Unless you’re a specialist it can be startlingly difficult to spot possible fire hazards when you do your fire risk assessment. You may need to hire a trained expert to complete your fire risk assessment together with your staff giving you a compliant and effective document plus any recommendations on business continuity that may be needed. It’s easy to find independent fire safety experts online to help you recognize and meet the terms of all the legal requirements, together with all other British and European standards and the latest emerging legislation.

It is estimated that some 70 percent of firms hit by fire go out of business as a result. Fire regulations require all businesses with premises to carry out a fire risk assessment. Not only will you reduce the likelihood of a fire by identifying, recording and minimising the risks faced by your business, but you may also be able to take advantage of reduced insurance premiums.

All other compliance needs flow from the fire risk assessment, which is just the starting point of fire safety management at your premises. Before getting into the risk assessment you should be familiar with some of the other requirements of the Regulatory Reform Order 2005:

• Depending on the size and use of your building, you must select one or more capable persons to complete any of the preventative and protective measures mandated by the Order
  
• You must give your employees clear and pertinent information on the threat to them identified by the fire risk assessment, about the course you have taken to avoid fires, and how these measures will safeguard them if a fire breaks out
  
• You must ask your employees about recommending people to perform the specific roles relating to fire safety and about suggestions for improving the fire precautions
  
• Before you employ a child you must give a parent clear and applicable information on the danger that child may face as identified by the risk assessment, the measures you have put in place to prevent/protect them from fire and notify any other responsible person of any risks to that child arising from his or her job
  
• Temporary or contract workers and other non-employees must be kept up to date on the applicable risks to them, and they must be given information about who the nominated competent persons are, and about the fire safety procedures for the premises
  
• Tell other responsible persons who also have premises in the building of any noteworthy risks you find, and work together with them to decrease/control those risks that may have an effect on the safety of their employees
  
• You must give the employer of any person from an external organisation who is working on your premises clear and pertinent information on the risks to those employees and details on the preventive and protective measures taken
  
• You are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Order are complied with in those parts of the premises over which you have control (if you are not the employer)
  
• You must bear in mind the presence of any hazardous substances and the risk this presents to relevant persons from fire
  
• You must determine an appropriate method of getting in touch with the emergency services and give them the relevant information about dangerous substances
  
• When your employees begin working for you, and periodically throughout their employment with you, you must supply suitable information and training to them during their regular working hours, about the fire precautions in your workplace
  
• A competent person must maintain the premises and any equipment provided in connection with fire fighting, fire detection and warning, and also all emergency routes and exits
  
• Your employees must not do anything that will put themselves or other people at risk, and they must work together with you to ensure that a proper fire risk assessment is done, and the workplace is safe from fire and its effects.