Regardless of the industry you’re in, you have a responsibility to keep your staff and visitors safe from the dangers of the workplace. Some workplaces are less dangerous, with the likes of office spaces being safer than industry factories and warehouses. But each environment possesses risk in unto itself. That’s why you need to have regular risk assessments to judge where the danger may come from and how you can avoid it. There will always be steps you can take to reduce risk, it just takes time and patience to identify it. One assessment that can go forgotten is the fire risk assessment. Something that is legally required, but many organisations feel ill-equipped or uncertain about, there’s lots to understand about doing a fire risk assessment. Some will stumble through it themselves, and others will hire a fire risk assessor. In this blog, we’ll break down what you need to think about when performing the job yourself. But first, the legislation.
Fire Safety and Legislation
The main fire safety legislation that your small business needs to think about is the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005. This is a piece of legislation that applies to all workplaces. This law requires a certain level of responsibility. Some of these are:
- Completing a fire risk assessment.
- Identifying escape routes, entrances and exits and having them clearly signed.
- Fire lights must be installed.
- Fire alarms must be installed and kept in working condition.
- Fire extinguishers must be provided.
- Continuous maintenance of all fire equipment to ensure highest standards.
- Training must be provided to all employees so they’re aware of what to do in the event of a fire.
- Frequent fire drills must be carried out.
- Records should be kept of all assessments and drills.
There is additional legislation that needs to be adhered to, including:
Fire Safety Regulations 2022
Do You Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
The answer to this is always yes. Fire risk assessments make up the foundations of protecting staff and visitors, and ensuring you’re always looking to reduce the threat of risk should be one of your highest priorities. In addition to moral reasons, a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005.
5 Things to Think About when Performing a Fire Risk Assessment
Has Your Business Grown Since Your Last Assessment?
The size of your business directly impacts how you risk assess within your organisation. If your workplace has changes around, from a physical standpoint, then there could be additional risks to consider. Are more people working closer to doorways or walkways? Is there more storage, reducing spac e? There could not be an addition of wire and cables. Not only are these trip hazards but they could also be fire hazards too. It’s always a good idea to keep an open mind.
Are Your Staff Aware of Reporting Procedures
A fire risk assessment should be a living document. That means there’s always chance to improve on it and these improvements can come from your staff. If they notice anything that should be reported upon, your organisation can improve the quality of fire safety for the future. It’s not forcing employees to contribute, but it is making them aware that they have a part to play. If they aren’t aware of the procedures, though, then there’s no way for them to report. Make sure all staff are aware when a risk assessment is taking place and how they can play their part through the year.
Keeping Records is Important
It’s important to remember exactly what you’ve done during your risk assessment, so you can both improve in the future and look back for the past. Legally, you need to keep records of what your assessment throws up, but you should be continually looking at trends and changes you can make to ensure the safety of staff and visitors is always front of mind.
Think About All Roles in the Business
Fire can happen anywhere. As a fire risk assessor you need to know this. So don’t keep your assessment to just one part of the business. If you have a warehouse and an office, ensure that both are suitable checked. Remember that there are other rooms in your business that may not be regularly used. Maybe a server room, or a kitchen. Washrooms and hallways have less risk of fire attached to them but there’s still a need to ensure electrics are safe and stairways are clear. There’ll be other things too, so keep your beady eyes out.
Are You Equipped for a Fire?
You should know that legally, you need to be readily equipped to tackle fires. Employees shouldn’t be expected to do this in the absence of a fire brigade, but for small fires and for safety, you need fire extinguishers and other equipment available for tackle any fires.
Not Feeling Comfortable Conducting A Fire Risk Assessment? Contact Direct365
These things can feel overwhelming. We work with thousands of businesses every month to ensure they are compliant with the laws, and fire safety is no different. We work with a fire risk assessor from all regions that can provide a fire risk assessment, flexibly working to any timeframe you need. Our thorough assessments comply with legal standards and will help you ensure your workplace is a safe place to work.
For more information, fill out the form below and one of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.