| Care should be taken when looking for fire risk | | | | risk assessment process first in order to do it |
| assessment templates, because each workplace is | | | | properly. Such advice is freely available online. Fire risk |
| different and must be properly assessed for its own | | | | assessment forms can also be downloaded free of |
| particular risks. A template as such is not really | | | | charge online. You need to fill in all the boxes on your |
| necessary if you use a good fire risk assessment | | | | form with the standard information about you and |
| form. A form is better in many ways because it will | | | | your premises, then work through the recommended |
| still guide you through the whole process, without | | | | five step process of the assessment, adding |
| second guessing what you should be writing in each | | | | information to the relevant boxes on your form as |
| section by adding things which could be completely | | | | you go. |
| inappropriate or irrelevant. | | | | If you are considering using a template because you |
| While a template may sound tempting, it would be | | | | are not sure if you understand how to properly |
| difficult to come up with one that would be | | | | assess all the different risks, then you should consider |
| appropriate for all work places. Not doing a thorough | | | | carefully whether you would qualify as a 'competent |
| fire risk assessment may only seem to be a matter | | | | person' to undertake the assessment. While there is |
| of complying with the law, but it is also a matter of | | | | no definition of what a competent person is, it is |
| ensuring the safety of your employees and the | | | | going to depend very much on your workplace. If |
| future of your business. For this reason it is worth | | | | you have a very simple office environment, then |
| giving it the time it takes to do it properly, and | | | | anyone with a bit of sense and some basic fire |
| avoiding shortcuts which may make it ineffective. | | | | safety knowledge should be able to carry out an |
| The fact that there is clear guidance from the | | | | assessment. However, for larger or more specialised |
| government with regard to the steps to go through | | | | premises, or where there are particular high risk |
| when carrying out a fire risk assessment, means that | | | | materials or equipment in use, a much greater degree |
| any form should be based on these set steps and | | | | of knowledge and experience is required. |
| provide a good structure which can guide you | | | | If you do not feel confident that you are suitably |
| through the whole process. Carrying out your | | | | qualified to undertake the fire risk assessment, the |
| assessment will then mean inspecting your workplace | | | | sensible course of action is to use a fire safety |
| and systems, looking for potential risks, and recording | | | | consultant. If in doubt, it is probably safer to use a |
| your findings on the form. | | | | consultant for at least your first assessment. You |
| Whatever template or form you use to help you, it | | | | may then feel confident enough to undertake the |
| will be necessary to read some guidance on the fire | | | | regular reviews on your own after that. |