You have a duty to manage fire safety if you are responsible for the premises. To do this you need to carry out a fire risk assessment. Firelaw [1] provides information about fire law and safety in Scotland including guidance notes and blank fire safety risk assessment record sheets [2] drawn up in partnership with Healthy Working Lives [3] which you can use to conduct and record a fire safety risk assessment.
The five stages of a fire safety risk assessment are:
Identify the location of people (staff, patients and visitors) at risk in the event of fire.
Identify fire hazards, i.e. the three elements required for fire to start:
- Sources of ignition (cooking, smoking, lighting equipment, electrical equipment)
- Sources of fuel (flammable gases, liquids or solids)
- Sources of oxygen (forms of air conditioning/ventilation; draughts as well as oxygen present in the air)
Evaluate the risk and decide if existing fire safety measures are adequate by:
- Evaluating the likelihood of a fire occurring and the consequence to those at risk
- Assessing the adequacy of existing fire safety measures and the need for additional measures
- Minimising risks by:
- removing or reducing fire hazards
- removing or reducing risks to people by use of (where appropriate): fire detection and warning equipment (e.g. smoke detectors and fire alarm); fire-fighting equipment; escape routes and lighting; signs or notices; regular maintenance and testing of fire precautions and equipment
- effective Fire Risk Management
- providing fire safety training of staff
Record findings and action taken, or to be taken.
Keep assessment under review.
Sources of information
- Firelaw (Scottish Government)
- Fire Safety Risk Assessment – forms and guidance
- Example Fire Safety Risk Assessment Healthy Working Lives