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Home | Legal | Regulatory Compliance

The Fire Risk Assessment; Crucial In Protecting Human Life And Business Operations

By: Thomas Pretty

While insurance may be able to cover the costs of a fire it is not always the case that a business will be able to recover. Estimates currently reckon that around eighty percent of businesses who experience a major blaze fail to recover from the event through loss of trade to competitors and the financial costs of loss of stock and personnel. However it is not just the financial effects of a fire that should be considered, the human element should always be a consideration, undoubtedly no business manager wants the death of a staff member on their conscience. This is why it is vitally important to undergo a regular risk assessment for the business premises; not only is this a moral obligation but a legal one as well.

Many companies hold supplies and stock on site making a fire even more damaging to operations. One of the major reasons for the loss of profits after fire is that unless it is possible to continue operations from a secondary site, relationships that have been built up with customers are often lost, meaning that the loss in trade can never be regained. Undertaking a risk assessment of the premises will reduce the chances of fire; it will not only secure the safety of your staff members but will also help protect the business' financial position. In addition a regular fire risk assessment will ensure legal regulations concerned with health and safety are effectively met.

The process of the risk assessment is relatively straightforward. Firstly the assessor will recognize and note any sources of ignition on the premises. Additionally the assessor should also look at the amount of combustible material on the premises and its proximity to ignition sources. Combustible materials can be deemed as anything to office supplies to soft furnishings and chemicals. The ultimate purpose of the assessment is to recognize how these materials can be placed and stored in a way that will reduce the chances of a fire starting.

The risk assessment should also recognize the hazards present in a workplace and ways in which they can be minimized. It is not always possible to completely remove hazards but the report should be able to advise on the best ways to minimize them whilst also giving advice on how to deal with instances where hazards are a potential problem. This can be done by drawing up safer working methods that actively work towards reducing the chance of a fire. This part of the assessment can take a few days and even a week; this is because the assessor must follow a detailed approach, understanding completely how operations are carried out in the business.

The assessor will also want to evaluate the workers who are on the premises on a day to day basis. This will incorporate their level of training and knowledge in terms of fire safety procedures. This part of the assessment will also look at the number of people on the premises throughout the day and night and will give recommendations on how to reduce the risk caused by these people.

The result of the assessment will be the production of safety procedures and further training for staff members. It will most probably give recommendations on which evacuation routes will be most suitable and the correct locations for fire extinguishers. This action plan should be adhered to for the law to be satisfied and the protection of the business assured. While fire can break out almost anywhere it is through a regular assessment of procedures and operations that the chances of a blaze igniting can be reduced, protecting human life and the company itself.

Article Source: http://bytepowered.org/articles

Regulatory compliance expert Thomas Pretty looks at the legal necessity for a regular fire risk assessment and how the process can help protect business operations and assets.

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