Fire Regulations Reform

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is finally upon us as from the 1st October 2006. It requires that those in control of workplaces carry out specific fire risk assessments of their premises. The assessment must be "suitable and sufficient" and be carried out by a competent person. This is someone with "sufficient training and experience or  knowledge and other qualities".

So, are you competent to carry out fire risk assessments? If you already carry out other types of risk assessment then the same principles apply. The difference is that you now will be looking for specific fire and explosion hazards. However, there is a degree of understanding of fire issues that will be required by an assessor to allow for a "suitable and sufficient" assessment to be carried out.

Potential sources of ignition such as static discharge may not be obvious, and similarly nor will fuel sources necessarily be apparent. The assessor will require a good understanding of the mechanics of ignition and combustion. Those at risk may now include hundreds or even thousands of people, including members of the public. An understanding of group behaviours and particularly human behaviour in fire situations will be required from the assessor. Evaluating the risk will not only include the likelihood for incipient fires with its associated smoke and heat to spread, but what impact the  existing fire protection will have. Assessors will need to know about fire safety systems such as fixed fire  suppression, compartmentation and smoke detection. Additionally, if further control measures are necessary, will the
assessor have enough knowledge to enable the correct control to be recommended? Many fire risk assessments will be straightforward and existing controls sufficient, but knowing your limitations will be key to ensuring a "suitable and  sufficient" assessment is recorded.

This issue of the newsletter has further articles on general risk assessment and manual handling risk assessment, which can be referenced to help understand the processes involved.