Enforcement - non-residential

Supervision and enforcement of fire regulations and emergency planning

We have responsibility for the supervision and enforcement of certain regulations. As part of this role, we visit a number of premises every year.

If your workplace is selected for a visit you will be required to present a fire risk assessment and emergency plan to one of our fire safety officers and explain the contents. If, when we visit, you have not completed a fire risk assessment you may have committed an offence under the fire regulations and we may take action.

If you have made your assessment but we think you need to take further precautions, we will discuss these with you and highlight the general areas of concern.

It is, however, the employer's duty to identify and take appropriate measures to comply with the regulations.

We have formal powers that can be used in serious cases: these include the ability to prohibit, with immediate effect, the use of all or part of your premises.

We also have the power to serve an 'enforcement notice', requiring you to take steps to comply with the regulations. Failure to comply with the regulations, in a way that places one or more employees at risk or death or serious injury in case of fire, is a criminal offence in itself - in such cases we may prosecute in the courts.