A risk assessment is only as useful as the person who carries it out. Whether you need a fire risk assessment or a legionella risk assessment, a few simple questions will help you choose well.
1. What experience do they have?
Ask about the types of buildings they have assessed. A nursing home, a hotel and a small office all have different needs. Look for someone who understands your sector.
2. How will they carry out the assessment?
A good assessor will visit your premises, look at the building and its systems, talk to the people who run it and review your existing records. A desktop exercise or a generic template is rarely enough.
3. What will the report look like?
Ask to see an example report. It should be clear and specific to your building, with practical recommendations you can act on, not just a list of generic comments.
4. For legionella, how are samples handled?
If sampling is part of the work, ask which laboratory analyses the samples. At Safer Solutions, samples go to an independent accredited laboratory.
5. Will they explain things in plain language?
You should come away knowing what needs doing, why, and in what order. Good assessors answer questions without jargon.
6. What happens after the visit?
Ask whether they will be available to discuss the findings, and whether they can help you keep the assessment up to date as things change. Fire risk assessments and legionella risk assessments should both be reviewed regularly and after significant changes.
7. Are they clear about what is included?
Make sure you know the scope: which buildings, which systems, and what the report will cover. Clear communication up front avoids surprises later.
Why this matters
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, those in control of premises and employers have duties to manage fire and workplace health risks. A thorough, practical assessment is one of the best ways to show you are meeting them.
Talk to Safer Solutions
We provide fire risk assessments and legionella risk assessments, plus legionella sampling, across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. We are always happy to answer questions with no obligation.
Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie and let us help you take the next step. See our city pages for Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, or read about our fire risk assessments in Ireland.