Fire Safety

Following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in June of 2017 where 72 people lost their lives, the UK Government and regulators have demonstrated an increased focus towards fire safety in both domestic and non-domestic premises. In Scotland, there are two key pieces of legislation which are relevant to occupational fire safety; The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Within the workplace, the employer is ultimately responsible for complying with the requirements of these regulations. In addition to this, persons or an organisation which has control to any extent or part of the premises, also have responsibilities under the regulations. So what are the key responsibilities for ensuring fire safety within the workplace? All requirements can be found by reviewing the legislation in full, however some key points to consider are summarised below: Fire Risk Assessment The employer must ensure that a suitable, and sufficient, fire risk assessment is undertaken by a competent person. The fire risk assessment should be used to identify potential fire hazards within the workplace, to establish and implement a range of precautionary measures to mitigate the risk of fire initiation and spread. The risk assessment must be reviewed after any significant change to the workplace. It is best practice to ensure that your fire risk assessment is also reviewed each year. Fire Safety Policy If 5 or more persons are employed, a documented fire safety policy should be developed and maintained to include reference to how fire safety measures will be planned, organised, controlled, monitored and reviewed. The content of the policy should be clearly communicated to the workforce allowing them to become fully conversant in the various fire safety arrangements.

Fire Fighting Equipment The fire risk assessment will also identify the extent of fire-fighting equipment which would be appropriate to the premises and operational activities. Fire-fighting equipment can be automatic (e.g. linked to the fire alarm system) or manual (e.g. manual fire extinguishing devices).

Educate | Fire Safety

Means of Escape There must be adequate emergency escape routes and emergency exits from the premises, to a place of safety. All of which must remain free from any obstructions and be operational to ensure that persons can escape as quickly and safely as possible. The means of escape and direction of travel should be made clearly visible with appropriate signage. Provision of Information and Training The employer must ensure that employees are provided with adequate fire safety information and training. The training should be relevant to the premises and should be repeated periodically and after any significant changes.

Fire Detection and Warning Systems The fire risk assessment will identify the extent of the fire detection and warning systems that are relevant to the premises and operational activities. Systems should be sufficient to ensure the timely detection and / or warning of fire, enabling all persons to evacuate the premises safely.

It is imperative to note that all of the documentation and equipment above must be adequately maintained, in compliance with statutory and relevant industry standards to ensure its continued effectiveness in the event of a fire.

The points noted within this article are simply an overview of some of the requirements of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Employers must take a thorough and pragmatic approach to fire safety, and never underestimate the destruction that fire-related incidents can cause.