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Fire hazards

Overloaded plug sockets. Faulty electrical equipment. Heaters covered or left plugged in. All of these hazards aren’t difficult to imagine within the workplace, and the effects can be devastating.

Unlike most other safety concerns, if fire hazards aren’t controlled properly, they have the potential to injure or kill large numbers of people very quickly. Even if harm is avoided, the costs of a serious fire can be significant, and many businesses do not recover.

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Protect your people and property from fire risk

Fires happen in all industries. In some, where there are large quantities of waste and combustible materials, dust build-up and/or flammable liquids and vapours, the risk is amplified.

Whether you’re a school or a manufacturing facility, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, you must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can escape safely should one occur. If you’re not equipped to manage this risk yourself, WorkNest and our partners can help.

  • Ensure your fire safety arrangements are effective and review and remedy potential fire hazards through an on-site health and safety audit (General Risk Assessment)
  • Get a more in-depth picture of fire risk with a specific Fire Risk Assessment, provided either by ourselves or our partners depending on your level of risk, should this be required
  • Develop internal awareness and competence with RoSPA-approved eLearning training, including fire safety essentials, fire wardens and DSEAR courses
  • Access expert-created templates, checklists and forms from our full-version Knowledge Hub available via myWorkNest
  • Maintain safety and compliance with unlimited advice and support from a dedicated Health & Safety specialist

Related resources

Free guide

Fire Safety Legislation Changes - Guidance for Non-Residential Premises

Free guide

Fire Safety Legislation Changes - Guidance for Residential Premises

Blog

False Fires | Fire Services in Scotland to Stop Attending Automatic Alarm Call Outs From 1 July

Develop your fire strategy, minimise the potential for harm

All organisations, regardless of size or sector, should have a fire strategy. Do you have an evacuation plan setting out a suitable method for raising the alarm and means of escape? Are your fire management system and fire safety controls monitored for effectiveness? Do staff know what to do in the event of a fire through induction training, regular refreshers and drills?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, your fire prevention strategy and emergency arrangements may fall short of legal requirements and you may be putting your people, business and reputation at risk.

To discuss your specific needs and enquire about the right fire safety support for your business, contact us on 0345 226 8393.

Who is responsible for fire safety awareness in the workplace?

The primary responsibility for fire safety in the workplace lies with the “responsible person”. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, this is usually the employer, building owner, landlord, an occupier, or anyone in control of the premises. If there is more than one ‘responsible person’, they must work together to meet this legal responsibility.

A responsible person must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure that people can escape safety if a fire does occur. This includes:

  • carrying out a fire risk assessment
  • keeping it up to date
  • implementing suitable fire safety measures
  • making sure staff receive appropriate training

While certain tasks – like routine checks or fire warden duties – can be delegated, the legal responsibility still sits with the employer. Fire safety isn’t something that can be left to chance. It needs to be actively managed, reviewed regularly, and adapted if the workplace or workforce changes. Not meeting these duties can result in serious consequences such as enforcement action or prosecution, so it’s important to get it right.

How many steps make up a fire safety risk assessment?

A fire safety risk assessment is typically made up of five key steps. This process involves a thorough inspection of the premises to identify potential fire hazards, ensure steps are in place to prevent fires from starting, and confirm that suitable fire protection measures are available to safeguard everyone in the building.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the fire risk assessment process:

1. Identify the hazards

Understanding how fires could start is the foundation of a good risk assessment. A fire hazard can be anything that could start a fire. Look for:

  • potential sources of ignition – such as electrical equipment, cigarettes, cooking, housekeeping, contractors or naked flames
  • fuel – including paper, chemicals, and waste
  • oxygen

2. Identify people at riskConsider who may be affected if a fire breaks out – employees, contractors, visitors, or vulnerable individuals such as lone workers or those with mobility issues

3. Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk

Once you’ve identified hazards and who may be at risk, the next step is to evaluate how likely it is that a fire could start and what the impact would be. This includes reviewing whether you have the right precautions in place to prevent fires and protect people if one breaks out. Consider the following:

  • Are sources of ignition kept safely away from combustible materials?
  • Do you have suitable fire detection and alarm systems?
    Are there enough escape routes, clearly signed and accessible, even in low light?
  • Are fire extinguishers and emergency lighting in the right locations?
  • Is there a fire safety plan in place, and does everyone know what to do in an emergency?

Taking proactive steps at this stage helps reduce the risk of fire and ensures people can exit the building quickly and safely.

4. Record, plan and train
Keep a record of your findings and actions (required by law if you employ five or more people). Develop an emergency plan, communicate it to staff, and provide appropriate training so everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.

5. Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly
Fire risks can change over time. Regularly review your assessment – especially after significant changes such as building alterations, staff turnover, or the introduction of new chemicals, equipment or processes.

Popular FAQs

Common fire safety queries and questions about our service, answered by our Health & Safety specialists.

Do I need a Fire Risk Assessment?

Do I need to have all my portable appliances tested annually?

How do I store flammable chemicals safely?

How do I monitor the actions arising from my Fire Risk Assessment?

What's included in our fixed-fee Health & Safety support

Accident and Incident Investigation

An accident in the workplace is every employer’s worst nightmare. We can help to guide your investigation, advise on corrective action and protect your interests in the event of regulatory enforcement.

Can you help us prepare an accident investigation report?

We have been written to by the regulator regarding a health and safety incident. Can you help?


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Why choose us?

Experts in Health & Safety support

If you’re not confident in your current practices, or don’t have professional support in place, our network of qualified Health & Safety Consultants can help you to build a safe and compliant working environment through expert support tailored to your organisation.

  • Approved by a Primary Authority
  • Dedicated specialists with recognised qualifications
  • Genuine hands-on experience of managing risk
  • Unlimited 24/7 advice, award-winning software and policy support
  • The confidence to act as one of your competent persons

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