Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) will be supporting National Business Fire Safety Week 2022 from Monday 5 September alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and FRSs nationwide.
Business Fire Safety Week is an opportunity for FRSs to make small and medium sized businesses aware of their fire safety responsibilities in the workplace, raise awareness of the help and advice available for them all year round, and encourage partnership working between small and medium sized businesses and their FRS to make sure they are complying with fire safety law and reduce their risk of fire.
Stuart Hook, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s Group Manager for Fire Protection, said:
“We encourage businesses to work with us to provide advice and guidance to ensure they comply with the law. Many businesses will see significant challenges at the moment due to the economic climate which could have an impact on fire safety in the workplace.
“Cumbria FRS is committed to helping all types of businesses reduce the risk of fire in the workplace and be compliant with fire safety law. We don’t expect businesses to be experts – that’s why we are here to provide help and advice.
“We want to support local businesses to help prevent fires and help them remain productive, safe and legal.
“In line with Business Fire Safety Week, we will be launching a new initiative focussing on the safety of takeaways and restaurants in Cumbria. Cumbria FRS Inspectors will be engaging with these businesses to support and help them understand their current fire safety responsibilities whilst ensuring their staff and the public are always safe from fire.”
New Fire Safety Regulations
Cumbria FRS welcomes the commencement of the Fire Safety Act in England and Wales, and the Regulations in England, which are important steps forward in strengthening the Fire Safety Order and improving fire safety.
The Act clarifies that responsible persons for multi-occupied residential buildings must manage and reduce the risk of fire for the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows, and entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts.
In preparation for the new regulations coming into force in January 2023, responsible persons are encouraged to begin preparing to comply with the new Regulations to be ready to submit their information to Cumbria FRS in time for 23 January 2023. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were introduced to meet the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 recommendations.
Further information about the new regulations can be found on Cumbria FRSs website: www.cumbria.gov.uk/cumbriafire/services/safetywork
Businesses must comply with the law – compliance with the law means you are protecting your business, premises, and employees. It also means you are likely to be prepared if the worst does happen and a fire occurs at your business.
For further information from Cumbria FRS about business safety, please visit: www.cumbria.gov.uk/cumbriafire/services/safetywork or contact their teams directly by email:
