As the owner or operator of a commercial property, you have very clear responsibilities when it comes to the Health and Safety of anyone visiting or working in your premises. But are you confident that your Grounds Maintenance team is keeping you on the right side of the law?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) came into effect in 2006 and details your legal obligations as the ‘responsible person’. The legislation requires that any person who has some level of control of the premises must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can safely escape if there is a fire.
Article 14 of the RRFSO specifically relates to the requirement for emergency exits to be kept clear at all times.
You are probably well aware of the requirements you must meet within your property including emergency lighting, compliant signage,keeping corridors and exits clear from obstructions, undertaking annual fire drills, as well as maintaining records of your regular checks and inspections.
But what happens on the other side of the door?
When did you last take a walk around the outside of your building as part of your regular inspection?
It can be easy to forget about the outside, but did you know your company could face an unlimited fine if found guilty of a blocked fire escape.
If your grounds maintenance team isn’t keeping the outside of your property clear from obstructions, and making sure that your staff and visitors have clear and quick access to a point of safety in the event of an emergency, you could be leaving your business exposed to the risk of an unlimited fine.
If your fire escapes are currently overgrown preventing the exits opening or posing a risk of obstructing access to a place of safety in an emergency, C J Garden Services can help you.
After clearing your external fire escapes and ensuring your grounds are Health and Safety compliant, we can then provide regular maintenance visits to give you the peace of mind that they are always clear of any obstructions.