Employees fire safety duties

This Order, made under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, reforms the law relating to fire safety in nondomestic premises. It replaces fire certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 (which it repeals) with a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees a general duty, in relation to non-employees, to take such fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances to ensure that premises are safe and a duty to carry out a risk assessment. 

Moreover, the responsible person is accountable for appropriate training, provision of information and a variety of other duties relating to the management of fire safety, such as the protection of young people, managing risks from explosive atmospheres, consulting with employees and other relevant persons, etc. 

The responsible person also has a duty to establish emergency procedures and test that those procedures work. In the light of this they are also responsible for nominating sufficient numbers of competent persons to implement the evacuation procedures and ensuring that employees and others have been provided with sufficient information regarding hazards, and their controls, together with appropriate fire safety and other related safety training. 

In terms of information relating to fire safety matters, the responsible person, in addition to providing information to employees, also has a duty under the RRFSO to provide relevant and complete information relating to both the risks and preventive and protective measures including the emergency arrangements in the event of a fire to ... 

Fire certificates under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 are abolished by the Order and will cease to have legal status. It replaces fire certification with a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees. 

When a safety and health professional opens the door with How can 1 help you employees often provide information in a rapid-fire format and include information that may or may not be pertinent for other functions within the organization. It is essential that the safety and health professional listen intently to the anployee and, if necessary, return and summarize the information for the anployee or ask the employee to repeat the information to ensure complete clarity. What is the safety and health professional s duty and responsibilities if and when reporting such iuforma-tion within the organization or company Outside of the company or organization ... 

Employers have an absolute duty to make suitable and sufficient assessment of health and safety risks, including risks from fire. They must take into account employees and others who may be affected by their work activities. The purpose of the risk assessment is for the employer to be able to ascertain what they have to do to comply with their legal obligations. Particular attention has to be given to assess risks where young persons (that is, people under 18 years of age) may be at risk. This regulation also requires employers to record the results of risk assessments and to review risk assessments. 

The safety role and responsibilities of individual employees will vary depending upon the size and nature of the organisation and the job description of the individual. For example, some employees will hold designated roles, e.g. fire wardens whose duties will include the proactive monitoring of certain fire risk control measures some employees may hold designated roles relating to the purchase of plant or equipment that satisfies certain statutory requirements some individuals, as discussed above, may be directors or managers of companies. 

---