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Currently the Fire Brigade will continue to carry out
enforcement under the Fire Precautions Workplace Regulations 1997
(amended) and the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations.
Part of the requirement of these statutes is a mandatory requirement
for organisations to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment of the
workplace.
Until the new FSO comes into effect,
the Fire Precautions Act 1971 still remains in force; meaning that
organisations within the specified criteria, are still required to
complete a FP1 form via the local Fire Brigade who will then guide
the organisation through the process to obtain a Fire Certificate.
As a guide, Fire Certificates are
mandatory where more than 20 people are employed or where there are
more than 10 other than on the ground floor or where certain types
and quantities of highly flammable materials are stored or used. In
the case of hotels, this applies where sleeping accommodation is
provided for more than six people or where overnight rooms are
provide above or below the ground floor.
Until the new legislation comes into
force, the Fire Authority can still enforce under these existing
regulations and will carry out inspections accordingly. It is
critical to note that having a Fire Certificate does not exempt
businesses from undertaking a Fire Risk Assessment.
Commenting, Steve Best of
Peterborough based Newflame Fire Equipment said,
"According to Fire Protection Trade Association figures, over
60% of businesses do not have adequate fire protection. To put this
in context, every year there are more than 40,000 workplace fires,
unfortunately resulting in the loss of over 50 lives each year with
an average cost of £58,000 per fire which, causes almost 2000
injuries and in 40% of cases businesses do not recover and fold as a
consequence."
"Legislation
is there to encourage businesses to protect their staff and
livelihoods, premises and assets and failing to comply can be
extremely costly, even without the outbreak of a fire. Enforcement
has lead to penalties being imposed of between £4000 and £85.000
where organisations have failed to adequately protect from the risk
of fire."
Currently and under the new
legislation, the main emphasis is on ensuring that a Fire Risk
Assessment has been implemented. This should be reviewed regularly
and after any change that might affect fire safety in the workplace.
When undertaken properly this can help to protect employees,
visitors and business premises.
For initial free advice, businesses
are invited to call Newflame on 0800 542 0149 or seek advice about
the new legislation from the Government’s new fire safety advice web
portal at: www.e-fire.gov.uk
January 2006 |
