Ensuring fire safety in your business isn’t just good practice but a legal requirement. Fire regulations in the UK have put greater emphasis on a businesses obligations to implementing fire safety in the workplace and conducting a comprehensive fire risk assessment is an essential component to complying with these obligations and safeguarding your employees.
We’ve put together this guide on how to conduct a fire risk assessment for your business so you know exactly what you need to do to keep your business and staff safe, as well as being well-prepared in the event of a fire.
What is a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is an extensive evaluation of your workplace to identify potential fire hazards and those who might be at risk. As well as identifying fire risks in the workplace, this assessment also involves evaluating the likelihood of a fire incident, and assessing the potential harm it could cause. From these findings, a fire strategy plan can be put in place to implement fire precautions to mitigate the risks.
The assessment will also evaluate the existing fire safety measures, such as fire alarms, extinguishers, and escape routes to identify if there is any room for improvement or additional measures. The overall aim of a fire risk assessment is to create a safer environment for everyone in the workplace.
This process shouldn’t be seen as a one-off exercise and it should be regularly reviewed. For example if there are any significant changes to the workplace, such as alterations to the building layout or the introduction of new equipment, you should review your fire risk assessment.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states the legal requirement for businesses to conduct fire risk assessments. This legislation applies to all workplaces, regardless of the size or nature of the business. The responsibility for compliance with these regulations falls on the ‘responsible person’, but they can delegate this task to a ‘competent person’.
A responsible person, or competent person must possess the adequate training and skills to conduct fire risk assessments thoroughly. They should also have a sound understanding of fire safety principles, relevant legislation, and practical experience in identifying and assessing fire hazards.
How to conduct a fire risk assessment in the workplace
Conducting a thorough and comprehensive fire risk assessment consists of five key steps, which we outline in more detail below.
Step 1: Identifying potential fire hazards
Identifying potential fire hazards is the first step to conducting a fire risk assessment. This involves a thorough inspection of your workplace, considering all areas, equipment, and processes. You should also look for any potential sources of ignition and any combustible materials that could fuel a fire.
Some sources of ignition may include electrical equipment such as faulty wiring, overloaded sockets, and malfunctioning appliances. Heating systems such as malfunctioning heaters, boilers, and portable heaters are also potential sources of ignition.
Many businesses have combustible materials in the workplace that can potentially contribute to the spread of a fire for example:
- Flammable liquids
- Textiles and paper
- Cardboard and plastic packaging
Identifying these types of potential fire risks in the workplace allows you to take proactive measures to minimise the risk of a fire breaking out, ensuring the safety of everyone in the building.
Step 2: Evaluating who is at risk
The next essential step in the fire risk assessment is identifying who might be at risk if a fire breaks out. Everyone in your workplace needs to be considered, including employees, visitors, and anyone else who may be present. You should consider the risk of a fire occurring during your operational hours and the potential impact on all those who might be present at the time.
The number of occupants in the building at any given time should also be an essential factor in assessing risk. A higher occupancy increases the risk and can lead to congestion or delays during an evacuation.
Vulnerable individuals, such as people with disabilities, pregnant women, and those with mobility issues, may need additional assistance during an evacuation, so these individuals need to be identified. Once identified, special considerations and provisions need to be put in place for their safe evacuation, which may involve adapting evacuation procedures or assigning a designated person to assist them for example.
As well as this, you should consider the layout of your workplace and the escape route. Everyone should be aware of fire procedures, including the location of fire exits, which means your fire exits need to be clearly marked, free of obstruction, and easily accessible.
Step 3: Implementing protective measures
Once you have identified fire risks in the workplace and assessed who is at risk, the next step is implementing measures to prevent fires. This will involve a two-pronged approach: creating a robust fire prevention plan and equipping your workplace with essential fire safety equipment. Taking preventative measures is key to minimising the risk of a fire, while protective measures come into play if a fire occurs, helping to contain and extinguish it.
An effective fire prevention plan and fire safety plan will each encompass a range of measures to minimise the risk of fire. For example, a fire prevention plan might include the safe use, storage, and disposal of flammable liquids, whereas a fire safety plan may include maintenance of electrical equipment.
As part of implementing protective measures, equipping your workplace with the right fire prevention measures such as fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and emergency lighting is paramount. Early fire detection is vital for a swift and effective response in the event of a fire.
Step 4: Record, plan, and train
Documenting the findings of your fire risk assessment, creating an action plan, and providing fire safety training are crucial steps to conducting your workplace assessment as they ensure transparency, accountability, and preparedness. It’s also crucial for demonstrating compliance with fire safety legislation.
A well-defined emergency plan is essential for an organised response during a fire. This plan should outline evacuation routes, assembly points, and procedures for accounting for all individuals present. Evacuation procedures need to be easy to understand, and they should be displayed clearly throughout your building. It’s also wise to practise your emergency plan so that everyone is aware of the procedures, and that any issues are quickly identified and rectified.
Equipping your employees with the knowledge and skills related to fire safety is key to preventing and responding to fires. It should cover a range of topics, from understanding the causes of fire and how to prevent them to knowing the correct procedures. It should also encompass the principles of fire prevention, the correct use of fire extinguishers, and understanding the evacuation procedures.
Step 5 – Regularly review your fire risk assessment
As we’ve mentioned earlier, conducting a fire risk assessment is not a one-off task; you must regularly review it to ensure it remains relevant and effective, as well as remaining up-to-date and accounting for any changes in your workplace. It’s also a key importance that is highlighted in fire safety legislation.
Regularly reviewing your fire risk assessment will also help identify any new significant changes in your workplace that might impact fire safety. This could include changes to workplace layout or use of your building or even an increase in staff or customer numbers.
As part of your assessment review, you should reassess the effectiveness of your current preventive and protective measures to ensure continued compliance with regulations and to ensure they remain effective in the event of a fire.
Need help with your fire risk assessment?
As you can see, conducting a thorough fire risk assessment is crucial for the safety of your business, employees, and visitors. By identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, implementing preventive measures, and ensuring regular reviews, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a fire incident.
If you need professional guidance on your fire risk assessment, or you’d like to learn more about how we can help conduct your assessment, get in touch with our experts today and book an appointment with us. We provide a huge range of fire safety services here at Advanced Fire Protection (AFP) Wales to businesses around Cardiff, Pontypridd, and Newport.
Fire risk assessments FAQs
What is the frequency for reviewing fire risk assessments?
Whilst there is no legal requirement to review your fire risk assessment, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 highly recommends you should review your assessments at least annually or whenever there are significant changes in the workplace.
Can a business owner conduct the fire risk assessment independently?
A business owner can conduct a fire risk assessment themselves if they have the adequate skills and knowledge, however it’s strongly advisable to speak to a professional fire safety company like AFP Wales. This is because fire safety regulations require specific knowledge and our experts are fully equipped to conduct fire risk assessments in compliance with these regulations.
Who is responsible for conducting and overseeing a fire risk assessment in a business?
The responsible person, usually the business owner, employer, or manager, bears the legal obligation of conducting and overseeing the fire risk assessment. They must ensure it’s carried out and reviewed adequately, if they lack the component knowledge of fire safety.
