Fire safety workshops rolled-out across Highlands and Islands to help local organisations comply with legislation.

The first in a series of fire safety risk assessment workshops, designed to alert small businesses and voluntary organisations across the Highlands and Islands to changes in fire safety legislation and how it affects them, will be held in Kirkwall on Tuesday 5 February.

The workshops, funded by the Scottish Government and provided by the Fire Protection Association, are the first in a series of local training seminars planned over the next month to support organisations in the Highlands and Islands area.

The free events, which will be delivered with support from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, will provide fire safety guidance to volunteers and some self –employed persons, and offer practical assistance to help them comply with current fire safety legislation.

The workshops will include:

• an overview of the new law, including the principles of shared responsibility
• the five steps of the fire safety risk assessment process
• information on the role of the Fire and Rescue Services
• a practical exercise detailing how to carry out a simple fire safety risk assessment
  

Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, which came into force on 1 October 2006, introduced a new fire safety regime for non-domestic premises in Scotland. The legislation aims to help improve public safety and protect those using or occupying non-domestic premises in Scotland. It has implications for everyone with responsibilities for non-domestic premises even if they have never previously had to consider fire safety.

Although Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service have an enforcement role in the new law, the onus is on those who have control of, or safety obligations for the premises to carry out a fire safety risk assessment and ensure appropriate fire safety measures are in place.

Sue Tyley, training manager, Fire Protection Association said: “It is vital that business owners and managers understand their responsibilities under the Act and that they also have the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil those responsibilities effectively. The workshops aim to develop the confidence and ability of individuals to carry out simple fire risk assessments of their premises and to comply with current fire legislation."

Alec Kidd, group manager, community risk management department of Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said:

“As Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service enforcement officers carry out their audits of non-domestic premises in the Service area, it is apparent that there is still a of lack of knowledge, of the Fire (Scotland) Act and the responsibilities of duty holders to comply with the Act.”

“It is imperative that these duty holders take their responsibilities seriously and arrange for their Fire Safety Risk Assessments to be carried out in accordance with the Act and accompanying Regulations. The FPA seminars will hopefully continue to spread the word and emphasise the importance of Fire Safety Risk Assessments and the safety of people, both working within, and frequenting these premises.”

Further workshops will be held in Lerwick, Stornoway, Portree, Fort William and Inverness throughout February.

For further information or to book a place on one of the workshops, please contact Vicky Price on 01608812534 or email vprice@thepfa.co.uk

Places are available on a first-come first-served basis.

For further advice and information on the new law, log on to www.infoscotland.com/firelaw