The 5 steps of a successful workplace fire risk assessment: National Fire Prevention Week

Bethan Foston Date published: Oct 05, 22

With 70% of businesses failing within 5 years of a major fire, the consequences poor fire safety awareness is huge. Failure to conduct a sufficient workplace fire risk assessment can put both your staff and organisation at risk.
Fire Prevention Week demonstrates the risk of cutting corners when it comes to fire safety, this October 9th.

What is a fire safety risk assessment?

A fire risk assessment is an in-depth checklist and audit of fire processes, conducted to identify potential risks that your organisation may be exposed to. It is vital that time is taken to identify fire hazards and address issues head on.
Keeping your property and assets safe may be a huge factor when it comes to investing time and resource in appropriate fire safety. But, with all things considered, these are just goods that can be replaced. Your employees’ lives, however, are irreplaceable.

What are the legal requirements for fire risk assessments? Who’s responsible for enforcing fire legislation?

Not only is it a moral obligation for an employer to conduct a risk assessment but, legally, it is non-negotiable. If you are an owner, occupier, or an employer responsible for a building, by law, you must conduct a risk assessment and enforce fire legislation. There are also instances when directors and managers can be personally liable for the actions of the company, if offenses were committed with their consent or there is a proven case of neglect.
Risk assessments can be delegated to a ‘responsible person’ to conduct on the organisation’s behalf but, for legal purposes, these assessments must be kept in written record, if you employ over 5 people. However, it is important to note that employers can still be liable for their employees’ or ‘responsible persons’ wrongful actions, as stated in Article 32 (11) of the fire safety order.
Therefore, as an employer, it is essential to provide relevant safety information and train employees on how to appropriately follow fire safety measures; Articles 19 and 21 of the FSO reinforce this, also demanding evidence of training and compliance to be recorded and stored.
By not having an up-to-date fire risk assessment, you could face severe fines, a potential prison sentence and, devastatingly, create the potential for loss of life.

How to conduct a fire safety risk assessment: the 5-step checklist…

Are you monitoring your electrical equipment? Have your staff completed all their relevant training? Who are your appointed fire wardens? These are all questions you should be asking yourself when conducting your assessment.
To make the process simpler and safer, official guidance states that you should follow these 5 simple steps when conducting your fire safety risk assessment, to mitigate any risks and remain vigilant.

Identify fire hazards

Locating your sources of ignition (heaters, electrical equipment, ‘hot processes’ such as welding etc) helps you identify what has the potential to burn.

Who are the people at risk?

Although no one is immune to the risks of a fire, the risk may be greater for some, than it is for others. Whether they are disabled, elderly or perhaps unfamiliar with the building, this needs to be a consideration when conducting a risk assessment.

Evaluate and act - remove the risk

Next, think about how the potential risks can be mitigated and what actions can be taken to protect your employees. For example, be thorough when checking electrical equipment and replace any faulty cables which may pose a risk.

Record, plan and train

Document your findings and any actions taken to combat fire hazards. Then, devise a plan on how to prevent a fire and distribute training to employees, ensuring everyone in the building is on the same page.

Regularly review

Review, review, review. You can never be too careful. Risks may change overtime; new starters may not be aware of fire hazards or changes to an employee’s wellbeing may make them a person at risk. Whatever the changes are, identify and record your actions so that you remain compliant, continuously protecting your staff from harm.

How often should a fire risk assessment be carried out in the workplace?

As discussed, a workplace fire risk assessment is a legal requirement. However, the guidance around how frequently it should be reviewed is less clear.
Officially, Article 9 of The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 states that risk assessments need to be kept up-to-date, with the general consensus being that, at the least, it should be reviewed annually. Unfortunately, the matter is not that simple.
Below are just a few considerations to help determine how often reviews should be conducted, specifically for your workforce.

• Are you part of an industry or company with a greater risk of fire? If so, would it be safer to conduct risk assessments more regularly?
• Are there new activities or operations within your workspace which could cause additional hazards?
• Have you had an influx of new employees? Are they vulnerable? Is their training up to date?
• Similarly, has the size of your workforce diminished?

It’s no secret that conducting a risk assessment may seem like a hassle at the time. But it really is an essential component to ensure the safety of your business and employees. Don’t skimp on your fire risk assessment; invest the appropriate time into these reviews so you don’t fall victim to the unfortunate consequences.

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