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The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out all the fire safety duties employers and employees must comply with to reduce the risk of fire and injury from fire in the workplace. It covers everything from risk assessments to safety assistance and fire safety training.

It states that the responsible person must ensure that his employees are provided with adequate safety training both when they enter employment with the company and if or when they are exposed to new or increased risks. This may be due to a change in job role or to the introduction of new work equipment, technology, or work system.

Fire safety training must:

“Include suitable and sufficient instruction and training on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard himself and other relevant persons on the premises;”

Refresher courses also must take place periodically where it is necessary, and training must be adapted should there be any new risks or changes to existing risks.

TutorCare’s Fire Safety Training allows employers to ensure that they comply with the Regulatory Reform Order and that they provide their employees with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves and their colleagues safe from fire.

Does the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 apply to your organisation?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came into effect in October 2006, and it applies to various business premises, situations, and people:

• All business premises are covered by the regulations, whether they are run by an employer or a self-employed businessperson.
• They cover any areas of a residential dwelling that are only used for business purposes.
• Charities and voluntary organisations are also covered by the regulations.
• Any business providing accommodation for paying customers must comply with the regulations.
• If a contractor has some control over premises, they, too, are responsible for ensuring compliance.

According to these regulations, a responsible person must be appointed by the business, and this person must undertake a fire safety assessment of the premises.

Once this has been done, the responsible person must elaborate, implement, and then maintain a fire management plan.

The CIEH Level Three Award in Fire Safety Risk Assessment and Control has been designed for responsible persons or their assistants, working in non-complex, low, or normal risk premises, and will enable them to carry out a risk assessment of their premises.

How the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies to your business

If you are a business owner, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies to you. It states that you, or another person within your company who you designate as being responsible for fire safety (known as “the responsible person”), has a duty to:

• Carry out a fire risk assessment. This involves identifying potential hazards and people who are at risk, coming up with a plan to reduce or remove hazards and implementing it, as well as reviewing fire safety measures on a regular basis.
• Implement appropriate fire safety measures.
• Provide your employees with suitable fire safety training. Your whole workforce needs at least basic fire safety training so that they can protect themselves and others, but you should also send several competent employees on fire marshal training. Your new fire marshals can then help you implement fire safety procedures – i.e., lead the evacuation of the premises in case of fire.

TutorCare offers a Fire Safety Awareness course that teaches learners to meet the legal requirements and fire safety at work.