Fire Risk Management

It is particularly benefical to use the information given in the relevant government publication series on Fire Safety Risk Assessment, as these provide all the necessary guidance to assist in a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, inculding all the fire safety information you are likely to need to comply with the RRFSO.

Legal Requirements

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) is the current and only general legal requirement for fire safety.

Any person who has control to any extent of the workplace has fire safety duties in respect of those premises. This is not a new duty, since it became a requirement in the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. However, the fire risk assessment has to be carried out for fire safety issues in the actual premises concerned.

Supporting Legislation

Other related fire safety duties can be found in:

• the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, specifying escape route signs, safety signs prohibiting activities causing a fire hazard; warning signs of flammable, explosive materials, electricity and fire-fighting information.
• the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), containing a duty to eliminate or reduce risks to safety from fire, explosion or other events arising from the hazardous properties of dangerous substances in connection with work.
• the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 includes a duty for the employer to make adjustments to the physical environment of the workplace.
• the Building Regulations 2000 Approved Documents B and M - 2004 editions deal with fire safety and access to and within buildings.
• the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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