report they will send a copy on to you and check that you understand all of the information and recommendations contained within. It is important that you act on any advice from your risk assessments - they are consultative documents, demonstrating due diligence and compliance. Not only are these fire risk assessments necessary in terms of the law, but they are also necessary for the peace of mind that your property, goods and most importantly, employees or tenants are fully protected.

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