What are they?
The fire safety risk assessment is a structured way of identifying the risk and removing - or mitigating - danger to any persons who may be in the premises.
In general, the fire safety risk assessment should always take account of the means of escape - including emergency lighting, if necessary - and means of giving warning, which may include fire alarms if they're necessary.
What should the FRA cover?
The recommended structure for a FRA is as follows:
- Identify the fire hazards
- Sources of ignition
- Sources of fuel
- Sources of oxygen
- Identify people at risk
- People in and around the building, eg staff, customers, contractors etc.
- People at special risk, eg disabled persons - including deaf, partially sighted, children, elderly or infirm.
- Evaluate and protect from risk
- Evaluate the risk of a fire starting
- Remove or reduce fire hazards
- Remove or reduce risks to persons from fire
- Provide fire precautions to protect persons
- Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
- Record any major findings and actions taken
- Discuss findings with other responsible people
- Prepare an emergency plan
- Inform and instruct relevant people
- Provide training
- Review
- Review the FRA regularly
- Make changes where necessary
- Record the changes
Who should do the FRA?
The law is clear that the carrying out and recording of an FRA is the responsibility of the “responsible person.” They may contract this out to others, but the responsibility remains with them.
Also, where a third-party is contracted to undertake the FRA, it is the responsibility of the responsible person to ensure that the FRA is done to a satisfactory standard and by a suitably skilled person.