The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force on 1st October 2006, extending the range of occupancies across England and Wales that will need to produce fire risk assessment.
The legislation requires that businesses have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out, by a competent person. Legal responsibility for carrying out a risk assessment rests with the 'responsible person', who will usually be the employer or may be a manager of an activity in a building.
As legislation is unclear on the competency of the fire risk assessor, the responsible person will need to decide whether they, or a member of staff, have the necessary knowledge and experience to carry out a fire risk assessment in-house or whether external assistance will be required.
There are guides, produced by the Government (see link below), which will guide you through the risk assessment process and it is a relatively simple task to carry out an assessment in most small, simple premises. However, if you find you do not have the time or your premises are complex you may wish to employ the services of an expert.
The fire risk assessment consultancy market has grown and is populated with people having varying degrees of skill and knowledge. so how can employers, who are still ultimately responsible for the fire risk assessment, ensure that their choice of consultant is a good one ? Look for qualifications and do not accept companies that provide a 'tick box' assessment without some form of explanatory text or management report.
mpdfire is essentially a consultancy of one person although we do employ associates with similar qualifications. Not only can I call upon 30+ years of experience in a local authority fire service, most of which at officer level and some of which in the fire protection department, but I am also Fire Protection Association trained in risk assessing and I am a Corporate Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). I am also NEBOSH General Certificate in Health and Safety holder, which means that I am qualified to provide advice on Health and Safety matters.
Fire Risk Assessment Guides can be found at; http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/
Our Services include;
- Assistance with the process by directing you to which guide and what documentation will be required.
- Audit and/or Review of existing Fire Risk Assessment
- Survey and production of Fire Risk Assessment and associated Action Plan with full Management Report.
- Produce bespoke Fire Policy
- Produce bespoke Emergency Plan
- Fire Safety Strategy Management at Design and in use.
- Negotiation with Enforcing Authority should they inspect
- Advice prior to alterations to premises
- Advice on Hazardous Substances storage and handling including DSEAR assessments.
