Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 28/09/2006 12:40

Cornwall County Fire Brigade is reminding businesses of the new fire safety legislation coming into force on 1 October 2006.

The legislation covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space except for private homes and individual flats in a block or house, although communal areas will be affected.

From 1 October 2006 the responsibility for fire safety will lay with employers, those self-employed with responsibility for premises, voluntary organisations, those responsible for buildings with public access and any contractor who exercises a degree of control over a premise.

These ‘responsible persons’ will have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone who lawfully uses their premises and those in the immediate vicinity who may be at risk if there is a fire.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Webster said: “The new rules apply to most places except private houses and will make fire safety law easier to understand by replacing the existing 119 separate pieces of legislation with a new regime focussing on preventing fires happening in the first place”.

Anyone responsible for premises must have carried out a fire safety risk assessment by 1 October 2006. The fire and rescue service will carry out inspections and failure to comply could lead to enforcement action or even prosecution.

Councillor Ken Yeo Executive Member for Public Protection added:
"It is vital that all businesses protect the Health and Safety of their staff. As part of their duty to do that they must be aware of the new rules about fire safety that come in to force in October. We urge all small firms to check that they have the necessary steps in place to protect their staff and premises from the risk of fire for the sake of both their employers and the viability of their business."

The South West Fire and Rescue Services have been working with local businesses to raise awareness of the new laws.

The Department of Communities and Local Government has already distributed a leaflet to1.6 million premises explaining the main changes and what needs to be done to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

There are a series of guides to assist those preparing fire risk assessments including an entry level ‘A short guide to making your premises safe from fire’ and more detailed guidance targeted at specific areas of business including:

 Offices and Shops
 Premises providing Sleeping Accommodation
 Residential Care
 Small and Medium Places of Assembly
 Large Places of Assembly
 Factories and Warehouses
 Theatres and Cinemas
 Educational Premises
 Healthcare Premises
 Transport Premises and Facilities
 Open Air Events

All of the guidance documents are available to download free of charge at www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk
Alternatively please visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire
To speak to a local fire safety officer please call:

• West Division fire safety department - 01326 212412
• Central Division fire safety department - 01726 72582
• East Division fire safety department - 01208 72312