Fire officers

Key activities of fire officers

The key activities of fire officers include:

• Ensuring compliance with fire regulations as laid down in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,
• Contributing to the Local Authority Licensing Policy Statement, Safety Advisory Groups and Licensing Partnerships,
• Carrying out programmed and reactive inspections of venues on a regular basis. This will include ensuring that a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment has been carried out,
• Ensure adequate fire safety arrangements are provided at premises in relation to public safety e.g. Fire Risk Assessment, operating schedules, safe capacity limit and numbers, and advising responsible persons on fire safety issues to assist them in maintaining a safe premises and compliance with the Order,
• Ensuring that appropriate training is provided by management to staff in fire safety and that they are aware of the premises fire safety emergency plan and fire procedure,
• Visiting premises at times of peak activity to ensure that the required safety standards are being applied and complied with at the time the premises are in their highest risk mode,
• Liaising with licensing officers and police licensing officers regularly on a local authority basis, to ensure a good overall view of fire safety within licensed premises,
• Sharing information and good practice with partners, highlighting premises with potential problems.

It is good practice for fire officers, licensing teams and their colleagues from the police services to co-ordinate their relevant work and enforcement efforts and to ensure that pubs, clubs and festivals playing music that is more attractive to people who take drugs as part of their night out, receive appropriate inspection visits. The risks of harm, and ultimately of fatalities, are highest at such premises.

You can also find a compendium of other useful resources in Helpful organisations which includes contact details for useful organisations, training providers and a whole host of specialist advice and information sources, many of them online.