Don't Get Burned
There could be few more dramatic examples of the dangers of fire than December's blaze at the Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.
While the Health and Safety Executive continues its investigation into the causes of the inferno, a radical reform of fire safety law is rapidly approaching.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO 2005), is due to come into force later this year.
While the Health and Safety Executive continues its investigation into the causes of the inferno, a radical reform of fire safety law is rapidly approaching.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO 2005), is due to come into force later this year.
The Buncefield blaze may be an extreme example, but fire is a daily risk for business.
For the sake of both compliance with the law and sheer survival, careful fire safety preparation is essential - full preparation requires clarity about responsibility.
The line between individual and government responsibility is a blurred one.
This is set to change when the new regulations come into force.
The principal provision is a shift in responsibility for fire safety to the occupiers of buildings and their workforces.
The ultimate enforcement of the regulations will remain with the Fire and Rescue Service, the HSE and local Authorities.
The powers of fire inspectors to state requirements and issue prohibition notices remain, but the existing requirement for a fire certificate to be issued for each specific use of a building disappears.
Overall responsibility will fall on the occupier, or a person who has control of the premises.
The legislation places particular emphasis on risk management. It is for the occupier to ensure that, where possible, hazardous materials or processes are managed in a fire-safe manner.
So, who is this 'responsible person'?
The legislation defines them as the 'employer' in a workplace, or, where there is no specific 'workplace', whoever controls the premises for the purposes of carrying on a trade, business, or other undertaking.
The responsible person must ensure a risk assessment has been done.
The extent of the assessment will depend on the employee numbers, the complexity of the premises, and the hazards likely to be present in a particular place.
When carrying out the assessments, it is essential to understand fire causes, the risks posed by different materials and other factors that feature during a blaze. The assessment must take account of factors such as the hazards present; the risks they pose; the measures in place for reducing those risks; and the people who may be at risk. The assessment must measure the effectiveness of the existing means of escape, and of the existing systems for providing warnings and restricting the spread of fire.
The new regulation emphasizes the preservation of life but even a small fire or smoke damage, can affect a business' chance of survival. Everyone is at risk when a fire breaks out, so full compliance with the new legislation is in everyone's best interests.
It's vital to be prepared
Events of last year proved that many companies are just one step away from disaster and those who focus purely on success without planning for the unexpected can see all their work go up in smoke.
Neil Stephenson, sales and marketing director of Middlesbrough-based Onyx Group which has disaster and recovery company DataBanx as a sister company, said "Business continuity is a must for every business and more companies are realising that, regardless of location, the need for contingency planning is as essential as paying your staff."
He cites December's explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.
"Companies suffered business disruption in the run-up to Christmas, one of the busiest periods of the year. Shares had to be suspended and at least one company admitted that their back-up systems had been destroyed," he added.
The London terrorist incidents last July were a wake-up call for businesses in the capital. But Mr Stephenson warned "It is worth remembering that many other risks such as fire, flood and power outages can still cripple an unprepared organisation."
Source: Alan Tickner, Director At Smart & Cook Insurance Brokers, Stockton, Evening Gazette
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