Employers and people responsible for non-domestic premises and houses of multiple occupation (HMO) have certain responsibilities to assess fire safety risks. These duties are imposed by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. This legislation also imposes a duty on employees to cooperate with employers and to exercise reasonable care to protect the safety of others from fires.
A fire safety risk assessment must identify hazards and reduce the risk of them causing harm to as low a possibility as is reasonably practicable. This assessment also entails determining what fire safety measures and management policies are necessary to ensure the safety of people in the building should fire occur. Some employers are also required to record the assessment and safety measures and to identify anyone on the premises who is at particular risk in the event of a fire.
Assessments will be different for each business, as will the fire safety measures to be taken. Assessments also need to be reviewed on a regular basis to determine if changes in the people employed, premises occupied, work conducted, etc., affect risks and safety measures. Failure to conduct regular assessments can be punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
The Scottish government has published guidance on fire safety in various premises, including non-residential premises, premises with sleeping accommodation, care homes, specialised housing, and high rise domestic buildings. Guidance is also available on evacuating disabled people from buildings.
As helpful as reading the government’s guidance can be, a more effective way to learn how to conduct an assessment is to do one. Emcare’s course Introduction to Fire Risk Assessment equips delegates with an understanding of the fire risk assessment process for basic commercial premises and provides an opportunity to carry out a fire risk assessment. Emcare offers the following additional fire safety courses:
- Fire Warden
- Fire Safety Awareness
- Fire Extinguishers
- Fire Evacuation
- Evacuation Chairs Awareness
These in-person classes are taught by skilled professionals who come from the Health & Safety Executive, Fire Service, etc., and who have real life experiences to share. You can discuss your company’s particular risks and issues with these trainers to develop solutions tailored to your business. The classes can also be provided on-site at your company’s premises where the trainer can inspect your equipment and advise you on its upkeep. Wherever the course is taught, you can receive hands-on training on fire extinguishers to give you the confidence you need to use one should a fire emergency arise.
To sign up for any of these courses, visit Emcare’s website, call 0141 404 0075, or email us at info@emcare.co.uk.
