If you use an Internet search engine 1,000’s of Risk Assessment Companies come up promising the best price for the job!!! How worrying is that for the client.

One of the safest places to find a Fire Risk Assessor is the Institution of Fire Engineers – they are an independent body that monitor and accredit Fire Risk Assessors. On their website they have a Risk Assessor Register – just pop in your postcode and a list of qualified, accredited Assessors will come up. Now you are looking at people that will provide you with a suitable and sufficient Fire Safety Risk Assessment.

The cost of a quality Risk Assessment may be a little more than you anticipated but in the long run it will probably save you money.

A couple of examples of the cost of non compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

An Indian Restaurant owner will serve six months in prison for eight fire safety offences. An inspection of the Restaurant by the Fire and Rescue Service uncovered an number of Fire Safety failings including:

• Lack of a suitable Fire Risk Assessment
• Failure to equipped the Restaurant with appropriate Fire detectors and alarms
• Failure to provide emergency routes and exits with adequate Fire Doors
• Storing items in the single means of escape route staircase on both the ground and first floor
• Failure to comply with a Notice Prohibiting the use of the premises for sleeping accommodation.

The Judge concluded that despite the serving of the Prohibition Order it was evident that the premise was being used for sleeping accommodation. The owner deliberately ignored warning and advice from the Fire Service and had a Fire occurred it would have been difficult for employees to leave.

40,000 Fine for a former Care Home for breaches of Fire regulations.

There were eight serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The offences include:

• Lack of compartmentation
• Failure to have a adequate Fire Risk Assessment in place
• Failure to have a Fire Emergency Plan in place
• Failure to provide evacuation chairs for means of escape from the upper floors
• Failure to provide Fire detection in the basement where the boiler was housed and well as poor maintenance.
• Concerns were also raised about the adequacy of Staff training.

The Fire and Rescue Service urges all companies to take their fire safety obligations seriously to avoid prosecution.

To avoid non-compliance make sure you have a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment. Don’t be tempted to go for the cheapest go for the best it may save you money in the end.

Appoint your Fire Risk Assessor and try and make sure you are available to escort him around the premise. You know your premise the best and you will be able to answer any questions. Once the Fire Safety Inspection/Audit is completed your Fire Risk Assessment will be compiled. Included in the Fire Risk Assessment will be a Fire Safety Management Plan – Significant Findings – this should be the primary tool to help you manage your Fire Safety Actions. Also included in the Assessment will be a Fire Safety Policy and a Fire Safety Emergency Plan.

Once you have your Fire Risk Assessment in place it is up to you to complete the Fire Safety Actions. Remember your Risk Assessment is a ‘live’ document and should be constantly reviewed and revised.

Fire Marshal Training may be identified and this is key – ensuring your staff are fully trained is essential in a time of Emergency. The number required will depend on the size of the premise, the complexity and the number of staff – If you are unsure contact London Fire Risk Assessments. As an independent Fire Risk Assessment Company we offer unbiased advice on all aspects of Fire Safety.

For our range of services including Fire Safety Consultancy, Fire Risk Assessment Audits and Reviews and Fire Marshal Training click here or call us now on 01689 890879.