New guidelines on fire safety in the workplace announced

'Fire Safety - An Employer's Guide' explains the changes to the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, helping employers to better understand their responsibilities.

The joint document, compiled by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, Scottish Executive and Department of Environment (Northern Ireland), was put together following requests from employers for more detailed information.

It is designed to help all employers to quickly see if they have the required safeguards in place to protect their employees from fire risk. Under the Fire Precautions regulations, primary responsibility for fire safety in the workplace rests with employers.

This new document aims to give a full explanation of the regulations, including employers' rights and responsibilities.

Home Office Minister George Howarth said: "Although the number of deaths from fire in the workplace is small, there is still room for improvement.

"This user-friendly guide offers comprehensive advice on fire risk assessment and information about the law. It will support busy employers, ensuring that they have appropriate safeguards to protect their workforce against fire."

The document is available to read on the HSE home page: http://www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm

Gary Cutlack