Guide to Fire Risk Assessment
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations came into effect in Northern Ireland on 1 December 2001.
Who do they apply to?
Every employer, or person responsible for common areas of buildings in multiple occupation, has an absolute duty imposed by the Regulations to carry out a FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT. If you employ FIVE OR MORE people, then the significant findings of your RISK ASSESSMENT must be recorded either by making a written copy or storing on a computer. All employees must be informed of the findings including those identified as being at risk.
Is this new legislation?
There is nothing new in the application of Risk Assessment to safety in the workplace. The Management of Health and Safety if Work Regulations already requires you to carry out a Risk Assessment of your premises and any processes carried out in them (these regulations are enforced by the Environmental Health Department of your Local Authority).
The FIRE PRECAUTION WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS extend this duty by requiring you, the employer, to assess the risk to your employees in the event of a fire whilst they are at work. It is entirely feasible for both these risk assessments to be carried out simultaneously.
It is basically a structured look at your work activities and the till! workplace itself, to identify hazards!!!! and allow you to judge if your existing precautions are satisfactory/ or if you need to do more to reduce the risk posed by the hazard, or take action to mitigate it.
Before trying to carry out your risk assessment you will need to have an understanding of the terms:
- Hazard -This is a physical situation with the potential for human injury, damage to property, damage to the environment or any combination of these.
- Risk -This is the likelihood that the injury or damage will occur.
How do I carry out a risk assessment?
There is nothing new with the principle of risk assessment, everybody carries out risk assessments in all aspects of their daily lives, they don't give it a title, in fact in most cases probably don't even realise that they are doing it. The logical evolution of this is to formalise it and carry it out with 'FIRE SAFETY' as the driver. In most cases Fire Risk Assessments are straightforward and do not require specialist intervention. Please refer to further information for sources of advice and planning BEFORE you commence your Risk Assessment.
There are five steps in the process:
STEP 1
IDENTIFY potential fire hazards.
STEP 2
IDENTIFY who is at risk should a fire occur.
STEP 3
EVALUATE the risk caused by each if hazard and decide if existing fire precautions are adequate to control eliminate the risk. Carry out necessary improvements.
STEP 4
RECORD the findings and inform your employees about the action have taken as a result.
STEP 5
REVIEW your FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT regularly or if your situation or work practices change.
WHAT FIRE PRECAUTIONS DO I NEED TO CONSIDER?
Fire Precautions Legislation deals with general fire precautions, these include:
- The means of detecting and giving warning in case of fire;
- The means of escape from the building in case of fire (this includes protection of escape routes and the provision of signs, lighting, etc.);
- The means for fighting fire (this includes training in use of fire- fighting equipment, preparing an emergency action plan and arranging contacts with the Fire Brigade (if necessary); and
- The training of staff in what action to take in the event of fire.
DO I HAVE TO DO ALL THIS MYSELF?
The task of undertaking a Fire Risk Assessment may appear far more daunting than it actually is. If you feel that it's all too much trouble, and intend to seek or are offered advice from a 'Fire Risk Assessor' you should be aware, that even after obtaining the advice it is entirely your responsibility whether to act on it or not.
You are required to appoint an adequate number of competent persons (if appropriate) to assist you in complying with the regulations.
'A competent person is defined as someone who has sufficient training, in experience or knowledge and other qualities to perform the function.
You must also, among other things, consult with the employees' representatives (or the themselves where they are not represented) about nominating persons to assist.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T COMPLY?
The Fire Authority is the enforcing authority for these regulations, and will visit premises to ensure compliance. They have been given certain powers to prosecute offenders and or to issue an Enforcement Notice. In cases of serious risk to persons in case of fire, prohibition or restriction of use of all or part of the enforcement action is taken.
REVIEW
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (NI) 2000, together with the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 require you to:
- Carry out a fire risk assessment of your workplace;
- Identify the significant findings of the risk assessment and detail anyone who might be especially at risk should a fire occur (must be a written record if five or more are employed);
- Provide and maintain such fire precautions identified as necessary as a result of the above; and
- Instruct, inform and train employees about fire precautions in your workplace.
REMEMBER
- Where two or more employers share a building, each employer MUST COOPERATE with the others to enable them to comply with the requirements of the Regulations; and
- If the Fire Brigade inspect your premises, you will be asked to provide the necessary records to show you have complied, so far as it is possible for you to do so, with the Regulations.
FURTHER INFORMATION/ ADVICE
Some good sources of advice and information are:
"Fire Risk Management in the Workplace, a Guide for Employers", book and video from the Fire Protection Association (020 7902 5314)
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