Fire Safety Responsibilities: What You Need to Know

Fire safety remains a critical legal and operational responsibility for businesses, schools, and construction sites. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to emphasise the importance of proactive fire risk management to protect people, property, and business continuity.

Below is a practical overview of key fire safety duties and how Armadillo Safety Solutions can support you.

Fire Safety: The Basics

Fires occur when heat, fuel, and oxygen combine. While the causes vary, most workplace fires are preventable with effective planning and controls in place.

Common fire risks include:

• Faulty or overloaded electrical equipment

• Poor housekeeping and waste build-up

• Improper storage of flammable materials

  
  

Identifying and managing these risks is a legal requirement under UK fire safety legislation.

Fire Risk Assessments: A Legal Requirement

Every workplace must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This should:

• Identify fire hazards and people at risk

• Evaluate existing fire precautions

• Highlight actions needed to reduce risk

• Be reviewed regularly and kept up to date

Any changes to your premises, staffing levels, layout, or activities should trigger a review.

How Armadillo can help:

• Professional fire risk assessments

• Clear, prioritised action plans

• Reviews following changes or incidents

  
  

Fire Precautions and Emergency Planning

Fire precautions must be appropriate for the size, layout, and use of your premises. Clear evacuation arrangements are essential to ensure people can exit safely in an emergency.

Common issues identified during inspections often relate to poor planning or outdated documentation.

How Armadillo can help:

• Fire evacuation plans

• Advice on fire precautions identified through risk assessments

• Ongoing compliance audits and reviews

  
  

Fire Safety Training

Staff must understand:

• Fire risks within the workplace

• What to do if a fire occurs

• Evacuation procedures and assembly points

Training plays an important role in ensuring staff are aware of their responsibilities.

How Armadillo can help:

• Online fire safety training courses

• Online fire warden and fire marshal training

  
  

Record Keeping and Compliance

Maintaining clear records helps demonstrate compliance and manage fire safety effectively. This includes:

• Fire risk assessments

• Training records

• Action plans and review notes

These documents are essential during inspections or audits.

How Armadillo can help:

• Fire safety documentation support

• Retained health and safety advisor services

• Digital compliance management via The Compliance Bot

  
  

How Armadillo Safety Solutions Supports You

We provide practical, straightforward fire safety support across:

• Commercial premises

• Schools and education settings

• Construction sites

• Multi-occupancy buildings

  
  

Our aim is to keep you compliant, reduce risk, and make fire safety manageable.

If you would like support with fire risk assessments, training, or ongoing compliance, the Armadillo team is here to help: Armadillo Website