Risk Assessments
The Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010* came into effect in Northern Ireland on 15th November 2010
Who do they apply to?
Every employer, or person responsible for common areas of
buildings in multiple occupation, has an absolute duty imposed by the Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010* to carry out a FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT.
If you employ FIVE OR MORE
people, then the findings of your Risk Assessment must be recorded
either by making a written copy or storing on a computer. All employees must be
informed of the findings including those identified as being at risk.
Is this new legislation?
There is nothing new in the application of Risk Assessment to
safety in the workplace. The Management of Health and Safety if Work
Regulations already requires you to carry out a Risk Assessment of your
premises and any processes carried out in them (these regulations are enforced
by the Environmental Health Department of your Local Authority).
What happens if i don't comply?
The Fire Authority is the enforcing authority for these regulations,
and will visit premises to ensure compliance. They have been given certain
powers to prosecute offenders and or to issue an Enforcement Notice. In cases
of serious risk to persons in case of fire, prohibition or restriction of use
of all or part of the enforcement action is taken.
The Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010* extends this duty by requiring you, the employer, (deemed the appropriate person) to assess the risk to persons on your premises in the event of a fire. It is entirely feasible for both these
risk assessments to be carried out simultaneously.
REVIEW
The
Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2010 and the Fire Rescue Services (NI) order 2006 require you to:
·
Carry out a fire risk
assessment of your workplace;
·
Identify the significant
findings of the risk assessment and detail anyone who might be especially at
risk should a fire occur (must be a written record if five or more are
employed);
·
Provide and maintain such fire
precautions identified as necessary as a result of the above; and
·
Instruct, inform and train
employees about fire precautions in your workplace.
REMEMBER
·
Where two or more employers
share a building, each employer MUST COOPERATE with the others to enable them
to comply with the requirements of the Regulations; and
·
If the Northern Ireland Fire
& Rescue Services inspect your premises, you will be asked to provide the
necessary records to show you have complied, so far as it is possible for you
to do so, with the Regulations.
For more information on the new legislation why not check out the Fire Rescue Services website or to have a Fire Risk Assessment completed on your premises by SFS Fire Protection call our office today to arrange an appointment.
* These regulations include the fire rescue services (NI) order
2006
