Introduction to Fire Safety Management

14.3
Risk assessment process
In its guidance documents HM Government (HMG) has 
used a very similar approach to the HSE’s ‘Five Steps to 
Risk Assessment’, which is shown below:
1. Look for the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing 
precautions are adequate or whether more should 
be done
4. Record your fi ndings
5. Review your assessment and revise if necessary.
Essentially Step 3 of HMG’s guidance is split 
into two key areas, that of ‘preventive’ and ‘protective 
measures’, which were discussed in Chapter 6.
14.3.1 Practical 
steps
Having prepared an inventory of buildings that are to 
be risk assessed, the next stage in the fi re risk assess-
ment process is to determine which buildings are likely 
to present the most signifi cant risk, in order to establish 
a prioritised listing for the fi re risk assessment process. 
While it is generally appreciated that the larger, more 
complex, buildings may present a higher level of risk, 
this is not always the case.
A smaller workplace that utilises high levels of 
fl ammable material, predominantly built of wood, or 
provides sleeping accommodation, may be considered 
to present a higher level of risk, particularly if the larger, 
more complex, building has effective fi re safety manage-
ment systems, is well organised and has workplace 
controls in place.
Having determined a prioritised order for fi re risk 
assessments, gathering information on each specifi c 
facility prior to visiting the site must be seen as the next 
practical step.
The fi re risk assessor, or fi re risk assessment team, 
will benefi t from having a range of documentation readily 
available prior to, during and following the practical risk 
assessment process (visual observation, verbal informa-
tion gathering, etc.). The range of documentation that 
may provide key information for the fi re risk assessment 
process is likely to include:
➤
Fire safety policy document/health and safety policy
➤
Fire 
certifi cate (if building was previously certifi ed by 
Fire Service or HSE)
➤
Enforcement 
letters/notices
➤
History of any fi res in premises or like premises
➤
History of building changes (Building Regulations 
applications)
➤
Plans of all buildings and plan of site
➤
Construction health and safety fi le:
➤
Schematic diagrams of fi re safety systems, e.g. 
emergency lighting, fi re alarm detection sys-
tems, etc.
➤
Building 
materials
➤
Maintenance, inspection, testing, cleaning 
arrangements for building services such as fi re 
safety systems, fi re doors, etc.
Figure 14.1
HM Government approach to fi 
re risk 
assessment
FIRE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT
Remember to keep to your fire risk assessment under review.