A Fire Risk Assessment is a survey that analyses and identifies risks associated with fire, the likelihood of them occurring, and the potential consequences.
There are four steps a fire risk assessor must take to analyse fire risks:
- Identify potential fire hazards
- Decide who may be in danger
- Evaluate the risk
- Determine if existing fire precautions are adequate.
When conducting a fire risk assessment, the first step is to identify fire hazards. Next, ignition sources are identified and listed – A source of ignition is anything that can start a fire, e.g., a naked flame or faulty electrical appliance.
The fire triangle places fire hazards into three categories:
Although it may not always be possible to remove all fire hazards in your workplace, the assessment findings will help you manage these elements to minimise the risk factor.
The assessor records all findings and details, keeping the assessment under review and revising it when necessary. Once the initial evaluation is complete, a ‘significant findings’ document is delivered. This document is reviewed regularly to evaluate, remove, and reduce risks and better prepare the business for any fire incidents.