Are you a volunteer or a self-employed person with no staff?

If yes, are you interested in receiving expert advice, free of charge, on your rights and responsibilities under the new fire safety law?

On 1 October 2006, a new law came into effect in Scotland aimed at protecting those using, or occupying, non-domestic premises from fire. Everyone with control of non-domestic premises (which includes owners, landlords, tenants and contractors carrying out work on the premises) shares responsibility for keeping the premises safe from fire and is required to undertake a risk assessment of the premises. The level of control a person has of the premises determines the extent of their fire safety responsibilities. General guidance about the new law is available at www.infoscotland.com/firelaw

As part of its promotion of the new law, the Scottish Government is working with the Fire Protection Association to deliver a series of workshops, tailored to meet the needs of those volunteers and self-employed persons without employees (from self-employed contractors to the owners of tourist accommodation such as B&Bs and leased self-catering accommodation) who fall within the scope of fire safety legislation for the first time. The workshops are being held in a number of locations across Scotland and each workshop will last approx three hours.

There will be no fee payable to attend one of the workshops and allocation of places will be on a first come first served basis.

The aim of the workshop is to provide attendees with a basic understanding of their rights and responsibilities under the new law and give them practical experience of carrying out a short fire safety risk assessment (the risk assessment exercise will be designed to reflect the general responsibilities of the target audience).

Bookings can be made from Monday 3 December 2007.

If you are either a volunteer or a self-employed person with no staff and you wish to book a place on one of the workshops or would like further information about the workshops, please contact Vicky Price at:

vprice@thefpa.co.uk
01608 812510

Or in writing to:

The Fire Protection Association
London Road
Moreton-in-Marsh
GL56 0RH

Dates and venues 2008 (please call for more details)

7 February - Lerwick
12 February - Stornoway
14 February - Portree
27 February - Inverness
28 February - Fort William
8 March - Inverness

Workshop programme

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Overview of the new law, including the principles of shared responsibility
3. The five steps of the fire safety risk assessment process
4. The purpose and nature of fire safety measures
5. The role of the fire and rescue services
6. Information and guidance available
7. Practical exercise
8. Questions and feedback