A change in fire safety legislation to affect how businesses are ran in the North East – and action could soon be taken against those who are not compliant.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) are urging business owners across the region to educate themselves on the imminent rule changes.

For small businesses they have not been legally required to conduct a formal fire risk assessment on their premises if they had less than five staff.

But from 1st October 2023, all business in England and Wales will be expected to complete one for their premises, regardless of the number of employees.

In the lead up to the legislation change, TWFRS have been working closely with North East business as well as local councils.

They have been making sure business have everything they need ahead of the change – to ensure they don’t fall foul of the law.

Today (Friday) one of TWFRS’s fire safety specialists is reassuring business that they are here to help during this new phase of fire safety regulations.

Station Manager Andy Nelson said “This legislation is aimed to make business safer and have plans in place no matter the size to keep our communities safe.

“We have been working with the councils across the region to make sure business have everything they need ahead of the change and to answer any questions they have.

“Many business that are affected by the change might not have done anything like this before so we’ve made the steps they must take available on our website.

“We are committed to making sure the businesses of the North East feel supported and informed about the change.”

The new legislation also sees increased requirements for cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons in multi occupied buildings or those where the occupier and owner are not the same person.

And in residential buildings with two or more domestic premises residents must be provided with information on the risks from fire and the fire safety measures provided to keep them safe.

For more information on the legislation change, you can visit the National Fire Chief’s Council website.

And for any North East Businesses that need more information on Fire Risk Assessments, you can visit TWFRS’s website today.