The government is seeking views from businesses about their experiences of complying with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and working with fire and rescue services to help ensure compliance.
Part of the Focus on Enforcement initiative by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the consultation is particularly aimed at small and medium sized businesses (those with 250 or fewer employees).
The consultation also wants to find out where companies get advice on fire safety compliance. It asks for responses to issues including:
- How and where companies access information about fire safety issues, their legal obligations, and how to comply with the law
- What information they need, and how they would prefer to access advice and guidance on fire safety matters
- Activity undertaken by fire and rescue authorities to support business compliance
- How the full range of regulatory activity impacts on the running of businesses
- The interaction businesses have with fire and rescue authorities on the business premises
- Any knock-on effects arising from compliance with fire safety legislation – for example, where action to meet fire safety regulations leads to additional requirements to meet other sets of regulations.
The consultation also seeks examples from businesses of good practice that helps them meet their obligations, and suggestions for improving the way things work.
Conversely, it also wants to hear of issues when third parties encourage businesses to undertake unnecessary compliance activity; for example, where regulation does not actually require a company to do something, but they are led to believe it does.
Commenting on the initiative, business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk said:
“Business owners rightly have important legal responsibilities to protect their employees and customers from the risk of fire. But finding helpful and authoritative advice on what fire prevention and protection measures are appropriate and cost-effective may sometimes be a challenge.
“Determining precisely how best to comply – without giving rise to unnecessary costs – can sometimes be a real issue. That’s why I’m urging anyone who has experienced problems in seeking to comply with fire safety requirements to visit the Focus on Enforcement website and to let us know your views. We know there’s some good practice out there too. So tell us on the website where you have had good advice and support.
“This is your chance to tell us about what works for you – and what doesn’t – and to make sure that, wherever possible, compliance advice and enforcement go with the grain of business aspirations.”
Fire minister Bob Neill added:
“This review will help ensure that regulations are applied in a common sense way, ensuring that we continue to protect lives and property from harm."
The deadline for comments being considered is 31 August 2012