Fire Risk Assessment

From 1 October 2006, the responsibility for fire safety will lay with employers, self-employed with premises, voluntary organisations, those responsible for buildings with public access and any contractor who exercises a degree of control over any premises.

These ‘responsible persons’ will have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone who uses their premises and those in the immediate vicinity who may be at risk if there is a fire.

The Head of Her Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate Sir Graham Meldrum said:

“The new rules will apply to most places except private houses and will make fire safety law easier to understand by doing away with the existing 70 separate pieces of legislation and replacing them with a new regime focussed on preventing fires happening in the first place.

“Anyone responsible for premises must carry out a fire safety risk assessment by 1st October 2006. The fire and rescue service will carry out inspections and failure to comply could lead to enforcement action or even prosecution.

For more information go to the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

You may feel you do not have the expertise to carry out such an assessment, or you may just be concerned at the time it will take.

If you would like expert assistance in carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment for your premises then call 01992 701950, contact us or e-mail
sales-fs@sectorguard.plc.uk.