1. What is a Risk Assessment?
It is a detailed look at the possible hazards, both inside and outside the workplace, and recommended actions on how to improve these. It takes into account possible ignition sources, poor escape routes and inadequate detection facilities.
A fire risk assessment will help you to ascertain the chances of a fire occurring and the harm it may cause to any persons who may be on the premises.
2. Do all work places need a Risk Assessment?
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 state that "Fire risk assessment applies to all building owners, building occupiers, employers, fire safety officers and just about anybody responsible for fire safety within the workplace". All work places that employ more than 5 people need to carry out a formal risk assessment of the premises.
3. How much does a Risk Assessment cost?
The cost of a risk assessment is entirely dependent on the size and use of the building. Nemco Utilities offer a free advice meeting where we can see how the regulations apply and at the same time, carry out a site survey in order to produce a tailor-made quotation for your company.
4. What do I need to do after the Risk Assessment?
After you have completed the risk assessment, any concerns that were identified need to be addressed and improvements made over a realistic time frame. Along with this, measures need to be taken to ensure that changes do not conflict with present safety procedures. A review of the assessment should be made every year, or when the building changes use or occupancy.
5. Is there any maintenance or monitoring I need to complete?
The amount of monitoring and maintenance needed is all dependent on the site and the result of the risk assessment. An average site would need the following as a basic programme:
Fire Alarms - weekly, and inspected & tested quarterly by a competent person
Extinguishers - basic inspections on a weekly basis, servicing carried out by competent person annually
Sprinklers - serviced annually by competent person
Emergency lighting - inspected by competent person monthly, 6 monthly and 3 yearly
6. Can we do the Risk Assessment in-house?
The person carrying out the fire risk assessment needs to be both competent and trained in all aspects of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.
It is possible that with training, some sites may be able to carry out certain elements of the monitoring programme in order to reduce costs and to retain ownership, while at the same time receiving advice and support from Nemco Utilities.
7. Who is responsible for managing fire safety?
The employer is normally responsible for managing the risk of fire. If it is a shared building with multi-tenure, all employers should have separate risk assessment which should then be discussed with the other tenants. This is to ensure that those areas with high risk are identified and managed correctly. It is also the responsibility of the employer to nominate people to partake in any special roles, such as organising training of fire procedures, being fire marshals etc.
8. What are the regulations that govern fire management?
The two main regulations are the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations (1997) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. Companies that fail to comply with Government guidance may be prosecuted under either of these regulations.
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