Unlike big business, smaller firms don’t have the luxury of legal or HR departments or the budget to employ costly consultants for advice. Compliance with complex red tape has to be managed while completing customer orders, dealing with enquiries and competing for new business. Taking people away from their job for training is therefore an expensive and difficult option.
The Fire Safety Order is just one example. In one stroke it swept away an impressive 118 pieces of previous legislation. The new regulation, effective from October last year, means that existing fire certificates have ceased to be valid and fire rescue authorities no longer have responsibility for ensuring the safety of premises. Instead, businesses are responsible for their own risk assessment, in line with the general thrust of health and safety legislation in recent years.
Businesses, including not-for-profit organisations and charities, have to nominate specific individuals with responsibility for risk assessment and follow detailed procedures.
According to Peter Beveridge, senior lecturer at the University’s School of Science & Technology, doing nothing is certainly not an option and enforcing authorities will be active.
And fire statistics show that action is needed. During 2004, in England and Wales, non-domestic fires killed 38 people and cost £2.5bn, with only about £1bn covered by insurance, he said. ‘Some 70% of businesses which suffer a major fire either never reopen or close permanently within three years.’
It’s a complex area – but there is a bright side. To help firms comply with the new rules and work safe, the University is running a series of sessions on the Fire Safety Order. Bespoke workplace training and help with fire risk assessments are also on offer.
‘We want businesses to know that there are people who can help said Peter, ‘either by training or providing people to do the risk assessments and deliver workplace training to employees.’
For more information or to discuss your needs, email bm2@tees.ac.uk.
Free offer – Fire Health Check For a chance to win a half-day survey at your premises email your contact details under the heading of ‘Fire Health Check’ to bm2@tees.ac.uk. The winning email entrant will be drawn out of a hat. The closing deadline is 18 January 2008.