FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT |
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A fire risk assessment is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and assesses risks arising from fire hazards within your working environment.
Examples of fire hazards may be:
- Wedged open fire doors
- Unsafe electrical equipment
- Obstructed fire routes
- Untrained fire wardens
It is a requirement that the fire risk assessment be carried out by a competent person. Failure to comply with this requirement may render a fire risk assessment as non-conforming and void.
On a practical level, the main benefit of a fire risk assessment is to reduce the likelihood of fire hazards resulting in harm.
On a legal level, the main benefit of having a fire risk assessment in place is that if a worst-case scenario does happen and a fire hazard does result in harm, your organisation will have a legal defence.
These benefits rely on the risk assessment being kept up-to-date, and recommendations made in the risk assessment being acted on within a reasonable timeframe.