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Fire
Last reviewed on 20/04/2016 11:28

Fire safety is everyone's responsibility. This page gives advice on reducing the risks of fire in the workplace and
information on legal duties and responsibilities.

Quick links:
Fire risks and the workplace

Legal duties around fire safety

Fire alarms and detectors
Escape routes

Evacuation of disabled people

Fire extinguishers

Maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment

Further information on fire safety

Good practices:
General fire safety

Test your observational skill in identifying fire hazards

Emergency planning and training
At shutdown

Fire risks and the workplace

Fire presents significant risk to businesses. It can kill or seriously injure employees or visitors and can damage or
destroy buildings, equipment and stock.

Organisations operating from single premises are particularly vulnerable as loss of premises may completely disrupt
their operations. Many businesses fail to continue trading following a severe fire.
Fire may have a more significant impact on businesses that:

stock combustible materials including flammable liquids or gases

use heat processes

have people working alone in parts of the building

have poorly maintained equipment or electrical circuits

have public access (i.e. are at risk from arson)
have poor housekeeping standards.

However, any organisation may be affected at any time.

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Legal duties and responsibilities around fire safety

The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 have replaced almost all workplace
fire safety legislation. Some elements of the Building Standards Regulations are also related to fire safety.

For a comprehensive guide to your responsibilities, visit the Scottish Government Website on Fire Law (external
site).

Under the legislation, those who are responsible for premises, including owners, employers, managers, employees
and others occupying non-domestic premises must manage fire safety on those premises.
Those responsible should:

take steps to prevent and reduce the impact of fire on the workplace and carry out a fire risk assessment of
their workplace
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identify the significant findings of the risk assessment and the details of anyone who might be especially at
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risk in case of fire (these must be recorded if more than five employees)

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provide and maintain fire precautions necessary to safeguard anyone using the workplace (including visitors)
provide information, instruction and training to employees about the fire precautions in the workplace.

Additionally:

where it is necessary to safeguard the safety of employees, employers must nominate people to undertake
any special roles which are required under the emergency plan

employers must consult their employees (or their elected representatives or appointed trade union safety
representatives) about the nomination of people to carry out particular roles in connection with fire safety and
about proposals for improving the fire precautions

employers must inform other employers who also have workplaces in the building of any significant risks they
found which might affect the safety of their employees and co-operate with them about the measures
proposed to reduce/control those risks
controllers of premises (even if they do not employ anyone themselves) which contain more than one
workplace are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the fire legislation are complied with in
those parts over which they have control

employers must establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services, and ensure that they can
be called easily. They should also ensure that the emergency services can gain access to the premises in an
emergency.
employees must co-operate with employers to ensure the workplace is safe from fire and its effects and not
to do anything which will place themselves or other people at risk
in some workplaces there may be a need to apply for a licence, or other form of approval before using the
workplace find out more from your local authority or check the Scottish Government's FireLaw
section (external site).

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Fire alarms and detectors (fire warning systems)

ensure existing means of detection discover a fire quickly enough to raise an alarm in time for all the
occupants to escape to a safe place

the means for giving warning should be clearly heard and understood throughout the whole premises when
initiated from any single point
if the fire detection and warning system is electrically powered, ensure it has a back-up power supply

ensure employees know about the fire warning system, and that they know how to operate and respond to it
ensure there are instructions/notices for employees on how to operate the fire warning system.

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Escape routes
make sure there is a reasonable length of time for all the occupants to escape to a place of safety once a fire
has been detected.
ensure there are enough exits and that they are in the right places. The type and size of exits should be
suitable and sufficient for the number of people likely to need to use them.

in the event of fire anywhere in the workplace, make sure at least one route from any part of the premises
remains available
all escape routes must be easily identifiable, free from any obstructions and adequately illuminated
all staff should be instructed and trained in using the means of escape

instructions about the means of escape should be displayed for employees

means of escape arrangements should be included in the emergency plan.

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Evacuation of disabled people

The first step in your fire risk assessment process is to identify those people at risk and to take particular care in
assessing the risks to vulnerable groups or individuals. This could include children the elderly or those with a
disability.

The Equality Act 2010 ensures that disabled people should not be treated less favourably or be at a substantial
disadvantage to people without disabilities.

If an employer fails to make arrangements for the safe evacuation of disabled people from their premises it could be
seen as discriminatory as well as failing to comply with the current fire safety legislation. Remember that the
definition of disability is wide ranging and not restricted to physical disabilities.

Individuals have different capabilities and each building will have unique characteristics so in many cases a Personal
Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) will be required.

It should include clear concise instructions and evacuation maps or diagrams, detailing how disabled people can
reach a place of safety.

Fire and Rescue Services will expect to see it as part of your Fire Safety Risk Assessment. They will be looking for

information on how you will evacuate that person and do not expect you to leave them in a refuge to await rescue by
the Fire and Rescue Service.

A refuge should only be used as a stage of a full evacuation. You may use it to determine whether a full evacuation
is required or as a rest point on the route. No one should ever be left in a refuge during a full evacuation.

The Scottish Government website contains comprehensive guidance - Practical Fire Safety Guidance: The

Evacuation of Disabled Persons from Buildings (external link) (external link) which provides detailed information on
the matters you should consider and includes templates to develop and record details of your PEEP.
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Fire extinguishers
ensure extinguishers are suitable for the purpose and of sufficient capacity for the fire risks on the premises
ensure sufficient extinguishers are sited throughout the workplace

ensure the right types of extinguishers are located close to the fire hazards and that users can gain access to
them without exposing themselves to risk
ensure the locations of the extinguishers are obvious or highlight their positions

give the people likely to use the fire extinguishers adequate instruction and training
include the use of fire-fighting equipment in your emergency plan.

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Maintenance and testing of fire safety equipment

all fire doors and escape routes should be regularly checked along with associated lighting and signs
fire-fighting equipment should be regularly checked

fire detection and alarm equipment should be regularly checked

all other equipment provided to help means of escape arrangements in the building should be regularly
checked
instructions for relevant employees about testing of equipment should be available

make sure those who test and maintain the equipment are properly trained to do so.

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Good practices:

General fire safety

good standards of housekeeping are essential keep workplaces tidy

regularly remove combustible waste, including accumulations of dust

keep ignition sources away from combustible material, flammable liquids/gases, etc.
keep use of flammable liquids to a minimum and close containers when not in use

have bunding in place in larger storage areas, to control the extent of any spillages and prevent chemicals
mixing
consider how you would recover from the effects of a fire.

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Test your observation skills in identifying fire hazards

Knowing how to identify potential fire hazards in a variety of settings can help you look for hazards in your workplace
and at home, in a more objective way. You could use the film in your fire training exercises. These films were
created by Healthy Working Lives and the McGill Fire Safety Centre.

Use this set of films to test your observational skills and knowledge of fire spread (external link).

Emergency planning and training

Local Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) may offer training in emergency planning and fire safety.
compile an emergency plan

ensure employees are familiar with the plan, trained in its use and involved in testing it
ensure the emergency plan is made available to all who need to be aware of it

ensure the procedures to be followed are clearly indicated throughout the workplace

consider all the people likely to be present in the workplace and others who share the building.

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At shutdown

ensure all windows and doors are closed, including doors held open by automatic release units
switch off electrical equipment not in use, and where appropriate, unplug
check that smokers' materials are not left smouldering

check that all naked flames are extinguished or left in a safe condition

ensure all flammable or combustible waste is removed to a safe place

check that all highly flammable materials are safely stored

ensure that the workplace is secured against unauthorised entry.

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Further information on fire safety

If you're looking for further advice on fire evacuation or any other aspect of occupational health and safety, Healthy
Working Lives has produced a Fire Risk Assessment Pack to record the findings of your risk assessment:
Risk assessment - guidance (PDF 253 KB)

Risk assessment template - short version (PDF 75.80 KB)

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Risk assessment - completed example - Printers(PDF 112 KB)

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Risk assessment - completed example -Hotel (PDF 109 KB)

Free confidential telephone advice is also available through our Adviceline on 0800 019 22 11. Our advisers also
offer free workplace visits to SMEs. The visit will include a review of your health and safety performance on all
relevant issues - not only fire safety.

For a comprehensive guide to fire safety, including downloadable factsheets for specific sectors, visit the Scottish
Government website on Fire Law (external site).

You can find details of your local fire and rescue service on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's website (external
link).

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This webpage available in other languages

POLISH RUSSIAN PORTUGUESE
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