Fire Safety Awareness FAQs

What is the fire safety regulatory reform order?

The Fire Safety regulatory reform order 2005, requires all premises used for non-domestic purposes (with a few small exceptions) to undertake regular fire risk assessments. It is estimated that there are nearly 20,000 commercial fires in the UK each year and the act was passed to ensure companies take fire safety seriously. Companies must have a designated "Responsible Person" whose job is to make certain specific actions are carried out to prevent fires and injury/death if a fire actually occurs.

What is the aim of fire-risk assessments in the workplace?

The main aim of a fire-risk assessment is to identify the key fire hazards within the business and establish who (if anyone) is particularly at risk. This must take into account permanent and temporary staff as well as customers, suppliers or volunteers that may come on site. In short, anyone that enters the premises. The business owner is ultimately responsible for making sure the premises are not at risk and that an emergency plan is in place. Prior to trading business owners must have this plan in place.

What should a fire safety plan include?

A fire safety plan should:

• Identify risks
• Identify measures to be taken to reduce the likelihood of fire
• Provide employees with necessary precautions to take to reduce risk
• Inform staff on how to react to fire should one be discovered
• Detail evacuation and training plans associated with Fire safety
• Plan building exit strategy, prepare notices and put in place procedures for evacuation including contact details for emergency services