Fire Risk Assessment - It is every employers duty to ensure that their premises adhere to local fire safety regulations, a fire risk assessment is a useful tool in pinpointing where danger may lie.

If a fire occurs in the workplace, there is a risk that people will be trapped by the fire or injured as they attempt to escape. The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify where fires may start in the workplace and anyone who may be put at risk from that fire. Fires occur when combustible materials come into contact with an ignition source. Fires can be started accidentally, through carelessness or by arsonists. When carrying out your fire risk assessment you should:

Identify any sources of ignition that may cause a fire and, where possible, take steps to reduce the risk of fire occurring.

Identify any combustible materials in the workplace and take steps to store them away from sources of ignition.

Identify those people who are at significant risk from fire and rake steps to reduce that risk.

Identify any structural features that could promote the spread of fire and, where possible, take steps to reduce the potential for rapid fire growth.

Take steps to monitor the introduction of sources of heat or combustible materials during periods of maintenance or refurbishment,

Sources of Ignition
Possible sources of ignition may be heaters, boilers, engines, smoking materials or heat from processes or electrical apparatus, whether in normal use or through carelessness or accidental failure. The potential for an arson attack should also be considered. Where possible, sources of ignition should be removed from the workplace or replaced with safer forms. Where this cannot be done, the ignition source should be kept well away from combustible materials or made the subject of management controls. Particular care should be taken in areas where portable heaters are used or where smoking is permitted. Where heat is used as part of a process, it should be used carefully to reduce the chance of a fire as much as possible. Good security both inside and outside the workplace will help to combat the risk of arson.

Combustible Materials
Most workplaces contain combustible materials. Usually, the presence of normal stock in trade should not cause concern, provided the materials are used safely and stored away from sources of Ignition. The amount of combustible material in a workplace should be kept as low as is reasonably practicable. Materials should not be stored in gangways, corridors or stairways or where they may obstruct exit doors. Some combustible materials, such as flammable liquids, gases or plastic foams, ignite more readily than others and quickly produce large quantities of heat and/or dense smoke. Ideally, such materials should be stored away from the workplace or in fire-resisting stores. The quantity of these materials kept or used in the workplace should be as small as possible. Fires often start and are assisted to spread by combustible waste in the workplace. Such waste should be collected frequently and removed from the workplace, particularly where processes create large quantities of it.

People who are at significant risk from fire
Because fire is a dynamic event which, if unchecked, will spread throughout the workplace, all people present will eventually be at risk if fire occurs. Where people are at risk, adequate means of escape from fire should be provided together with arrangements for detecting and giving warning of fire. Fire-fighting equipment suitable for the hazards in the workplace should be provided. Some people may be at significant risk because they work in areas where fire is more likely or where rapid fire growth can be anticipated. Where possible the hazards creating the high level of risk should be reduced. Specific steps should be taken to ensure that the people affected are made aware of the danger and the action they should take to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

Structural Features
The workplace may contain features that could promote the rapid spread of fire, heat or smoke and affect escape routes. These features may include ducts or flues, openings in floors or walls, or combustible wall or ceiling lining. Where people are put at risk from these features, appropriate steps should be taken to reduce the potential for rapid fire spread or to provide an early warning of fire so that people can leave the workplace before their escape routes become unusable.