DESPITE new legislation being introduced last year to reinforce the fact that employers in England must consider an employee’s capabilities when it comes to fire safety, the majority are still unaware of their obligations according to workplace equipment provider Slingsby.

The Fire Safety (Employees’ Capabilities) (England) Regulations 2010 were introduced to clarify how fire-related tasks and assignments should be delegated to employees. As part of the legislation employers must consider what a worker is able and unable to do and how these capabilities may affect their ability to deal with fire-related risks.

Lee Wright, Marketing Director of Slingsby, which supplies 35,000 workplace products including an extensive range of fire safety equipment, explains: “Rather than being an extra burden for employers, these new regulations have been introduced to reinforce a workplace’s responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However the majority of businesses that we speak to are still unaware of the requirements and, as well as creating health and safety issues, this could put them at risk of prosecution.

“The regulations say that employers must carry out a fire safety risk assessment to identify what general fire precautions need to be in place. This should be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary. It must take a workers’ capabilities into consideration along with specific risks they face in their job role and where necessary employers should provide specific training. This also applies to fire wardens or marshals.”

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is still the primary legislation concerning all sectors of fire safety. As part of this employers are required to carry out a fire risk assessment to identify potential hazards and then take action to reduce them. They must also have a plan in place in case of an emergency as well as nominated people to assist in implementing it and all employees should be aware of the procedures.

All buildings must have adequate escape routes for their size and layout. In addition relevant signage should display fire procedures and highlight exits. In premises where employees could be unaware of a fire, either because it’s out of sight or they can’t hear warnings from colleagues, suitable fire alarms should be used and emergency lighting may be necessary in dark escape routes.

Usually one water based extinguisher is also required for each 200m2 of floor space, with a minimum of one extinguisher per floor. However in large or more complex premises, and depending on individual risks, a greater number or wider range of fire safety equipment could be required and some premises may also require hose reels, fire blankets or protective clothing.

Via EPR Network
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