Fire risk assessment is an in-depth review/evaluation of a building, complex, or facility for fire risks and provides recommendations to either eliminate the risk or control it. It is the cornerstone of a fire safety plan, without a good fire risk assessment, the fire safety plan will just be based on assumptions.
There is a law that governs carrying out this risk assessment. The law stipulates that any building, structure, or facility that can accommodate five (5) persons or more at a time should have a fire risk assessment drawn out, written down, communicated to the occupants of the building, and documented. It also states that the risk assessment should be done by a Responsible Person (RP).
The responsible person may be a fire assessment professional, the facility owner, or an assigned worker. The RP must be knowledgeable in carrying out this risk assessment.
Legal Guidelines Surrounding Fire Risk Assessment
- It must be reviewed regularly, at least every 12 months. If there has been an alteration in the building structure or there has been the introduction of new hazardous materials, the risk assessment must be reviewed.
- The risk assessment must be written down if you have more than five (5) employees if the premises need a license, or if the fire brigade gives the instruction.
- All findings and actions taken must be recorded.
Steps to Carry out Fire Risk Assessment
- Identifying fire hazards and possible sources of ignition.
- Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more needs to be done.
- Determine additional control where necessary.
- Communicate and document the result of the risk assessment.
- Review where necessary.
Things to consider when carrying out this risk assessment may include:
- Emergency exit routes, emergency lighting, fire doors, etc.
- Fire detection and warning systems like smoke detectors, fire alarms, etc.
- Fire fighting equipment like fire extinguishers, hose reels, etc.
- Storage of dangerous substances that could serve as fuel for fire.
- Emergency fire evacuation plan
- Identification of the muster point
- Consider vulnerable people, like the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with disabilities.
- Information dissemination about the premises and the emergency evacuation plan.
- Collaboration with external emergency services like the fire service, road safety, police, etc.
- Staff training and assigning of responsibilities.
Fire Safety Legislation:
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