Fire Risk Assesment
Fire precautions (workplace) (amendment) regulations 1999 require all employers to carry out their own fire risk assessment.
One of the most serious health and safety risks too many organisations is the risk of fire - in 2000, 13,300 retail, industrial and catering establishments experienced fires resulting in unimaginable anguish for the owner, managers and staff concerned with trying to stay in business.
Research has found that after a major fire, 43% of companies go out of business within 18 months, even if insured and 30% of companies fail within 3 years, never able to recover financially - many failed organisations are found to be underinsured! Workplaces must comply, regardless of whether they have a fire certificate issued before the amendment under the fire precautions act 1971.
The health and safety executive advises that a competent person with sufficient training, experience and knowledge and other qualities, should carry out the assessment and the risks accurately identified in order to safeguard the safety of employees and if appropriate , members of the public.
Organisations of all sizes need to be vigilant and should take health and safety risk assessment seriously, especially in regard to fire, as failure to do so may be costly in terms of fines and possible imprisomnent.
From 1st december 1999 amendments to the fire precautions (workplace) regulations 1997 require any business employing 5 or more persons to hold a written fire risk assessment and emergency plan.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence. The local fire brigade can serve notices requiring compliance and also have the authority to close any building which does not meet this act.
A Starcrest risk assessment survey covers the following areas:
- - Identification of hazards, persons at risk and fire routine.
- - Fire warning systems.
- - Identify any problems in the areas above and make recommendations to put them right.
- - Sources of ignition.
- - Means of escape from building.
- - Fire fighting facilities.
One of our experienced fire risk assessors can visit your establishment and conduct a thorough fire risk survey.
A concise report is then produced which identifies the areas of risk and provides recommendations with an action list.
The service is available in the south east and the midlands areas costing as little as £395.00 plus vat for premises with less than 20 employees with a floor area not exceeding 200 square metres.
Premises larger than this need to be costed on an individual basis - call now for further information, if this applies to you.