Business Fire Safety Week 2023: September, 11 – September 17

Your business is our business this business fire safety week.

This week (September 11 – September 17) we will be sharing some advice about how you can help prevent a business fire. We will also be focusing on new legislation which comes into effect from October 1 and will effect most businesses, even if they have been exempt before.

Many fires in the workplace are preventable and some businesses never recover after a fire. Therefore we want to help businesses throughout North Yorkshire to manage their fire risks and hazards, potentially saving lives and safeguarding businesses against financial and commercial loss.

Simple measures to reduce the risks of a fire starting and ensuring staff know how to respond to a fire in the correct way can help.

We know many businesses, especially smaller sized companies, may be financially stretched at the moment, but by putting plans in place now, can prevent further issues should a fire occur.

From October, 1 new fire safety legislation comes into effect. This will mean many businesses and building owners need to check if, and how, this will affect them. A full, written record of your fire risk assessment regardless of the size or use of your building will be required.

Some small businesses, smaller blocks of flats and holiday lets may have previously been exempt from this legislation, but it will now be law and it is important the ‘Responsible Person’ fulfils their obligations.

The main changes are:

• All businesses will need to record a fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements in full – regardless of the number of employees, and size or type of business.
• There are increased requirements for cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons in multi occupied buildings or those where the occupier and owner are not the same person.
• In residential buildings with two or more domestic premises residents must be provided with information on the risks from fire and the fire and safety measures provided to keep them safe.

What is a ‘Responsible Person?’

If you have some control of a business premises and manage the risk of fire, then you are a ‘Responsible Person’. Changes from October 1, 2023, could affect you. If the building is occupied by multiple businesses or you don’t own the building, you will be require to share information with all over Responsible Persons withing the building and keep a record of the information. You much also inform other Responsible Persons of your name, UK address and the parts of the building you are responsible for.

We want to help you get it right and we will be updating our website with guidance and advice, as well as promoting this on social media, over the coming weeks.

There are some useful links below which may help protect your businesses and also assist with compliance to the new legislation.

Click here for more information on fire safety in the workplace

Click here for guidance on how to complete a fire risk assessment

Click here for more information on the roles and responsibilities of the ‘Responsible Person’