Introduction to Fire Safety Management

➤ Appropriate protection measures can be taken
for the person carrying out the maintenance
operation
➤ Where appropriate, work equipment is marked in a
clearly visible manner with any marking appropriate
for health and safety
➤ Where appropriate, work equipment incorporates
any warnings or warning devices for reasons of
health or safety. These must be unambiguous, easily
perceived and easily understood.
Note: Any warnings or markings must comply with the
Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations
1996 (see later section).
PUWER also has specifi c requirements covering
mobile work equipment and power presses. These are
not covered in this summary.
15.27 The Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005 (SI 1541)
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO)
replaces or amends 118 pieces of fi re-related legislation,
the most signifi cant being the repeal of the
Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the revocation of Fire
Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997(as amended).
It develops and extends many of the concepts from the
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999.
The RRFSO applies to the majority of premises
and workplaces in the UK. Broadly it does not apply
to dwellings, the underground parts of mines, offshore
installations, anything that fl oats, fl ies or runs on wheels.
15.27.1 Defi nitions and meanings
Responsible person – this is the person who more than
likely owns the premises or business or the person with
control over the premises, business or activity. Where
two or more responsible persons share responsibility
(e.g. landlord/tenant, multiple occupied building or adjacent
premises) the responsible persons must cooperate,
share information and collaborate to provide fi re safety
measures.
Relevant person – this is anyone who is legally on
the premises or anyone who is not on the premises but
who may be affected, such as in nearby property.
The RRFSO specifi cally excludes fi re fi ghters from
this group of people.
Employee – this has a broad defi nition and may
include subcontractors, self-employed and casual
workers.
Summary of key legal requirements
Competent person – anyone appointed by the
responsible person and could be a company employee,
fi re safety manager, fi re warden, etc. or an external
consultant. But must be someone who has enough
training and experience or knowledge and other qualities
to undertake their role.
Inspector – person appointed by the enforcing
authority (normally a fi re offi cer from the local Fire and
Rescue Service).
Enforcing authority – normally the Fire and Rescue
Service but may be the HSE, MOD or local authority.
Enforcement – failing to comply with articles 8
through 21 and 38 may result in the serving of a variety
of notices or on successful prosecution a fi ne or up to
two years in jail.
Articles 8 through 21 cover all the main provisions
of the RRFSO, from carrying out risk assessments to
maintenance and training.
Fire risk assessment – the cornerstone of the
RRFSO is the risk assessment. This must be reviewed
regularly and if necessary amended. The risk assessment
must be formally recorded if the responsible
person employs fi ve or more people, the premises are
licensed or an alterations notice requires it.
Maintenance – all equipment provided for the
purpose of fi re safety or for the use or protection of fi re
fi ghters must be maintained and kept in good order.
Note: Reference to the ‘Articles’ of the RRFSO are made
in the following paragraphs by the use of brackets,
e.g. [4.1(b)].
15.27.2 Application
The RRFSO applies to the vast majority of workplaces
and premises in the UK. There are notably very few
exceptions. Workplaces and premises vary considerably
in size and risk and as a consequence the RRFSO contains
fewer concise words such as ‘adequate’, ‘appropriate’
and ‘reasonable’. The following summarises the
RRFSO in the context of a typical organisation for which
you are responsible, or own the premises, business or
operation, i.e. the responsible person.
15.27.3 The responsible person
As the responsible person you must ensure the safety
from fi re of your employees and any person who may
legally come onto your premises, or any person not on
the premises who may be affected (relevant persons)
[8(a) and (b)]. Where you share responsibility with other
responsible persons (e.g. adjacent premises, employers,
tenant/landlord or multiple tenancy building) you must
cooperate by sharing information and collaborating in
providing measures. This also extends to premises in
which an explosive atmosphere could occur [22].
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