edp Safety Systems
total Management of Health and Safety
for every organisation
health, safety and environment consultants
Service Overview
Fire Risk Assessment
Call us on: 01744 766000
or fax on: 01744 766025
or email on:
enquiries@edp-uk.com.
Essential Services
H+S Services:
- Health and Safety Audit
- General Risk Assessment
- Specific Risk Assessment
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Manual Handling Risk Assessment
- COSHH Risk Assessment
- Display Screen Equipment Assessment
- Noise Risk Assessment
- Asbestos Survey (Type II)
- Competent Contractors Audit
- Access Consultancy
- Portable Appliance Testing
Overview
Regulation 3 of the "Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations" is a legal requirement for all employers with 50 or more employees. It requires employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of signficant health and safety risks to which their employees and others are exposed as a result of the organisation's business activities.
Recent changes to Fire Safety legislation put greater emphasis on the use of risk assessments to establish the level of risk from fire within and around employers' workplaces and premises.
In addition to specific hazards, a fire risk assessment examines all aspects of fire precautions, including fire detection systems, evacuation procedures, etc. to identify any non-compliance with current law and possible additional precautions needed to manage and reduce the risk from fire.
Objectives
The primary aim of the Fire Risk Assessment is to ensure that fire safety and precautions on the premises are provided and maintained in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and specifically the "Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order".
Methodology
The Fire Risk Assessment needs to be carried out by a suitably competent person.
Due to the nature of the hazards and risks being assessed, it is essential that the assessor has free access to examine all parts of the premises. To this end, any security clearances that may be required should be arranged before the scheduled time for the assessment.
Documentation relevant to fire safety should also be assembled before the start of the assessment, for example:
- Site plan (if available)
- Fire prevention policy (if available)
- Previous Fire Risk Assessments (if available)
- Compartmentation plans
- Fire evacuation plan
- Records of fire evacuation exercises
- Fire equipment logbook
- Tests of fire alarm systems and other equipment
- Fire training records
- List of Fire Wardens
- Accident reporting records
Following examination of relevant documentation, the examiner will typically:
- Visit the premises to assess levels of compliance with UK Fire Safety law.
- Interview representatives of the various jobs, including supervisory/management as considered necessary.
- Systematically inspect all areas to determine how or where a fire could start and the potential for such a fire to spread.
- Examine equipment available for detecting, warning of and fighting fires.
- Examine and review Procedures and Measures in place for controlling risks from fire and for evacuation in the event of fire.
A report is produced of the findings from the assessment, along with recommendations, where required, to address any concerns.
Duration
The time required for a specific assessment depends on the size, construction and complexity of the site, along with the activities being undertaken.
However, the assessment of most buildings can be completed within a day.