The Scottish Government

Workplace Fire Precautions

Places of work are subject to detailed fire safety requirements under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended. They may also be subject to fire certificates under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. Risk assessments and fire certificates prepared under this legislation may assist employers in reviewing their existing fire precautions.

The following checklists are taken from Fire Safety: An Employer's Guide, the official Government guidance on compliance with the workplace fire precautions legislation. The full guide is available online.

Further detailed checklists are provided in Guidance on Fire Safety at Work, published by the Fire Protection Association.

Fire Warning and Detection

• Can the existing means of detection discover a fire quickly enough to raise an alarm in time for all the occupants to escape to a safe place?

• Can the means for giving warning be clearly heard and understood throughout the whole premises when initiated from any single point?

• If the fire detection and warning system is electrically powered, does it have a back up power supply?

• Have you told your employees about your fire warning system, will they know how to operate and respond to it?

• Are there instructions for your employees on how to operate the fire warning system?

• Have you included the fire detection and fire warning arrangements in your emergency plan?

Means of Escape in Case of Fire

• How long will it take for all the occupants to escape to a place of safety once a fire has been detected?

• Is that a reasonable length of time or will it take too long?

• Are there enough exits and are they in the right place?

• Are the type and size of exits suitable and sufficient for the number of people likely to need to use them?

• In the event of fire, could all available exits be affected or will at least one route from any part of the premises remain available?

• Are all escape routes easily identifiable, free from any obstructions and adequately illuminated?

• Have you trained your staff in using the means of escape?

• Are there instructions about the means of escape for your employees?

• Have you included means of escape arrangements in your emergency plan?

Means for Fighting Fire

• Are the extinguishers suitable for the purpose and of sufficient capacity?

• Are there sufficient extinguishers sited throughout the workplace?

• Are the right types of extinguishers located close to the fire hazards and can users gain access to them without exposing themselves to risk?

• Are the locations of the extinguishers obvious or does their position need indicating?

• Have the people likely to use the fire extinguishers been given adequate instruction and training?

• Have you included the use of fire-fighting equipment in your emergency plan?

Maintenance and Testing

• Do you regularly check all fire doors and escape routes and associated lighting and signs?

• Do you regularly check all your fire-fighting equipment?

• Do you regularly check your fire detection and alarm equipment?

• Do you regularly check any other equipment provided to help means of escape arrangements in the building?

• Are there instructions for relevant employees about testing of equipment?

• Are those who test and maintain the equipment properly trained to do so?

Fire Procedures and Training

• Do you have an emergency plan?

• Does the emergency plan take account of all reasonably foreseeable circumstances?

• Are your employees familiar with the plan, trained in its use and involved in testing it?

• Is the emergency plan made available to all who need to be aware of it?

• Are the procedures to be followed clearly indicated throughout the workplace?

• Have you considered all the people likely to be present in your workplace and others with whom you share the building?

Fire Safety Checks at Shutdown

• Are all windows and doors closed, including doors held open by automatic release units?

• Is electrical equipment not in use switched off, and where appropriate, unplugged?

• Check that smokers' materials are not left smouldering.

• Check that all naked flames are extinguished or left in a safe condition.

• Ensure all flammable rubbish and waste is removed to a safe place.

• Check that all highly flammable materials are safely stored.

• Ensure that the workplace is secured against unauthorised entry.