Importance of Assessing External Fire Escapes

26th March 2014

Recent headlines regarding an incident occurring on an external fire escape highlight the importance of duty holders ensuring these are regularly assessed.

Fire safety regulations – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – applies to England and Wales and must be adhered to at all times. It covers ‘general fire precautions’ and other fire safety duties that are needed to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around workplaces. Those responsible for the maintenance of workplaces are required to ensure they are maintained, especially areas used for emergency access and egress. Where repairs, for example to fire doors/fire escapes, cannot be carried out immediately, measures should be taken to prevent access to those areas.

In one of several recent cases, a landlord was fined after an office worker suffered fractured vertebrae, after falling more than three metres from a cast iron fire escape which collapsed. The building’s owners had not only failed to maintain the fire escape, but also failed in preventing access until it had been repaired.

Duty holders must also take particular care to ensure the safety of those on their premises during periods of renovation or building work. During renovation work at a care home, a serious safety breach occurred when an elderly lady was crushed by a fire door, the owners of the care home and a building firm are due to be sentenced for failing to ensure safety during renovation work at the home.

If you need help fulfilling your legal fire safety requirements, or for further fire safety advice, contact our specialist fire safety team.