Fire Safety in the Workplace

Fire Safety Management

The following link from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provides guidance for persons having control under Section 18(2) Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c0b05-fire-safety-guide-for-building-owners-and-operators/

Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 places a duty on persons having control over all types of premises other than a dwelling house occupied as a single dwelling. This Guide will assist every person having control in a practical understanding and effective implementation of these requirements in discharging their statutory responsibility for fire safety in a premises.

The persons having control over premises could include, as appropriate the owner, the occupier, leasee or somebody hiring the premises. This Guide will assist in the identification of the person having control as the person with direct responsibility for fire safety. This Guide further outlines general principles of safety and the range of duties which should be applied having regard to the individual circumstances of each premises, rather than a set of rules.

Fire Safety Assessment

Section 18(6) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 provides power for a person (a fire officer) authorised by a fire authority to require a person having control over premises (building owner or occupier) to:

• carry out a fire safety assessment of the premises and
•  notify the fire authority of such assessment.

Typically, building owners engage professionals to carry out the fire safety assessment. The following link provides guidance on fire safety assessments https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/354c8-code-of-practice-for-fire-safety-assessment-of-premises-and-buildings/

The Code of Practice is of assistance to fire services, in providing standard guidance for building owners and their professional advisors, where the fire service requires a fire safety assessment.