Health & Safety

Your responsibilities

With the impending introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which will become law during 2006, businesses should be taking action now to ensure compliance.

It is being introduced to consolidate and simplify the existing legislation. Fire certificates will be replaced by a risk-based assessment, whereby accountability lies solely and firmly with the “responsible person” in any business.

It will no longer be the Fire Service’s duty to make sure the workplace is safe.  That duty will lie with the “responsible person”, who will be held accountable under the new legislation.

Employers currently have many responsibilities to comply with the law relating to fire safety of property and employees.  However, responsibility for fire safety in non-domestic premises (including empty business premises) will rest solely with the designated “responsible person”.  Employers have an obligation to carry out and have in place their own fire risk assessments, or employ a competent person to carry them out on their behalf.

The employer, occupier, manager or owner of the building therefore will have sole responsibility for assessing the level of fire risk in a property by identifying any hazards present and addressing the risks they pose.  Fire Protection Officers will monitor and enforce actions, but it will no longer be their duty to tell employers how to comply, although they will advise.

If there are any matters of concern, the Fire Protection Officer may use their powers of enforcement, which vary from educating and informing, to an enforcement or prohibition notice, and possible prosecution.

How ALS can help

We can carry out your fire risk assessments and advise you how to ensure full compliance with workplace fire safety and current legislation.  So why not contact us for a competitive quote today and let us put your fire risk assessment in place for you.

This and many more of our services can be called upon as and when you need them via our > Appointed Safety Advisor Service.

 

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