Fire Risk Assessment
The live fire risk assessment tool for fire hazards, emergency controls, oxygen-enriched risk and combustible load management.
Fire Risk Assessment
Self-contained Fire Risk Assessment summary and significant findings for Laserfast Ltd engineering operations.
Prepared by
Roy Longley M.IPSA, M.IRSM – Consultant
For Laserfast Ltd as part of ongoing safety consultancy support.
Scope
Engineering premises including offices, reception, kitchen/WC, store, works office, production floor, racking, laser production, liquid oxygen, nitrogen generation, FLT/goods movement and rear roller shutter access.
Contractor control
External contractors must provide RAMS before work starts. Site management review and acceptance is required; RAMS remain visible to the consultant for ongoing compliance oversight.
Fire risk assessment findings and controls
| Area / hazard | Risk | Existing / required controls | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser production zones | Ignition of combustible materials, hot work residue, extraction/LEV fault or uncontrolled cutting activity. | Authorised operators only; keep combustibles away; maintain extraction; inspect plant; isolate faulty equipment; manage waste/offcuts. | High |
| Liquid oxygen / gas systems | Oxygen enrichment, rapid fire escalation, pressure release and contractor/hot work interface. | External restricted storage; no smoking/ignition sources; signage; supplier maintenance; emergency plan; contractor RAMS and permit controls. | High |
| Racking / storage | Combustible packaging/pallets, blocked routes, falling stock and increased fire loading. | Keep routes/exits clear; remove waste; inspect racking; do not store combustibles near ignition sources; maintain aisle discipline. | Medium |
| Fire exits / escape routes | Delayed evacuation if exits are obstructed or poorly signed. | Yellow fire exits and front door route to remain clear; rear roller shutter/goods access controlled; emergency lighting/signage to be verified. | High |
| Kitchen / welfare | Small appliance fire, slips and housekeeping issues. | PAT/visual checks, no overloaded sockets, fire blanket where appropriate, cleaning/spill controls and waste management. | Medium |
| Electrical / FLT charging | Electrical fire, battery charging hazards and poor cable control. | Competent inspection/maintenance, charging area housekeeping, cable management, defect reporting and no combustible storage near chargers. | Medium |
| Contractors / hot works | Uncontrolled works introducing ignition, electrical or access risks. | RAMS required before attendance, site review/acceptance, permit to work where applicable, consultant visibility for assurance. | High |
Additional fire safety management controls
| Control area | Finding / requirement | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and fire behaviour | Building construction is understood to include brick and metal cladding/sheeting. Brick provides inherent resistance; metal sheeting may conduct and radiate heat when exposed to fire and persons should not remain close to the building after evacuation. No intrusive cladding assessment has been undertaken. | |
| Fire doors and compartmentation | Modern timber fire doors are assumed to provide FD30 performance where installed. Fire doors must not be wedged open, obstructed or damaged. Internal fire doors, shutters and compartmentation should be inspected and maintained. | |
| 360-degree access | The factory benefits from external 360-degree access. Staff should leave by the nearest safe exit, move externally away from the building and proceed to the front car park assembly point. | |
| Weekly alarm testing | Fire alarm/manual call points should be tested weekly, using a different call point where practicable. Record date, time, call point tested, tester and any defect in the fire log. | |
| Fire evacuation drills | A full evacuation drill should be completed at least every six months and after significant change. Findings should be recorded, reviewed and actioned. | |
| Emergency lighting and alarm maintenance | Emergency lighting should receive monthly functional checks and annual duration testing. Fire alarm systems should be inspected/serviced by a competent person at suitable intervals. | |
| Suspicious item / bomb threat | Do not touch or move suspicious items. Clear the immediate area, inform management, contact 999 and follow emergency services instruction. Evacuation routes may differ from fire evacuation depending on item location. | |
| Fumes / gases | If a person is suspected to be overcome by fumes or gases, do not enter the affected area unless safe to do so. Raise the alarm, evacuate and contact emergency services. | |
| COSHH | Cleaning chemicals, oils and process substances should be controlled under COSHH. Safety Data Sheets and COSHH assessments should be available, with secure labelled storage and appropriate PPE. | |
| DSEAR awareness | Gas and process arrangements should be kept under review for fire/explosion risk. If flammable vapours, dusts, significant gas changes or new processes are introduced, a specific DSEAR assessment should be considered. | |
| Hot works | Any welding, grinding, cutting or heat/spark-producing work requires a Hot Work Permit, RAMS review, combustible clearance, suitable extinguishers and fire watch. |
Detailed Fire Risk Assessment Narrative
| Assessment area | Detailed consideration | Required management control |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible person and management | Overall fire safety responsibility sits with site management. The portal identifies Nicola Turley as MD and Guy Larner as Works Manager/day-to-day site lead. Fire safety controls must be actively managed, not treated as a one-off document. | Maintain a fire log book, record tests/drills/defects, review following incidents, layout changes, process changes or new materials. |
| First aid provision | Guy Larner is the current nominated first aider. Current provision should be treated as a minimum interim arrangement because one nominated person creates a single point of failure. | Train at least two persons to Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) level and review provision annually, after incidents, or where staffing/shift patterns change. |
| Means of escape | The site benefits from 360-degree external access around the factory. Internal evacuation should be by the nearest safe exit, then externally to the front car park assembly point. Production and goods movement areas must not be used as gathering points. | Keep all exits, roller shutter interface, external routes and front car park assembly area clear. Confirm final exit signage and emergency lighting coverage. |
| Assembly point | The assembly point is confirmed as the front car park. This should be communicated to staff and contractors during induction and emergency briefings. | Provide or confirm assembly signage. Ensure roll call/accounting process is understood by Guy Larner or nominated deputy. |
| Fire detection and alarm | Alarm/call point coverage should be suitable for offices, production areas, racking/storage and welfare spaces. Staff must be able to raise the alarm quickly from all occupied areas. | Weekly alarm/manual call point test, rotating call points where practicable. Record date, time, point tested, tester and defects. Competent servicing at suitable intervals. |
| Emergency lighting | Emergency lighting is critical if smoke, power failure or low visibility affects office, production or external exit routes. | Monthly functional checks and annual full duration test, with defects recorded and repaired promptly. |
| Fire doors / compartmentation | Modern timber fire doors are assumed to be FD30 where installed. Fire doors and internal shutters support smoke/fire separation. If wedged open, damaged or poorly fitting, protection is significantly reduced. | Keep fire doors closed where required, do not wedge open, inspect for damage, gaps, closers and seals. Maintain shutters/doors in effective working order. |
| Building construction | Building includes brick and metal cladding/sheeting. Brick provides inherent fire resistance. Metal sheeting/cladding may conduct and radiate heat under fire conditions and may affect safe proximity to the building during evacuation/firefighting. | No persons to remain close to the building after evacuation. Confirm cladding/insulation details if required by insurer/fire specialist; no intrusive assessment has been undertaken in this portal review. |
| Laser production | Laser cutting presents ignition risk from hot materials, sparks/thermal processes, combustible residues and reliance on extraction/LEV. Fire may develop inside or near machinery if housekeeping/extraction fails. | Authorised operators only, effective guarding/interlocks, extraction running, combustible waste controlled, offcuts managed, emergency stops known, suitable extinguishers available. |
| Oxygen / nitrogen / gas systems | Oxygen is not flammable but can make materials ignite more easily and burn more fiercely. Nitrogen can displace oxygen and create asphyxiation risk in poorly ventilated areas. | No smoking/hot works near oxygen systems, keep oils/grease/combustibles away, maintain ventilation, supplier maintenance, emergency contacts and staff awareness. |
| Explosion / DSEAR awareness | Current known information suggests controlled gas/process risks. However, flammable vapours, combustible dusts, process residues or changes in gas/material use may require specific DSEAR review. | Keep under review. Consider DSEAR assessment if flammable substances, dusts, vapours, new processes or significant gas/storage changes are introduced. |
| COSHH / hazardous substances | Cleaning chemicals, toilet cleaners/bleach, oils, lubricants, aerosols and process residues may be present. Some substances can increase fire, health or spill risk if poorly stored or mixed. | COSHH assessments and SDS available. Store in labelled containers, segregate incompatibles, do not decant into unlabelled bottles, provide PPE and spill response. |
| Hot work permits | Welding, grinding, cutting, blowtorches or other heat/spark work can introduce a major ignition source, particularly near racking, packaging, residues, gases or cladding/roof voids. | No hot works without permit. RAMS review, combustible clearance, suitable extinguishers, isolation, fire watch during and after works, final area check and records retained. |
| Contractors / RAMS | Contractors may introduce unfamiliar equipment, ignition sources, electrical work, roof/cladding works, access risks or vehicle movements. | RAMS required before attendance. Site management review and acceptance. Consultant visibility as part of ongoing assurance. Induction before work starts. |
| Vehicles and emergency access | Two flatbed trucks and one pickup truck, goods movement and possible FLT activity can obstruct exits, external routes or emergency response if not controlled. | Keep emergency access clear, no vehicle movement during evacuation unless directed, manage reversing/loading, maintain 360-degree perimeter access where practicable. |
| Suspicious item / bomb threat | Security incidents require different decision-making from fire evacuation. Evacuation route should avoid the suspicious item and staff should not touch or move anything suspicious. | Move away, inform management, contact 999, avoid radio/mobile use near the item where relevant, preserve threat information and follow police/emergency service instruction. |
| Fumes / persons overcome | Laser fume, smoke, gas release or oxygen depletion may overcome persons. Rescue attempts can create secondary casualties. | Do not enter affected area unless safe. Raise alarm, evacuate, call 999, isolate only if trained/safe and provide information on oxygen/nitrogen/process hazards to responders. |
FRA action tracker
- Confirm final locations of extinguishers, call points, alarm panel and emergency lighting; add these to the controlled site map once verified.
- Confirm whether rear roller shutter is to be treated as an emergency escape route or goods-only access.
- Confirm fire exit signage above both yellow-marked doors.
- Confirm assembly point signage in the front car park.
- Ensure racking/fire loading checks are added to routine inspections.
- Ensure contractor RAMS upload link is communicated before works are instructed.
- Confirm weekly alarm testing, emergency lighting checks, competent fire alarm servicing and six-monthly fire evacuation drill records are being maintained.
- Confirm COSHH file/SDS availability and whether any DSEAR-specific assessment is required due to substances, gases, dusts or process changes.
- Confirm hot work permit template/process and LOTO/safe isolation expectations for maintenance tasks.