Risk Assessments

Risk Assessments / Fire Risk Assessments

In order to ensure that the synagogue building is safe for members and visitors it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment and a fire risk assessment.

A competent person is required to carry out the initial risk and fire assessment and the Federation requires that these are reviewed annually or if substantial changes have been made to the building which would require a further review.

Please contact Avi Cohen, the Federation’s Properties Manager, on 020 3870 4730, for more information.

Risk Assessment Review

The review for the risk assessment will consist of the following

• Checking that the information recorded is correct
• Checking that all recommendations from the previous assessment have been completed
• Formulating a revised action plan
• Recording that the review has been carried out

Fire Risk Assessment

The review for the fire risk assessment will consist of the following

• Checking that the information recorded is correct
• Checking that the maintenance of fire-fighting equipment has been carried out. Fire extinguishers should be maintained on a yearly basis and replaced when advised
• Checking that all recommendations from the previous assessment have been completed
• Formulating a revised action plan
• Recording that the review has been carried out

External Enforcement Visits

As well as the assessments that the Federation requires you to carry out annually, as outlined above, the synagogue building may be visited by an external enforcement authority, for example from:

• The Local Authority Environmental Health Officer
• The Fire and Rescue Services Prevention Officer
• A Kitchen Hygiene Inspector
• An Insurance Surveyor
• The Environment Agency

Many authorities do try to give notice before visiting, however they are not obliged to do  and in certain circumstances may enforce entry. If you are contacted or visited by any external officer, please contact Avi Cohen immediately, and he will assist you through the visit wherever possible. However, depending on the circumstances, they have the power to enforce an entry.

If officers believe regulations have been breached, they do have the power to issue prohibition notices. It is therefore of vital importance that records and documentation relating to all Health & Safety and Compliance areas are kept up to date and accurate.