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Risk Assessment

If you require a fire risk assessment at your place of work, please contact Caldera FS.

Fire Safety in the Workplace

As the responsible person you must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe. Failure to do so not only puts lives at risk but can also result in serious legal consequences for your business and those responsible for the premises.

A thorough and up to date fire risk assessment is one of the most important documents your business can have. It demonstrates your commitment to the safety of your staff, visitors, and the building itself, and ensures you are fully compliant with current UK fire safety legislation.

You must keep a written record of your fire risk assessment at all times.

Risk Assessment 5 Steps

1. Identify the fire hazards present within your premises and how they could cause harm

2. Identify people at risk including staff, visitors, and anyone particularly vulnerable

3. Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks as far as is reasonably practicable

4. Record your findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide adequate training to all relevant staff

5. Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly or whenever significant changes occur

FAQ

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what in your premises or activities could harm people, so you can decide what measures are needed to control those risks. It should be suitable and sufficient, practical and proportionate to the work or setting. 

If you’re an employer, selfemployed person, or a responsible person for premises where people work or visit (including rented spaces), you must carry out a risk assessment.  

For fire risk assessments specifically, the responsible person (e.g., owner, employer, landlord) must ensure one is done for most workplaces, public buildings, and common parts of residential blocks.  

Yes. Under UK health & safety law (e.g., the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations), employers must assess health and safety risks if work is carried out.  

Businesses with fewer than 5 employees you are not legally required to complete a risk assessment. However, it is still advisable to ensure a safe working environment. 

For fire risk assessments, law (the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) requires them for all nondomestic and many residential settings.

Yes. From October 2023, all fire risk assessments must be documented in writing — even for small premises or sole traders — to provide clear evidence of compliance.  

For general health and safety risk assessments, if you employ five or more people, you must keep a written record of significant findings.  

A good risk assessment typically follows five steps: 

  1. Identify hazards — what could cause harm. 
  1. Decide who might be harmed and how. 
  1. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions. 
  1. Record your findings and action plan. 
  1. Review and update regularly.  

For fire risk assessments, similar steps are used, focusing on hazards like ignition sources, escape routes, vulnerable persons and fire safety measures 

For most general workplace risk assessments, you can do it yourself if you understand your risks. For more complex settings or fire risk assessments, the law expects a competent person to conduct it — someone with the relevant knowledge, training and experience. 

You must review and update your risk assessment: 

  • whenever there are changes in activities, equipment or people, 
  • after incidents or near misses, 
  • at least regularly (often annually for many premises).  

Fire risk assessments should also be reviewed regularly and updated if significant changes occur 

Failing to carry out or record a proper risk assessment is a breach of health & safety or fire safety law. Enforcement actions can include: 

  • fines and prosecution, 
  • improvement or prohibition notices, 
  • potential closure of premises.  

For fire risk assessments, insurance may also be affected if you can’t demonstrate compliance 

Yes — consider vulnerable people such as children, elderly, disabled individuals, or those with special needs in your risk planning. 

Yes — you can delegate the task to a competent assessor or consultant, but the legal responsibility remains with you (employer/responsible person).  

 

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