The Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council has released a guide advising businesses on how to choose a competent fire risk assessor.
Barry Mould, managing director of Shires Fire and Safety on Stafford Park in Telford, said a competent and fully qualified fire risk assessor could make the difference between life and death if a fire did break out.
Fire hazards at premises can lead to prosecutions if the business owner has breached regulations.
Mr Mould, a fire safety expert who specialises in fire training and fire safety products including fire extinguishers and emergency lighting said: “Carrying out a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for non-domestic properties in the UK.
“It identifies possible hazards within the building and also what actions you would need to take to keep the people on your premises safe.
“It is important that this assessment is kept up to date and is reviewed on a regular basis to make sure it is still valid.”
Mr Mould said: “As the business owner or if you are a fire warden you are responsible by law for making the necessary checks to ensure a business is complying with legislation. Failure to do so can result in the responsible person being prosecuted, fined and even sentenced.
“Business owners in smaller premises are able to carry out their own assessments but they have to be sure they are able to complete a number of things, including identifying people at risk, identifying fire hazards and formulating an action plan.
“It is concerning how many premises we go into and see their assessment is years out of date, was not carried out by a competent company or doesn’t even exist.
“The consequences of this situation could be disastrous.”
Mr Mould advised a Fire Risk Assessor should be ISO UKAS accredited.
“There are many companies which have ISO that is not validated by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and UKAS is what puts you at the top of your industry and shows the high standards you abide by.
“A vital check which needs to be made is ensuring the person has independent registration with, or certification from, a professional or certification body, such as the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) and meets the competency criteria established by the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council.”
Mr Mould added: “Fire safety is not something you can compromise on – it can make the difference between life and death. The employer needs to ask themselves whether their employees could escape from the burning building safely and in time – seconds really are crucial.”
Businesses which would like a copy of the competency council’s guide can contact Shires Fire & Safety on 0800 542 3267, email sarah@shiresfireandsafety.com.
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