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Alarm over fire safety - 21 Nov 2006

One in five UK firms are unprepared for a fire, according to a report. The Fire Safety Order 2005 came in to force on 1 October and revoked, repealed, replaced and amended legislation relating to fire safety.

But health and safety specialists 'Croner' found that employers were unaware of what these major reforms in fire safety legislation meant for them.

Two thirds of the businesses polled admitted that their organisation could do more to improve fire safety. A fifth said that they don't carry out spontaneous fire evacuation drills while 17% do not tell visitors fire procedures.

In a concurrent survey of employees by 'YouGov', a third of those polled said they did not receive any fire awareness training as part of their induction.

'Croner' says these statistics suggest that many businesses would be unprepared in the event of a fire, risking lives and contravening health and safety law.

'Croner' is urgently advising businesses to address the fundamentals of their fire safety policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date with current regulations.

Trevor Davies, health and safety officer at 'Croner', said: "Changes to the law replace the issuing of fire certificates and require businesses to assess and manage the risk of fire on an ongoing basis.

"Our concern is that many employers may not be complying with the legislation because of their failure to implement some of the basic requirements of fire safety law such as carrying out spontaneous fire risk assessments.

"Bearing in mind these very recent changes to fire safety legislation, this should have been a priority for many businesses at the time of the survey.

"In the event of a fire, to fail to plan is to plan to fail. We advise our clients that safety and preservation of life is the most important. We cannot overstress the significance of planning ahead and preparing for the worst."

October 2006, Source: Facilities Management Journal

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) is the most dramatic change since the Fire Precautions Act 1971. It affects both employers and fire authorities.

The order consolidates all existing fire safety law and creates a Fire Safety Regime that covers virtually all premises in England and Wales to which the public have access.

The Order amends replaces or revokes 118 pieces of legislation and places the responsibility for the fire safety of premises and all people therein on the designated "Responsible Person". This Responsible person can be the owner of the premises or business or the person with day-to-day control of the premises. The RRFSO 2005 requires that all non-domestic premises, provides that sufficient and satisfactory fire precautions are put in place to cover general fire precautions and other fire safety duties. These are required to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around most premises. A 'relevant person' means anyone who is legally on the premises or anyone who may be affected by the fire precautions on the premises.

The main effect of the Order will be a general move towards there being greater emphasis placed upon fire prevention. This applies to all premises to which this Order applies. The Order will also include voluntary sector properties as well as work places of self-employed people, which are separate from their homes.

Responsibility for complying with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 rests with the 'responsible person'. The RRFSO 2005 requires the responsible person(s) to have or arrange to have a Fire Risk Assessment for the premises, produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly with regard to evacuation), provide staff training and carry out drills. The responsible person must also provide and maintain adequate means of escape, suitable signage, notices, emergency lighting, adequate means of giving warning in case of fire and appropriate means to fight fires. The assessment should also include for the structure of the premises, storage of dangerous materials and persons at special risk such as the disabled and those with special needs. In the case of those premises that have 5 or more persons who are likely to be affected by a fire in the premises, the significant findings of the Fire Risk Assessment must be recorded.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is enforced by the Local Fire Authority who have the authority to issue Improvement Notices and or take any appropriate action that could include immediate closure, should the risk be substantial.

Ignorance of the legislation (RRFSO) is no defence. Having a 'Fire Risk Assessment' is not an option its the Law! Between the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended):

Between the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended):

Employers must carry out a fire risk assessment of their workplace
Identify the significant findings of the risk assessment and the details of anyone who might be especially at risk in case of fire (these must be recorded if you have five or more employees)
Provide and maintain fire precautions necessary to safeguard anyone using the workplace (including visitors)
Provide information, instruction and training to your employees about the fire precautions in the workplace.

Additionally

Where it is necessary to safeguard the safety of employees, an employer must nominate people to undertake any special roles that are required under the emergency plan. (Nomination of Fire Marshals / Fire Wardens, Person to assist with evacuation of employees who may be disabled etc)
Employers must consult their employees (or their elected representatives or appointed trade union safety representatives) about the nomination of people to carry out particular roles in connection with fire safety and about proposals for improving the fire precautions.
Employers must inform other employers who also have workplaces in the building of any significant risks they found which might affect the safety of their employees - and co-operate with them about the measures proposed to reduce/control those risks.
Controllers of premises (Landlords)(even if they do not employ anyone themselves) which contain more than one workplace, are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Fire Regulations are complied with in those parts over which they have control (common areas).
Employers must establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services, and ensure that they can be easily called.
Employees must co-operate with employers to ensure the workplace is safe from fire and its effects and not to do anything, which will place themselves or other people at risk.


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	Links Downloadable fire safety guides Fire Training and Health & Safety courses/Fire Safety Library	Millbrook Fire and Safety - specialists in fire and safety training Introduction Alarm over fire safety - 21 Nov 2006 One in five UK firms are unprepared for a fire, according to a report. The Fire Safety Order 2005 came in to force on 1 October and revoked, repealed, replaced and amended legislation relating to fire safety. But health and safety specialists 'Croner' found that employers were unaware of what these major reforms in fire safety legislation meant for them. Two thirds of the businesses polled admitted that their organisation could do more to improve fire safety. A fifth said that they don't carry out spontaneous fire evacuation drills while 17% do not tell visitors fire procedures. In a concurrent survey of employees by 'YouGov', a third of those polled said they did not receive any fire awareness training as part of their induction. 'Croner' says these statistics suggest that many businesses would be unprepared in the event of a fire, risking lives and contravening health and safety law. 'Croner' is urgently advising businesses to address the fundamentals of their fire safety policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date with current regulations. Trevor Davies, health and safety officer at 'Croner', said: "Changes to the law replace the issuing of fire certificates and require businesses to assess and manage the risk of fire on an ongoing basis. "Our concern is that many employers may not be complying with the legislation because of their failure to implement some of the basic requirements of fire safety law such as carrying out spontaneous fire risk assessments. "Bearing in mind these very recent changes to fire safety legislation, this should have been a priority for many businesses at the time of the survey. "In the event of a fire, to fail to plan is to plan to fail. We advise our clients that safety and preservation of life is the most important. We cannot overstress the significance of planning ahead and preparing for the worst." October 2006, Source: Facilities Management Journal The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) is the most dramatic change since the Fire Precautions Act 1971. It affects both employers and fire authorities. The order consolidates all existing fire safety law and creates a Fire Safety Regime that covers virtually all premises in England and Wales to which the public have access. The Order amends replaces or revokes 118 pieces of legislation and places the responsibility for the fire safety of premises and all people therein on the designated "Responsible Person". This Responsible person can be the owner of the premises or business or the person with day-to-day control of the premises. The RRFSO 2005 requires that all non-domestic premises, provides that sufficient and satisfactory fire precautions are put in place to cover general fire precautions and other fire safety duties. These are required to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around most premises. A 'relevant person' means anyone who is legally on the premises or anyone who may be affected by the fire precautions on the premises. The main effect of the Order will be a general move towards there being greater emphasis placed upon fire prevention. This applies to all premises to which this Order applies. The Order will also include voluntary sector properties as well as work places of self-employed people, which are separate from their homes. Responsibility for complying with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 rests with the 'responsible person'. The RRFSO 2005 requires the responsible person(s) to have or arrange to have a Fire Risk Assessment for the premises, produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly with regard to evacuation), provide staff training and carry out drills. The responsible person must also provide and maintain adequate means of escape, suitable signage, notices, emergency lighting, adequate means of giving warning in case of fire and appropriate means to fight fires. The assessment should also include for the structure of the premises, storage of dangerous materials and persons at special risk such as the disabled and those with special needs. In the case of those premises that have 5 or more persons who are likely to be affected by a fire in the premises, the significant findings of the Fire Risk Assessment must be recorded. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is enforced by the Local Fire Authority who have the authority to issue Improvement Notices and or take any appropriate action that could include immediate closure, should the risk be substantial. Ignorance of the legislation (RRFSO) is no defence. Having a 'Fire Risk Assessment' is not an option its the Law! Between the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended): Between the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended): Employers must carry out a fire risk assessment of their workplace Identify the significant findings of the risk assessment and the details of anyone who might be especially at risk in case of fire (these must be recorded if you have five or more employees) Provide and maintain fire precautions necessary to safeguard anyone using the workplace (including visitors) Provide information, instruction and training to your employees about the fire precautions in the workplace. Additionally Where it is necessary to safeguard the safety of employees, an employer must nominate people to undertake any special roles that are required under the emergency plan. (Nomination of Fire Marshals / Fire Wardens, Person to assist with evacuation of employees who may be disabled etc) Employers must consult their employees (or their elected representatives or appointed trade union safety representatives) about the nomination of people to carry out particular roles in connection with fire safety and about proposals for improving the fire precautions. Employers must inform other employers who also have workplaces in the building of any significant risks they found which might affect the safety of their employees - and co-operate with them about the measures proposed to reduce/control those risks. Controllers of premises (Landlords)(even if they do not employ anyone themselves) which contain more than one workplace, are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Fire Regulations are complied with in those parts over which they have control (common areas). Employers must establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services, and ensure that they can be easily called. Employees must co-operate with employers to ensure the workplace is safe from fire and its effects and not to do anything, which will place themselves or other people at risk.
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Millbrook Fire and Safety - specialists in fire and safety training

Introduction