Aviva: businesses failing to meet fire legislation

40% of businesses are failing to conduct fire risk assessments in accordance with legislation implemented three years ago, Aviva Risk Management Solutions (ARMS) has warned.

The insurer said that based on this unsatisfactory level of compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire and Rescue Services have issued businesses with 34,500 informal notifications, 3,200 enforcement notices, 442 prohibition notices and 84 alterations notices.

And fire authorities prosecuted 43% more organisations last year for failing to comply with any part of the order.

Andrew Couch, health and safety consultant for ARMS, said: “Though fire service audits increased 20% last year and the number of enforcement notices has fallen, satisfactory compliance rates have remained virtually unchanged in the past two years.

“As the figures show, this is not going unnoticed by the authorities and is leading to enforcement action. And an increased level of audit activity focusing more on higher risk premises such as care homes, hotels and hospitals will bring more and more firms under the spotlight.”