In addition to knowing how to react to workplace fires, the new fire safety regulations require that employees understand how to help prevent them. Teach workers what to do if fire strikes. Make sure they’re properly trained, especially if you expect them to use fire extinguishers. Keep them up to the standards of the fire safety regulations by showing them the PASS technique:

• Pull the pin on the extinguisher
  
• Aim at the base of the fire
  
• Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent
  
• Sweep back and forth until the fire goes out.

While many workplaces have basic precautions in place, there are many that don't. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as it is known, is designed to turn almost all the earlier pieces of UK fire safety legislation into one all-inclusive law.

Key Points

According to the deputy prime minister when the act was being put in place, existing fire safety legislation has developed in a piecemeal fashion, often as a response to particular tragic fires in which large numbers of lives were lost. The key proposals on which the government consulted were:

• The reform should as far as possible create one simple fire safety regime applying to all workplaces and other non-domestic premises
  
• The system should be risk assessment-based with accountability for the fire safety of the occupants of the premises and people who might be affected by a fire resting with a defined responsible person
  
• There should be no separate formal validation mechanism for higher risk premises
  
• Fire precautions mandated under building regulations and other similar legislation for the use and protection of fire-fighters should be maintained
  
• Fire authorities should have a new statutory duty to promote community fire safety, for powers of entry for the investigation of fires, and for the powers to take away samples for testing.

The Completed Order

Once you know the basics, such as how to assess the risk and what fundamental safety measures are required, fire safety is not a difficult topic, and the new fire safety regulations will be easy to implement. Here is a short précis of the important parts of the Order that concern all those who run a business or institution situated in a building, based on key words used and their meanings:

• Responsible Person: the person who owns or controls the business or premises
  
• Competent Person: this could be an employee or an outside contractor appointed and trained to carry out fire fighting duties, contact the emergency services, and assist in evacuations
  
• Enforcement: failing to satisfy the applicable articles of the Order may result in a fine or up to two years imprisonment
  
• Fire Risk Assessment: if the responsible person employs 5 or more people, or if the premises are licensed, or if the inspector wants it, this vital plank of the Order must be officially documented

The Fire Safety Order will apply to all buildings in use, except domestic premises and some kinds of premises that are a specific risk and where other regulations apply. The Fire Safety Order placed duties on a 'responsible person' not only to protect employees but members of the public. Consistent with most of the new regulations regarding health and safety, the Fire Safety Order requires that a Risk Assessment be done.

It is important to consider how a fire would affect the people in the building, starting with those immediately at risk from the fire. One of the reasons for Fire Risk Assessment is to lessen the chances of fire occurring. A fire prevention plan should be easy to put together and should be a matter of common sense for most workplaces. There are a number of general fire precautions required by the regulations.

The expense of a serious fire can be high and subsequently many businesses do not reopen. Through the effective enforcement of the fire safety regulations you can successfully manage the risks your workplace has to face and contribute to a general reduction in fires and related deaths and injuries.