A Liverpool charity is warning local businesses that they need to be up to date with their fire risk assessments or they could face hefty fines or even a jail sentence.
According to workplace health charity Health@Work, current legislation means that all businesses must complete an up to date fire risk assessment, with severe penalties in place if they don’t adhere to stringent guidelines.
Employers also need to review their FRA if for example there has been a change in building structure, or they are now storing hazardous substances.
Not only can oversights relating to fire safety have devastating consequences for businesses and their staff, failure to adhere to legislation can result in fines and court appearances.
Frances Molloy, Chief Executive of Health@Work said: “Since the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect, all employers and building owners are required to carry out and continuously update the fire assessment. Failure to comply can result in increased fire risks, court enforcement action, fines and imprisonment. No organisation is exempt from this legislation, so it’s vital that whatever business or charity that you run, your fire risk assessments are up to date.”
There have been some high profile cases of legal action against businesses, including New Look which had to pay a fine of £400,000 for not following fire safety laws at their Oxford Street store in London.
As part of their work to improve workplace health and safety in Liverpool, Health@Work is offering advice to businesses on fire risk management. The charity is helping businesses assess the risks to staff, identifying weaknesses in fire safety procedures and informing firms how to reduce or remove any unacceptable risks.
For more information on carrying out fire risk assessment surveys and complying with the RRO 2005 legislation contact Health@Work on 0151 236 6608.
You can also find more information regarding fire safety guidelines at http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/.
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