Fire Risk Assessments
If you have a business, you have a legal duty to make sure that it is safe for yourself and your staff, customers, visitors, and anyone else who may use or attend your premises.
Part of this legal duty is to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment.
How to do a Fire Risk Assessment
There are five key steps to a Fire Risk Assessment:
- Identify the fire hazards
- Identify people at risk
- Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks
- Record your findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training
- Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly
What does a Fire Risk Assessment look like?
We have a simple template which you can use to create your Fire Risk Assessment, if you are competent to do so. Simply use the Guidance on Fire Risk Assessment to assist you in completing your own Fire Risk Assessment using the Fire Risk Assessment Template.
Why do I need a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement. If you're responsible for a business or building you need to make sure you have a Fire Risk Assessment. It is your duty to identify fire risks and hazards in your premises and take appropriate action.
It is your legal duty to make sure you review your risk assessment regularly and whenever significant changes have been made that would have an impact on it. It’s good business sense as well as a legal requirement, often businesses don’t recover after a fire, and effective fire prevention starts with properly understanding the risks.
Read more about your legal responsibilities Fire Risk Assessments and the Fire Safety Order
Fire Safety Log Book
A Fire Safety Log Book is a way of recording evidence of premises maintenance and staff training
If our officers visit your premises to audit compliance with fire legislation, they will ask to see evidence that you have been adequately maintaining your premises and training your staff. We have produced a Fire Safety log Book which can be used to assist you in recording this evidence.
Can we do your Fire Risk Assessment for you?
Unfortunately not. If you can't create a Fire Risk Assessment yourself you must appoint a specialist to do it for you. We do not provide a list of recommended suppliers, but we do have guidance on how to choose a competent Fire Risk Assessor.
Guidance for choosing a Fire Risk Assessor
Where to find more information
You will find guidance on why and how to carry out a fire risk assessment on the .GOV.UK website which will help you familiarise yourself with what is needed.