Pubs urged to get prepared for new fire safety laws

Licensees have been urged to take advantage of new guidance relating to the change in fire laws - due to take effect next month.

The guidance reminds pubs that they must carry out a fire risk assessment by October 1.

The Fire Safety - Risk Assessment guides, produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government, provide recommendations, benchmarks and guidance on how to carry out a fire risk assessment and identify the general fire precautions that need to be in place to comply with the law.

The changes, due to come in on October 1, will see a shift of responsibility to owners and employers - who will be required to assess fire risks on their premises. Licensees will also be responsible, not only for customers and employees, but anyone else in the immediate vicinity.

Fire safety minister Angela Smith said: "Prevention has always been better than cure and these important reforms reflect the Government's continued focus on risk assessment and fire prevention to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire.

"It is also a flagship example of the drive to cut red tape by making it quicker and easier to tackle over-complicated regulation."

Mary Boughton, health and safety chairman of the Federation

of Small Businesses, said: "We urge all small firms to check that they have the necessary steps in place to protect their staff and premises from the risk of fire for the sake of both their workers and the viability of their business."

Copies of the documents are available to download at

www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1500383