Behavioral Fire Officer Interview Questions & Answers:

1. Explain what advantages are there to using a professional assessor?

Statistics show that a large percentage of businesses that experience a medium to large fire never actually recover. A professional assessor will more effectively identify potential fire risks, which if rectified will substantially reduce the chances of a fire destroying your business, and may save lives.

2. Tell me is a Fire Risk Assessment going to be expensive?

The cost of an assessment can only be determined by having detailed information about your premises, operations and employees. A free quotation can be provided following further discussions or a visit to your site.

3. Tell me do I need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment if I only employ a small workforce?

Yes, even if only one person is employed. However you do not need to record the results of the assessment in writing unless more than five staff are employed.

4. Suppose there is a Fire Certificate in force for my premises. Do I still need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment?

Yes. From October 2005, the Fire Certificate System is no longer valid (apart from in Northern Ireland).

5. Suppose once a Fire Risk Assessment is completed, are there any further requirements?

Simply yes! Once an assessment has been completed and problems identified and rectified, the assessment needs to be continually monitored and periodically reviewed. Typical examples of when a review needs to be carried out are a change in work processes, structural alterations, or a “near miss” incident.

6. Tell me do we need to provide Fire Safety Training for our Employees?

Yes. Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005, employers are obliged to provide staff fire safety training on commencement of employment (ie as part of the induction training) and anually for all employees.

7. Suppose If a Fire Risk Assessment is not carried out, what could be the consequences?

Under current legislation an employer can be prosecuted for not carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment.

8. How to important are evacuation drills?

Evacuation drills are the most effective way of ensuring that:

staff are familiar with evacuation procedures.
fire safety and evacuation procedures are adequate.
shortfalls & deficiencies in the emergency plan can be
identified/corrected

9. Tell me the local authority Fire Officer visits my premises regularly. Does he/she not complete this assessment?

No.The local Fire Officer represents the local fire authority who enforce the fire regulations, and they are in a position to prosecute employers who contravene these regulations.

10. Why do we need to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment?

Current regulations, i.e. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that all employers carry out a Fire Risk Assessment of their premises.