Can Fire Exits be padlocked?

dispossessed

Mention the issue to the local Fire Prevention Officer. Their number is usually in the 'Phone Book and / or Yellow Pages / Thompson Local.

Alternatively give your local branch of the Health & Safety executive a ring (number in the book(s) as above under "Health & Safety" or HSE). In my former life I have rung them for advice or to discuss issues on several occasions and always found them very helpful (and not at all like they seem to be portrayed in the Daily Mail !).

I seem to recall that the HSE have facilities in place to enable anonymous reporting of concerns and, in my experience, they certainly understand the need for discretion.

Hope this helps and Good Luck !

Trevor

eamon

Some years ago in the building were I worked the fire exits in the building were protected by internal steel doors that were locked at the close of business. The local fire brigade whilst not happy understood that the business had security needs. It was built into our opening up procedures that the security doors had to be unlocked and that failure to do so may result in the disciplinary process being started. Unfortunately we live in a country were our work places (as well as our homes) are deemed fair game by criminals.

dickydonkin

lucylucky wrote: »

Apologies if you thought I was suggesting that this was what you said.

I was highlighting an example where one potential solution may not be ideal.

A proper risk assessment should identify the risks and control measures.

I was reading a RA this afternoon connected with some work I am doing and it is woefully inadequate.

lucylucky - No apology necessary. You are absolutely right and every workplace needs to be properly assessed which will determine the conrols required to ideally eliminate the risk of fire (very difficult to achieve) or at least reduce them to an acceptable level.

Occasionally, implementing risk reduction measures introduces other issues such as the one you highlighted and a bespoke/site specific assessment is more appropriate than a generic/one size fits all as many buildings, its features and people using them are all different and all need to be considered.

The problem with the current legislation is there are no qualifications required to undertake a fire risk assessment and that is worrying.

The 'totally inadequate' risk assessment you referred to compounds that view.

I seem to recall that the HSE have facilities in place to enable anonymous reporting of concerns and, in my experience, they certainly understand the need for discretion.

One way this can be done is via their website, but any reporting should only really be considered (IMO) when safety issues cannot be resolved 'in house'.

With regards to the OP's querie, the local F&R are the enforcing body for fire safety so in this situation, they would be the appropriate contact.