New legislation in effect since December means that the majority of employers now have a statutory obligation to undertake fire safety risk assessments, warns surveyor King Sturge.

The 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations provided some exceptions where current fire certificates were in place, but the amended regulations have removed these in most cases. Failure to carry out risk assessment where it is required is punishable by fine or even imprisonment.

The assessment process, which must be recorded in writing wherever more than five people are employed, should cover at least:

• use, construction and size of the building
• number of employees and visitors
• number and size of exits
• evacuation procedures
• means of raising the alarm
• fire fighting equipment
• access for the fire brigade.

"In many situations, the risk assessment may simply confirm that existing arrangements are satisfactory," says King Sturge building surveyor Darren Cox. "However, the need to continually re-appraise matters cannot be dismissed, especially in an ever-changing environment with workplaces and procedures evolving."

Elliott Chase