Your Legal Obligations

Cover - Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) came into effect in October 2006 and replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law.

Who does it apply to?

The FSO applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The law applies to you if you are:

  • responsible for business premises
  • an employer or self-employed with business premises
  • responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
  • a charity or voluntary organisation
  • a contractor with a degree of control over any premises
  • providing accommodation for paying guests

Under the FSO, the responsible person must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment and implement and maintain a fire management plan.

Training

Additionally, you must provide adequate Fire Safety Training for your staff. The type of training should be based on the particular features of your premises and should:

  • Take account of the findings of the Fire Risk Assessment
  • Explain your emergency procedures
  • Take account of the work activity and explain the duties and responsibilities of staff
  • Take place during normal working hours and be repeated periodically where appropriate
  • Be easily understandable by your staff and other people who may be present
  • Be tested by fire drills

In simple premises this may be no more than showing new staff the fire exits and giving basic training on what to do if there is a fire. In complex premises with a high staff turnover and many shift patterns, the organisation of Fire Safety Training will need to be planned.

Your staff training should include the following:

  • What to do on discovering a fire
  • How to raise the alarm and what happens then;
  • What to do upon hearing the fire alarm
  • The procedures for alerting contractors and visitors including, where appropriate, directing them to exits
  • The arrangements for calling the fire and rescue service
  • The evacuation procedures for everyone to reach an assembly point at a place of total safety
  • The location and, when appropriate, the use of Fire Equipment
  • The location of escape routes, especially those not in regular use
  • How to open all emergency exit doors
  • The importance of keeping fire doors closed to prevent the spread of fire, heat and smoke
  • Where appropriate, how to stop machines and processes and isolate power supplies in the event of a fire
  • The reason for not using lifts (except those specifically installed or nominated, following a suitable Fire Risk Assessment)
  • The safe use of and risks from storing or working with highly flammable and explosive substances
  • The importance of general fire safety, which includes good housekeeping

How can we help?

Rothay Fire Services can help to ensure your organisation is fully compliant with its legal obligations. We specialise in delivering Fire Safety Training and carrying out Fire Risk Assessments, along with the supply, service and maintenance of Fire Equipment.

To enquire about our services, please give us a call:

  • Tel: 01772 687557
  • Mob: 07595 176212
  • Email: Contact Us

National and Local Services

Rothay Fire are based on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire in the North West of England and are well placed to serve local businesses in Blackpool, Preston, Lancaster and surrounding areas, including: Fleetwood, Lytham, Kirkham, Garstang, Chorley, Leyland, Blackburn, Burnley, Morecambe, Poulton-le-Fylde and Thornton.

We are a national company though and with close links to the M6 Motorway, we have customers throughout the UK, including: Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Bolton, Wigan, Warrington, Leeds, Sheffield, Carlisle, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Bristol, Swansea, Cardiff, Bath, Luton, London, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading and more!