Fire Risk Assessment Guidance Notes

Responsible Persons - Who Are They?

Fire Risk Assessment - Responsible Persons

Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the 'responsible person'.

For example it could be:

• The employer for those parts of premises that staff may go to;
• The managing agent or owner for shared parts of premises or shared fire safety equipment such as fire-warning systems or sprinklers;
• The occupier, such as self-employed people or voluntary organisations if they have control; or
• Any other person who has some control over a part of the premises

Although in many premises the responsible person will be obvious, there may be times when a number of people have some responsibility.

If you are the responsible person you must carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons'. It should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as young people, the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises.

Your fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. If you employ five or more people you must record your fire risk assessment and any significant findings. 

In addition to fire safety legislation, Health and Safety at Work legislation also covers the elimination or minimisation of fire risks. As well as the particular and main general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act, fire risks are also covered by specific rules such as for work equipment, certain types of substance, electricity and other hazards.

Thus, environmental health officers or Health and Safety Executive inspectors may enforce health and safety standards for the assessment and removal or control of fire risks where it is necessary, for the protection of workers and others so far as is reasonably practicable, that the employer exceeds the requirements of fire safety legislation.

Employees whose conduct leads to a breach of Health and Safety at Work legislation as regards fire risks can be prosecuted alongside or instead of a duty holder. And, where a duty holder breaches his Health and Safety at Work duties as regards fire safety due to the consent, connivance or neglect of any of his directors or senior managers, the executive(s) can be prosecuted alongside the company.

Emergency Routes & Exits Requirements

For premises covered by the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997/Fire Safety Order 2005, the workplace must, where necessary to safeguard employees in the case of fire, comply with the following requirements. Compliance is the responsibility of the employer, but for certain requirements the employer may need only check that the requirement has been or is being met in full by the landlord, builder or other duty holder.

Requirements for Provision

At the workplace:

• emergency routes and exits must lead as directly as possible to a place of safety;
• in the event of danger, it must be possible for employees to evacuate the workplace quickly and as safely as possible;
• the number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits must be adequate taking account of the use, equipment and dimensions of the workplace and the maximum number of people who may be present at any one time;
• doors that are to be used as emergency exits must open in the direction of escape;
• doors that are to be used as emergency exits must not be locked or fastened in a way that might slow down anyone making an escape in the event of an emergency;
• emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs
• emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with Emergency Lighting  that gives adequate illumination in the case of failure of normal lighting.

Requirements for Unrestricted Access

The employer must, where necessary to safeguard his employees in case of fire, ensure that:

• emergency exits are kept clear at all times
• all emergency exit panic door furniture and fire exit hardware is fitted and maintained
• emergency routes to those exits are kept clear at all times

Co-operation

As regards keeping emergency routes and exits clear, in order to fulfil his duty the employer may need to include in his measures effective arrangements with other duty holders such as a landlord, other employers in the same building or the like.

For help with Fire Safety Signs, signage type, size and location click here

For further help with Emergency Lighting provision and location see the Emergency Lighting Guide

For further assistance, please don't hesitate to Contact us