News In Focus
1 August 2006
Executive turns up the heat on fire laws
An information campaign about the new fire safety law begins this week as a mass mailing of a new Executive booklet gets underway.
The 32-page booklet "Are you Aware of Your Responsibilities" will be sent to more than 156,000 organisations across Scotland giving guidance to owners and users of non-domestic premises on their new responsibilities under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
Part 3, which comes into force two months from today, on 1 October, imposes responsibilities on those such as owners, employers, employees, managers and other occupiers - including those who have not previously held such responsibilities - to take steps to prevent and reduce the impact of fire.
The premises covered by the new law include care homes, offices and shops, sleeping accommodation, factories and warehouses, places of assembly and entertainment, hospital, educational premises, outdoor events, and the transport network.
New legal duties imposed by the legislation include seven general requirements, each of which is covered by the booklet:
- carrying out a fire safety risk assessment of the premises;
- identifying the fire safety measures necessary as a result of the risk assessment;
- putting in place fire safety measures using risk reduction principles;
- putting in place fire safety arrangements for the ongoing control and review of the fire safety measures;
- complying with the specific requirements of the fire safety regulations;
- keeping the fire safety risk assessment and outcome under review; and
- record keeping.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said: "Fire prevention already lies at the heart of the work of fire and rescue services across Scotland, but we need everyone else to play their part too.
"Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act does exactly that by giving new responsibilities to the owners, occupiers and users of non-domestic buildings - both public and private - for ensuring fire safety."
Further information is also available from the website www.infoscotland.com/firelaw .