Every year in the UK, workplace fires cause serious, and often fatal, injuries to employees. They also cost employers millions of pounds in the form of compensation claims, repairs to damaged premises and loss of custom.
As a result of legislation changes in 2006, the Fire Safety Order came into being and from this point onwards, fire certificates were no longer issued. As a result, UK employers today are expected to carry out what are known as ‘fire risk assessments’, which involve a series of steps, aimed at reducing the likelihood of fires, and any subsequent injuries and damage to property. The first step this type of assessment is the identification of fire hazards; namely, any items which could potentially cause a fire, such as kitchen appliances or flammable materials.
It must then be determined which people in the workplace are most at risk; this could be disabled employees, or those who work next to an identified hazard. The hazards then need to be examined, so that the risk they pose can either be eliminated, or at the very least, reduced. This step is essential and examples of it might include ensuring that fire extinguishers are placed close to the hazard, or replacing flammable materials with flame-retardant ones.
After this, the person responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessment should then take note of all of the information they have gathered, and take appropriate action. For businesses with five employees or more for instance, it is a legal requirement to provide those working on the premises with fire safety training, and to have an emergency plan prepared in the event of a fire. Lastly, fire risk assessments need to be reviewed periodically, and revised if circumstances change.
For further details about Health and safety services and fire risk assessments Please visit the website.
As a result of legislation changes in 2006, the Fire Safety Order came into being and from this point onwards, fire certificates were no longer issued. As a result, UK employers today are expected to carry out what are known as ‘fire risk assessments’, which involve a series of steps, aimed at reducing the likelihood of fires, and any subsequent injuries and damage to property. The first step this type of assessment is the identification of fire hazards; namely, any items which could potentially cause a fire, such as kitchen appliances or flammable materials.
It must then be determined which people in the workplace are most at risk; this could be disabled employees, or those who work next to an identified hazard. The hazards then need to be examined, so that the risk they pose can either be eliminated, or at the very least, reduced. This step is essential and examples of it might include ensuring that fire extinguishers are placed close to the hazard, or replacing flammable materials with flame-retardant ones.
After this, the person responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessment should then take note of all of the information they have gathered, and take appropriate action. For businesses with five employees or more for instance, it is a legal requirement to provide those working on the premises with fire safety training, and to have an emergency plan prepared in the event of a fire. Lastly, fire risk assessments need to be reviewed periodically, and revised if circumstances change.
For further details about Health and safety services and fire risk assessments Please visit the website.
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