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Whether you’re an employer, landlord, managing agent, building owner or occupier, you are responsible in law for the fire safety of your premises, its occupants and any other relevant persons who may be affected - including the impact of a fire on the wider surrounding area and fire and rescue service personnel. If you are located within a multi-occupied building, the same level of accountability will still sit on your shoulders and it’s important therefore that you must take all reasonable steps to co-operate and co-ordinate your fire safety efforts to ultimately achieve a suitable and sufficient level of fire safety for all. When it comes to fire safety there is no cutting corners, ignoring the rules or passing the buck…
How do you ensure you meet your fire safety responsibilities?
You must carry out a fire risk assessment and record any significant findings. This must be completed by a "competent" person. Through our memberships of the Institue of Fire Engineers and Institute of Fire Safety Managers along with our qualifications, skills, training and great deal of experience we are recognised to be deemed "competent" to provide you with a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
If an assessment is not completed or found to be insufficient by the inspecting authority, subject to their findings, its possible improvement or restriction notices may be issued that will require you to make certain changes within a set period of time or you might even find that the use of part of your premises is restricted until the issues are sorted. Failure to comply with the law or any notice issued is an offence and may result in prosecution.
You must then ensure the initial assessment process is followed up and maintained. To remain compliant you must ensure that the assessment is reviewed at regular intervals by a competent person and it may also be necessary for a review to take place if there is reason to believe the original assessment is no longer valid. Examples of when this may be the case are:
- If new hazards have been introduced.
- If the building has undergone significant changes, in nature, structure, layout or the occupancy for example.
- If there has been a fire or ‘near miss’ fire event.
By carrying out these reviews, you are able to show an enforcing authority, your insurer, and your occupants, that you are being pro-active in your approach to fire safety and take your responsibilities seriously.