Fire Safety Law For Business
Assess The Fire Risks To Comply With The Directive
To comply with the Workplace Directive, employers and building operators must carry out a Risk Assessment of their premises…
New fire safety rules affecting all non–domestic premises in England and Wales came into force on 1st October 2006.
If you are:
- Responsible for business premises
- An employer
- Self–employed with business premises
- A charity or voluntary organisation
- A contractor with a degree of control over any premises
Do you know the facts? Are you prepared?
- All existing fire certificates abolished — no legal status
- Fire risk assessment must identify all fire and emergency risks
- If you employ five or more people you must record your findings
- The Fire Safety Order to be enforced by the local fire & rescue service authority
Then you are the ‘responsible person!’
What does the responsible person have to do?
The responsible person is responsible for the safety of all employees and relevant persons by effectively managing:
- Fire risk assessment
- Fire safety policy
- Fire procedures
- Fire drills
- Means of escape
- Fire evacuations
- Emergency lighting
- Fire alarms and extinguishers
- Fire doors & compartments
- Signs & notices
How do I meet the order?
The order states that if you are the responsible person, you must make sure you carry out a fire/risk assessment, although you can pass this task to a ‘competent person’ (i.e. a professional consultant) and ensure the premises are equipped with suitable warning and precautionary devices — please see sample plan opposite.
What constitutes a Fire Risk Assessment?
- Identifying fire hazards such as sources of ignition, fuel or oxygen
- Identifying all people at risk in and around the premises
- Evaluating the risk of a fire starting or the risk to people from fire
- Removing or reducing fire hazards or risks to people from a fire
- Protecting people by providing fire precautions
- Recording any major findings and actions
- Preparing an emergency plan
- Informing and instructing any relevant people
- Providing training for staff and guests
- Reviewing the fire risk assessment regularly and making changes where necessary
- Keeping accurate fire risk assessment records
Commercially, can you afford not to comply?
In the event of a fire at your premises, it is quite possible that your insurance company may dispute making payment if you haven’t got actioned and recorded risk assessments.
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Taking Responsibility
As price pressure becomes more of an issue, very often the quality and reliability of emergency products are overlooked. This, when considered in terms of emergency lighting, could endanger people’s lives. Emphasis is now being placed on end users to provide proof of risk assessment on their own properties. Failure to do so could see them in court facing prosecution. Installers must also realise that if they do not comply with the risk assessment undertaken by the business, and fit inferior products into the building (i.e. not certified or tested), which fail to perform correctly, they will be held responsible — facing prosecution.
- To comply with the Workplace Directive, employers and building operators must carry out a Risk Assessment of their premises and use this to ensure that the emergency lighting provided is adequate and fully functional.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order strengthens this requirement and extends the scope of premises to which it is applied.
- The legislation demands that safety equipment such as emergency lighting is regularly tested and maintained in full working order.
- There are significant legal penalties for failing in this duty of care, and in addition, the building operators insurance may be affected.
- If the emergency lighting fails to function, then it will have safety and legal implications. Corporations and responsible individuals can be prosecuted if emergency lighting fails to function effectively.
Reducing Costs
Are you aware that with the Newlec LED emergency exit signs you can dramatically reduce your maintenance costs? Not only do they last 5 times longer than a conventional fluorescent version, they look great with an attractive modern appearance, and offer great value for money.
- Long life led — LED technology – life of around 35,000 hours (over 5 times longer than 8W fluorescent lamps)
- F Marked
- Stylish architectural profile — suits almost any modern interior
- Reduced installation time — easy to install plug in connection
- Uniformly lit legend panel, compliant with EN1838
- Maximum viewing distance of 24m
- Optional semi recessing bezel – provides attractive low profile appearance
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