Fire safety

Fire safety

Although the construction industry’s performance has improved over the past decade, the rates of death, serious injury and ill health for construction site workers are still too high.

When construction activities are not adequately controlled, members of the public can also be killed or injured, and property adjacent to construction sites be put at risk – for example, from a site fire large enough to spread off-site.

Fire can break out on most construction sites. According to The Fire Safety Advice Centre, there are around 11 construction fires every day. Not only can people be killed or injured, but fires can also be financially devastating to those involved.

The law

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety in England and Wales.
• In Scotland, requirements on general fire safety are covered in Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
• In the majority of premises, local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation. HSE has enforcement responsibility on construction sites, for nuclear premises, and on ships under construction or undergoing repair.