There are questions every business needs to be asking when it comes to the longevity of its operations. Finances, people, future growth—we need to have our finger on the pulse in all areas of our businesses to give them the best chance of success.
There are questions we need to be asking when it comes to fire compliance, too. Questions like:
You might be surprised at how many business owners and key stakeholders answer no to some—or all—of these questions. If you are one of them, you are not alone. And, fortunately, the solution could be very simple: outsourcing.
In this article, we’re exploring the 5 key benefits of outsourcing your fire compliance competent person. You’ll learn what makes a good competent person, what they can bring to the table, and why it’s so crucial that you get it right now.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order states that there are two ways to identify a competent person. They must either:
There is a common misconception in the business sector that the competent person assigned to fire compliance only needs to be familiar with the current legislation. Ensuring people within the business have an awareness of your legal fire compliance requirements is an asset, of course—but it doesn’t meet the requirements of the competent person role.
Put simply, the person assigned the role of a competent person must be competent to fulfil the task at hand.
Here’s the tricky part: as the ‘task at hand’ could range from the mundane to the complex, the level of competency expected needs to cover a broad range, too. The expectation and demand on a person’s training, experience, knowledge, and ‘other qualities’ will increase in accordance with the complexity of any given situation when it comes to fire compliance.
Effectively, your fire compliance competent person must display the relevant competencies to meet the situation in question—for the safety, wellbeing, and health of your business and its people.
In a nutshell: it’s the law.
Your business has a legal obligation to provide competent fire compliance support. Whether you employ someone within the business structure, or outsource the role, there must be a person responsible for taking appropriate general fire precautions.
So if you know you need one—and you don’t have one—let’s unpack why outsourcing could be a strong business solution.
Outsourcing your fire compliance gives your business—and your personnel—greater clarity around risks. Having a specialist analyse areas of risk within your business structure ensures you have identified the hazards associated with your specific business—and supports you in managing those hazards.
Digging further, we can also look at non-compliance risks: the legal and financial ramifications of falling short in your fire compliance. If the worst happens, and your business is faced with a fire—are you sure your competent person was up to the task?
When you outsource a professional, you improve your chances from a legal standpoint, and protect the people within your organisation.
Being an employer of choice can help you draw the best candidates in a competitive job market—and a positive culture of health and safety makes your business a more desirable employer.
Recruiting top candidates and promoting a safe work culture drive your business’s reputation, and your brand in the eyes of shareholders, consumers, and competitors. In a climate where value and integrity matter, a fire compliance professional can set you ahead of the pack.
The legislation around fire compliance—and health & safety in general—changes rapidly. It can be difficult for small and medium enterprises to keep up with amendments that may be vital if your business is faced with a fire.
By bringing in a specialist fire compliance consultant, you can be assured that they bring the knowledge, experience, and up-to-the-minute training you need to stay compliant—and to stay safe.
The added bonus: your team can stay focussed on your business, instead of reacting to legislative changes that reduce productivity and efficiency.
Fire compliance takes time—and time is money. Outsourcing your fire compliance competent person can eliminate the added time involved in:
Further, bringing in a professional can protect you against the steep fines involved in non-compliance, and help you eliminate the risks of deadly, dangerous, and destructive fire damage.
For small businesses in particular, the prospect of employing a qualified fire compliance person isn’t justifiable for the business. When you outsource, you pay for the service as you need it—leaving you to run the business lean the remainder of the time.
Let’s face it: running a business is stressful. Rewarding and challenging and stressful. Eliminate the added stressor of getting fire-compliant by outsourcing the role and putting yourself—and your key stakeholders—in a position to monitor the bigger picture.
Outsourcing your competent person means your business is less reactive to issues that arise—and more prepared for the future.
So, have you got somebody within your team with the level of knowledge and experience to face down complex compliance issues?
If not, consider outsourcing.
From protecting your brand and your people, to reducing the impact on your bottom line, now you’ve got five ways outsourcing your fire compliance competent person could be a game-changer in your business.
At RKMS we are determined to make a business run as efficiently as possible. Will that next business be yours?
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At RKMS we are determined to make a business run as efficiently as possible. Will that next business be yours?
At RKMS we are determined to make a business run as efficiently as possible. Will that next business be yours?
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