what-are-the-5-steps-of-a-fire-risk-assessment

--- title: What Are the 5 Steps of a fire risk assessment? reading_time: 6 canonical: "https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog/what-are-the-5-steps-of-a-fire-risk-assessment" description: "If you are a business owner, employer, or the designated fire risk assessment**, you must systematically identify fire hazards and ensure that adequate safety measures are in place.

Whether you manage an office are functioning, ensuring fire-fighting equipment like extinguishers are in date and accessible, and keeping escape routes clear at all times. You should also review your emergency lighting and fire safety signage.

4. Record, Plan, Inform, and Train

If your business employs five or more people, you are legally required to record the significant findings of your fire risk assessment in writing. However, best practice dictates that all businesses keep a written record regardless of size. Your documentation should detail the hazards identified, the people at risk, and the actions taken to mitigate them.

Alongside recording your findings, you must create a clear emergency plan. This plan should outline the evacuations-fire risk assessment** and relevant British Standards can be complex to navigate. If you are unsure whether your assessment is robust enough to satisfy the RRO 2005, it is highly recommended to seek professional guidance.

At HawkSwift Ltd, our NEBOSH-qualified assessors provide thorough, plain-English fire risk assessments starting from £199 + VAT, complete with 48-hour reports. To get a court-defensible, RRO 2005-aligned assessment, please book a fire risk assessment with our team today.

<script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"what-are-the-5-steps-of-a-fire-risk-assessment","item":"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog/what-are-the-5-steps-of-a-fire-risk-assessment"}]} </script>

<!-- expanded-by-hawkswift-bot -->

Your duties under the RRO 2005

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and keep it current (Art. 9, RRO 2005).
• Identify people at risk, including those who need assistance to evacuate.
• Put general fire precautions in place — detection, warning, escape routes, fighting equipment (Art. 11).
• Maintain those measures in efficient working order (Art. 17).
• Provide staff with fire-safety instruction and training (Art. 21).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a written fire risk assessment? Yes, if you employ 5+ people, are a licensable or higher-risk premises, or the building is not a private home (Art. 9). How often should I review it? At least annually and immediately after any significant change. Can I do my own? Only if you are competent; many use a qualified NEBOSH-assessed assessor for a court-defensible report. Where do I start? Book a HawkSwift assessment — general guidance, not formal legal advice.

*General guidance, not formal legal advice — book a HawkSwift assessment for your premises.*