AM I THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON?
The legal duty to carry out — or arrange for — a fire risk assessment rests with the Responsible Person. This is anyone who has control over a premises to any extent, and more than one person can share this responsibility. Below are the four most common categories, with explanations of how each relates to fire safety duties:
1. An Employer
Who this applies to:
Any business or organisation that employs people, whether in offices, shops, warehouses, schools, or other workplaces.
Why they are responsible:
Employers have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their employees while they are at work. If staff operate within a building or workspace, the employer must ensure that a fire risk assessment has been completed, kept up to date, and that appropriate safety measures (training, alarms, extinguishers, escape routes, etc.) are in place.
Typical responsibilities:
Arranging the fire risk assessment
Providing fire safety training
Keeping evacuation procedures up to date
Maintaining fire safety equipment
2. The Owner or Landlord of the Building
Who this applies to:
Commercial landlords, residential block owners, property managers, and anyone who owns a building that is used by others.
Why they are responsible:
Owners are responsible for the safety of the structure, common areas, and any shared fire safety systems (alarms, lighting, firefighting equipment). Even if a tenant also has duties, the building owner must ensure the overall fire safety of the premises.
Typical responsibilities:
Ensuring communal fire alarms and emergency lighting work
Maintaining shared stairwells, corridors, and escape routes
Providing up-to-date fire safety information to tenants
3. An Occupier
Who this applies to:
People or organisations using the building, such as shop tenants, office tenants, workshop operators, or community groups using a hall.
Why they are responsible:
Occupiers control how the space is used — including electrical equipment, storage of materials, layout, and daily activities. Because these factors can increase fire risk, the occupier must complete a fire risk assessment for the areas they control.
Typical responsibilities:
Assessing risks unique to their activities
Keeping exits clear
Storing fuel and materials safely
Ensuring staff and visitors know evacuation procedures
4. Anyone With Control of the Premises (e.g., Facilities Manager)
Who this applies to:
Facilities managers, building managers, managing agents, maintenance supervisors, health and safety officers, or anyone appointed to oversee the building’s day-to-day safety.
Why they are responsible:
They are often given authority to make safety decisions, maintain fire equipment, and manage compliance. Even if they are not the legal owner or employer, their control over safety systems makes them responsible for ensuring a fire risk assessment is carried out.
Typical responsibilities:
Coordinating fire alarm testing and equipment servicing
Keeping fire safety records
Managing building layout changes
Ensuring contractors follow fire safety rules
Summary
More than one person may be a Responsible Person. For example:
A landlord manages communal areas
An employer carries out assessments for their office space
A facilities manager oversees day-to-day safety
All share a duty to ensure that the premises is safe from fire.
