Under the 'Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2006' and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, a risk assessment is required by all business premises, and should be recorded where more than 5 people are employed.
The Regulations identify the following as general areas of responsibility for businesses:
• Identify and assess the source of risk and those who may be at affected
• Prepare a scheme to eliminate and control the list
• Provide and maintain fire precautions
• Appoint a person to be managerially responsible
• Provide information, instruction and training to all employees
• Compile records
The level of maintenance needed specifically for the premises, is determined following the risk assessment.
Incorporated within the Regulations, there are also a few other legal duties which need to be taken into consideration:
• A person must be nominated to be involved with any special roles which have been highlighted within the emergency plan
• Employees must be notified of the persons carrying out any specific roles, or if there are to be any improvements to the fire precautions
• Where the building is of multi-tenure, those employers must be notified of any specific risks to them and their employees. Measures should be taken to coordinate reducing the risks.
• If the building is multi-tenure, and you have control over any part of it, it is your responsibility to ensure that the requirements of the Fore Regulations are carried out.
• A means of calling the emergency services, quickly and easily, must be established
• Employees must take an active role in ensuring that the workplace is safe from fire, and that nothing will be done to put other people at risk
By observing the requirements of the Regulations, employers are minimising the risks to both their businesses and their staff whilst fulfilling their legal obligations; failure to comply with the regulations can result in a fine and/or imprisonment.
|
