Fire Safety Fires occurring in the workplace can lead to loss of life, injuries and serious financial consequences - these impacts on business can lead to cessation of trade, loss of vital information and smoke/water damage. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Is new legislation which will significantly change fire safety law and is the most significant change since the Fire Precautions Act 1971. What effect will The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 have? The main effect will be a greater emphasis placed upon fire prevention. Fire certificates will no longer be required and will cease to have any legal status. If you are the responsible person within a workplace i.e. employer, owner or controller of the workplace then you have a responsibility to comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. If there is more than one person who can be identified as being responsible under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order then all those persons share responsibility and must take reasonable steps to work together. What must you do if you are a responsible person You must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment focusing upon the safety of all relevant persons in case of fire. The fire risk assessment must pay specific attention to those at risk, such as disabled persons, as well as considering dangerous substances likely to be on the premises. The fire risk assessment will help to identify the risks that can be mitigated against or removed. It will also help you to identify and define the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to put into place to protect against fire and the inherent fire risks that remain. You must, in addition, record the significant findings of the assessment if you employ 5 or more persons. To summarise you must: Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment to identify the risk from fire Take steps to remove or reduce those risks Meet requirements on the means of escape and fire fighting equipment including the maintenance of common fire protection systems Take measures to mitigate the spread of fire For more information view www.jrasafety.co.uk