The biggest and most important change to the fire safety regulations in England and Wales is the requirement to undertake a fire risk assessment on your premises. The emphasis of this important process from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is to ensure precautions and actions are in place to eliminate fire hazards. To undertake an assessment for your business you must be prepared to identify and deal with any potential fire risks on your premises.

A fire risk assessment must be undertaken by a responsible party which must ensure there is proper training in place and any potentially hazardous fire risks are found and corrected. A procedure should clearly identify safety hazards and explain how to reduce or eliminate them. This process would include hazardous materials and equipment that may be in use or stored on the premises. Training should be in place in how to deal with these types of hazardous substances and equipment, how to deal with a fire and an emergency evacuation plan. The assessment is an important part in preventing fire risks, reducing them and ensuring staff members are fully trained in fire safety so they can perform their duties safely. Ensuring all the is done and a fire risk assessment is carried out correctly then you can be confident you are complying with current regulations.

The first step of an assessment is to check for fire hazards, this would initially start by looking for flammable and combustible materials or substances that may be found on the premises. You must make sure any chemicals are stored in a safe manner and handled correctly with caution. This may include a selection of petroleum substances such as paints, stains or lacquers. Staff should be trained to handle these types of products with care and reduce the quantity stored in the building.

Another regular fire hazard is usually poor ventilated buildings. Many vapors and dust collects in the air which could potentially create a very dangerous environment with risks of explosion. By simply having a well ventilated building you will keep the air clean which will eliminate any ignition sources greatly and dramatically reduce the threat. It is also useful to monitor work activities daily so no new risks arise and to reduce the heat and dryness in the building to minimise the risks of fire even more.

Unfortunately fires cannot be stopped 100% and in the case of a fire break out your business must by law meet requirements to train employees in fire safety so in the event of a break out they can deal with a fire effectively. Adequate fire equipment must also be on your premises such as a fire extinguisher or open water source which can help to smother the flames and prevent the fire from spreading. If the fire has spread to quickly and gotten to large to extinguish then an emergency evacuation plan should be in place so all employees can evacuate safely.