Fire Safety - How to stay on top of ever-changing laws


In the ever-changing world of employment and health and safety legislation, there appears to be no end to the pieces of new legislation with which companies must comply.

One such law coming into force this October is the Government's Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005.

With its 112 pages, five parts and 53 subsections, the Order is not a document for the faint-hearted.

But what it does is set out an employer's duties regarding fire safety, from fire safety duties, enforcement procedures, to offences and appeals.

Crucially, there is a general duty on employers to be aware of the requirements of the Act and to ensure the safety of all employees and others, such as contractors and visitors on their premises. A fire and emergency plan needs to be in place and, in the event of a fire, all persons need to be communicated in some way that alerts them to the fire issue.

Authoritative bodies - such as the Health and Safety Executive or local fire and rescue authorities - can send inspectors in to ensure provisions are being complied with or issue enforcement or prohibition notices.

Meanwhile, the penalties for breaching the Order are severe, and include criminal charges leading to prison sentences for those responsible for health and safety.

In short, the Order imposes various fire safety duties, including:
1. Risk assessments should be carried out and principles of prevention should be applied.

2. Fire safety arrangements should be made and risks for dangerous substances should be eliminated or reduced.

3. Emergency routes and exits should be provided, while there are also requirements for firefighting and fire detection.

4. The order sets out procedures for dealing with serious and imminent danger; additional emergency measures regarding dangerous substances and maintenance schedules for premises and firefighting facilities.

5. Finally, there is a section regarding safety assistance detailing how to provide employees with information and adequate safety training.

It is therefore imperative that employers either familiarise themselves with the Act or appoint an appropriate person or body to ensure compliance with the law.

Alternatively, Employersafe Intelligent Health & Safety Software will give instant access to the relevant information regarding fire safety precautions and can be adapted or configured to alert employers to the various checks and inspections that they need to do to ensure the safety of all persons.