Risk Assessments :    Basic Req’s    Young People    Dangerous Sub’s

This page aims to provide the reader with more detail on the legislative requirements for risk assessments where there are dangerous substances at the relevant premises.

Further information on our risk assessments may be found here.

Legislative Background

Since 1^st October 2006, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (“Fire Safety Order”) (for England & Wales) and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (for Scotland) have been in effect imposing drastic changes to the regulatory regime for fire safety.

Further information on legislation may be found here.

Risk Assessment Requirements - Dangerous Substances

Additionally, where a dangerous substance is or is liable to be present in or on the premises, the risk assessment must include consideration of¹:

• the hazardous properties of the substance;
• information on safety provided by the supplier, including information contained in any relevant safety data sheet;
• the circumstances of the work including:
  • the special, technical and organisational measures and the substances used and their possible interactions;
  • the amount of the substance involved;
  • where the work will involve more than one dangerous substance, the risk presented by such substances in combination; and
  • the arrangements for the safe handling, storage and transport of dangerous substances and of waste containing dangerous substances;
• activities, such as maintenance, where there is the potential for a high level of risk;
• the effect of measures which have been or will be taken pursuant to this Order;
• the likelihood that an explosive atmosphere will occur and its persistence;
• the likelihood that ignition sources, including electrostatic discharges, will be present and become active and effective;
• the scale of the anticipated effects;
• any places which are, or can be connected via openings to, places in which explosive atmospheres may occur; and
• such additional safety information as the legal duty holder may need in order to complete the assessment.

Further copy to follow - Please contact us for further information.

In addition to these requirements, The fire-safety risk assessments must meet the basic legislative requirements laid down and, where there are young people to be at the premises, further considerations may also apply. More information on these subjects can be found by clicking these links, or in the section pages shown above, top right.

Footnotes & References

1. Article 9, paragraph (2) and Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Fire Safety Order. Part 2, section 6 of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.