The Government has announced the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) and the RRO aims to consolidate over 70 current pieces of Fire Safety Legislation.
  • The Order will place the responsibility for “Fire Safety” on the employer or “Responsible Person” for that building or premises.
  • This person will be required to assess the risks of Fire and take steps to reduce or remove them.
  • Furthermore, he/she will be responsible to ensure that Fire Safety Policy is in place and up to date.
  • That Staff Training is current and that Fire Evacuation drills take place.
  • The “Responsible Person” is to ensure the Safety of all individuals that he/she is either directly or indirectly responsible for.
  • Fire Certificates will be abolished and will cease to have legal status. However, Fire Brigades will still continue to inspect premises and ensure adequate Fire precautions are in place.
  • In essence, one of the main areas at the centre of the new regime will be Risk Assessing. Whilst this is not a new concept (Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999 also required them), greater focus has been placed upon it.
In fact article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires the “Responsible Person” to “make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on him by or under this Order”.
Furthermore, Article 9 also requires the significant findings of the assessment (including the control measures) to be recorded along with “any group of persons identified by the assessment as being especially at risk”.

WHERE WE CAN HELP YOU
Do you have a Fire Risk Assessment in Place? 
Do you have the answers to the following questions?:
  • Has a Fire Safety Co-ordinator been appointed?
  • Have Fire Emergency procedures been produced?
  • Are Fire procedures displayed?
  • Are Fire Extinguishers correctly placed?
  • Are there any ignition sources?
  • Has a Fire warning system been installed?
  • Are there LPG or flammable gases on site? Is all equipment in good condition?
  • Are Means of Escape maintained and kept clear?
  • Are there adequate Means of Escape?
  • Have Staff received adequate and appropriate Fire Training?