Vet clinics and pharmacies are busy, public-facing premises. Customers and staff (and, in a vet clinic, animals) are in your building all day, often alongside oxygen, medicines, cleaning products and electrical equipment. That makes fire safety and water safety part of everyday compliance, not an afterthought.
Fire safety: what the law expects
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (section 18(2)), a person in control of premises must take reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire and to make sure people can escape safely. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 also requires employers to identify hazards and manage risks to employees and others. A written fire risk assessment is how most owners show they have done this.
Points worth checking in a clinic or pharmacy:
- Escape routes kept clear of stock deliveries, boxes and pet carriers
- Fire doors that close properly and are never wedged open
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting tested and serviced, with records kept
- Extinguishers in place, in date and serviced annually
- Safe storage of oxygen cylinders, flammable disinfectants and clinical gases
- Electrical equipment, fridges and chargers kept in good order and not overloaded
- Staff who know the alarm, the assembly point and what to do, including how to help animals or vulnerable customers
- A review of the assessment whenever the layout, use or stock changes, such as a new kennel area, dispensing room or extension
Legionella: why water systems matter in these premises
Legionella bacteria can grow in water systems that are warm, stagnant or poorly maintained. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Biological Agents Regulations, and following HSA and HPSC guidance, employers are expected to assess the risk and control it. This matters in clinics and pharmacies because:
- Hot and cold water tanks and pipework may serve staff areas, toilets and treatment rooms
- Animal wash areas, hoses and sinks may be used in bursts, leaving water sitting between uses
- Little-used taps and showers in staff facilities can stagnate (see our guide to flushing little-used outlets)
- Premises that close for weekends or holidays can leave water standing
A Legionella risk assessment looks at your system, identifies where bacteria could grow and sets out simple control steps such as temperature checks, flushing, tank inspection and record keeping. Legionella sampling can then confirm that your controls are working.
Extra points for pharmacies
Pharmacies often combine a shop floor, a dispensary, stockrooms and sometimes a consultation room or treatment area. Each space can carry different risks, so the assessment should walk through all of them rather than just the public counter.
- Stockrooms and storage areas: keep boxes off escape routes and away from heaters, light fittings and electrical panels
- Dispensary and back-of-house areas: check that fire doors still close fully and that exits are never blocked by deliveries
- Consultation rooms and staff areas: make sure everyone, including part-time and locum staff, knows the alarm and the assembly point
- Staff kitchens and toilets: these are often the little-used outlets where water can sit, so include them in your flushing routine
Extra points for veterinary clinics
Vet clinics have the added challenge of animals on the premises, plus kennels, prep rooms, X-ray areas and sometimes overnight stays. Your plan should consider how animals will be moved safely in an emergency, and who is responsible for doing it.
- Overnight and kennel areas: make sure exits from these rooms are clear and that a named person knows the evacuation plan
- Clinical gases and cleaning products: store them securely, labelled and away from heat or ignition sources
- Wash areas, hoses and sinks: used in short bursts, so water can sit between uses; include them in your Legionella controls
- Out-of-hours cover: check that anyone working alone or late knows what to do if the alarm sounds
Frequently asked questions
Does a small clinic or pharmacy need a fire risk assessment?
Anyone in control of business premises has fire safety duties under the Fire Services Acts. A written fire risk assessment is the usual way to show that you have identified the hazards and put sensible controls in place, whatever the size of the premises.
Does Legionella apply if we only have taps and a hot water cylinder?
Yes. Any water system, including taps, showers, tanks and hoses, can be relevant. A Legionella risk assessment looks at your own system and tells you which controls, checks and records are appropriate.
When should the assessments be reviewed?
Review them regularly, and whenever something changes, such as a new treatment room, a refit, a change of use or a new water system. Many owners diarise a yearly review so it is not missed.
Simple habits that make a difference
- Keep a fire log and a water log, even a basic one
- Flush rarely used taps and hoses weekly
- Check that hot water reaches outlets hot and cold water stays cool
- Book fire equipment servicing and keep the certificates together
- Review both assessments yearly or after any change
How Safer Solutions can help
We carry out fire risk assessments, Legionella risk assessments, Legionella sampling and water tank cleaning for businesses across Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Our reports are clear, practical and written for owners rather than lawyers. Contact us for a friendly, no-obligation chat about what your premises need, or browse our guides for more.