Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Figure 1.12
HSWA section 6 duty holders
The Management of Health and Safety at Work 
Regulations 1999 (MHSW)
The Management of Health and Safety at Work 
Regulations 1999 (MHSW) originally arrived on UK stat-
ute books in 1992 as part of the requirements to imple-
ment the European Framework Directive of 1989.
The regulations are detailed and accompanied by 
both an ACoP and guidance, and provide a cornerstone 
in the overall management of health and safety within the 
UK. They also form the basis from which the Regulatory 
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was produced.
Risk assessment
Employers have an absolute duty to make suitable and 
suffi cient assessment of health and safety risks, including 
risks from fi re. They must take into account employees 
and others who may be affected by their work activities. 
The purpose of the risk assessment is for the employer 
to be able to ascertain what they have to do to comply 
with their legal obligations. Particular attention has to be 
given to assess risks where young persons (that is, people 
under 18 years of age) may be at risk. This regulation also 
requires employers to record the results of risk assess-
ments and to review risk assessments.
Principles of prevention to be applied
The MHSW requires employers who are implement-
ing risk control measures (referred to as preventive and 
protective measures) to follow the principles set out in 
the regulations. These principles are a hierarchy of risk 
control measures of the type described in Chapter 5. 
The hierarchy begins with ‘avoiding risks’ and ends with 
‘giving appropriate instructions to employees’.
Table 1.2
HSE enforcing body table
HSE Local 
enforcers
Construction Offi ces
Off shore 
Shops
Factories Restaurants
Petro-chemical works 
Hotels

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