If you are wondering what a ‘responsible person’ is, I have provided a straightforward explanation to help you understand this important role in fire safety.
I hope the information below assists you!
Understanding the Responsible Person
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was introduced in England and Wales in October 2006, replacing previous fire safety legislation. Any fire certificate issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 will cease to have any effect.
It is now the duty of the ‘responsible person’ to conduct a fire risk assessment of their business premises.
A ‘responsible person’ is defined by the government as follows:
“In England and Wales, if you’re an employer, owner, landlord, or occupier of business or other non-domestic premises, you’re responsible for fire safety and are known as the ‘responsible person’.”
As the responsible person, you must comply with certain legal obligations under the Fire Safety Order, enforced by your local Fire and Rescue authority.
The Fire Safety Order also applies if you have paying guests, for example, if you run a bed and breakfast, guest house, HMO, or let self-catering property.
Responsibilities of the Responsible Person
As a ‘responsible person’, you are required to:
- Conduct a fire risk assessment and review it regularly.
- Inform your staff about the risks identified.
- Implement and maintain fire safety measures to mitigate risks to life.
- Develop an emergency plan.
- Provide your staff with information on fire safety instructions and training.