ADVERTORIAL

MAKE FIRE SAFETY IN YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR BUSINESS

ON THE 1ST OCTOBER 2006, PART 3 OF THE FIRE (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005 COMMENCED ALONG WITH THE FIRE (SAFETY) SCOTLAND REGULATIONS 2006. THIS NEW LEGISLATIVE APPROACH REPLACED THE FIRE PRECAUTIONS ACT 1971 AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS (WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS 1997 AND OTHER LEGISLATION THAT MADE PROVISIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY.

This new legislative framework presented new challenges to dutyholders in how fire safety was managed within premises. For Scottish Fire & Rescue Services as Enforcing Authorities under the Act, the challenge was to ensure that resources were focused on those premises that present the biggest risk to fire.

Each Scottish Fire & Rescue Service has devised and embarked on their respective fire safety audit programmes in line with guidance from the Scottish Government. Between April 2007 and March 2008, Scottish Fire & Rescue Services conducted over 10,000 fire safety audits across the Scottish business sector.

Over two thirds of these audits required further action to be taken by dutyholders to ensure they had appropriate fire safety measures within their premises. The vast majority of these cases involved the Scottish Fire & Rescue Services working in partnership with businesses to achieve compliance through the adoption and implementation of

action plans. Just less than 1% of fire safety audits resulted in formal action through the serving of enforcement and prohibition notices.

Fires in small businesses are estimated to cost the UK Economy £2 million pounds per day and unfortunately approx 80% of small business who suffer a serious fire never recover.

In addition to their respective audit programmes Fire & Rescue Services across Scotland are working in partnership with the business sector and fire industry to reduce the number of unwanted fire alarm signals. Over 60% of all unwanted fire alarm signals are attributed to equipment faults.

This has a significant impact on Fire & Rescue Services across Scotland as resources are diverted from other activities such as training and community safety programmes. For the business sector these unwanted fire alarm signals can have a financial impact due lost productivity and time due to this disruption.

Assistant Chief Officer Neil Turnbull of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and Chair of the Prevention Business Stream of the Chief Fire Officers Association Scotland commented by stating ‘Taking a proactive approach to fire safety is essential and Scottish Fire & Rescue Services are committed to assisting businesses in taking this approach to reduce the impact of fires on businesses and our communities.’