It only takes minutes for fire to change everything that was ordinary in our everyday lives. The fire safety regulations are designed to help you prevent, or in the worst case, deal with the effects of fire. Your company can survive the overpowering effects of fire and take back control, especially if you use the fire safety regulations as a guide.

The fire safety regulations that have recently been passed will affect all workplaces in England and Wales. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, as it is known, is designed to turn almost all the earlier fire safety regulations into one all-inclusive law. Except for domestic premises and some kinds of premises that are a specific risk and where other regulations are in force, the Fire Safety Order will apply to all buildings in use.

The new fire safety regulations take into account the fact that every building is different, and the hazards will affect people differently. In line with many other regulations, the outcomes of the Risk Assessments must be presented in writing where five or more people are employed. It is important to consider how a fire would affect the people in the building, starting with those immediately at risk from the fire.

A fire prevention plan should be easy to put together and should be a matter of common sense for most workplaces. Every work situation has different needs. What works in one building might not work elsewhere. The most important fire safety equipment to consider include:

• A whistle or an electric fire alarm, or some other kind of fire warning.
  
• Automatic fire detectors might be needed in some buildings, especially if a fire could be a risk to people if it is not detected (such as a two-story building) or there are large numbers of people in the building.
  
• There must be fire extinguishers in the building, not only to maintain exits while people evacuate but also to control small fires.
  
• There must be enough fire exits in the building for the numbers of people who use it and exits must lead as directly to safety as possible.
  
• Exits must be clearly marked with signs and they must be kept clear and readily available.
  
• Fire exit routes might need to be protected so that the smoke and flames won’t affect people evacuating the building.
  
• Emergency lighting might be needed in some situations to light exit routes and rooms in the event of a power failure.
  
• Fire equipment must be maintained and looked after, so that they are in working order.
  
• There must be a fire procedure for the building, outlining people's responsibilities and the evacuation plan in case of fire.

What to do in Case of Fire

If your workplace has a fire, do not enter the damaged site. The fire brigade will usually see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. Do not attempt to turn them on yourself. Be alert for structural damage caused by the fire. Medicine, food and beverages exposed to heat, smoke, soot and water should not be consumed.

The fire safety regulations stipulate that the employer is responsible for fire prevention and the safety of employees. Be aware of potential fire hazards in the workplace. Think fast, keep your cool and act with caution if you’re ever faced with a fire. Follow the company’s fire response procedures, including sounding the alarm and evacuating the area.

Another mandate of the fire safety regulations is that a “responsible person” should be nominated, whose duties are:

• To do a fire risk assessment, to put into practice the resulting fire precaution proposals and to keep the risk assessment under review
  
• A general duty to ensure the safety of employees and to take reasonable fire precautions for the safety of the premises.