Fire Risk Assessments Are a Legal Requirement – Not a Tick-Box Exercise

Compiled by Schalk W. Lubbe

Fire Risk Assessments are a legal requirement for workplaces in South Africa. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are obligated to identify fire hazards, assess associated risks, and implement appropriate control measures to protect employees, visitors, and property.

Despite this, fire risk assessments are often treated as a tick-box exercise rather than a critical safety tool.

Understanding Your Legal Responsibility

South African legislation requires employers to take reasonable steps to identify and manage fire hazards proactively — not after an incident occurs. Failure to do so can result in enforcement action, financial penalties, legal liability, and serious safety consequences.

A compliant fire risk assessment should be:

Site-specific

Relevant to actual operations

Reviewed when changes occur

Supported by practical risk controls

Generic or outdated assessments do not meet legal or safety expectations.

What a Proper Fire Risk Assessment Should Include

At Collaborative Risk Applications, our fire risk assessments are tailored to each site and operation. They typically assess:

Potential ignition sources and fuel loads

Fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems

Escape routes, signage, and emergency lighting

Evacuation procedures and emergency readiness

Alignment with applicable SANS standards and local fire authority requirements

The goal is not just compliance, but effective risk control.

Why Fire Risk Assessments Matter

A well-conducted fire risk assessment helps organisations:

Identify hazards before they escalate into incidents

Prioritise risk reduction measures

Support legal and insurance requirements

Improve emergency preparedness

Protect lives, assets, and business continuity

Fire incidents rarely result from a single failure — they occur when hazards go unmanaged over time.

How Collaborative Risk Applications Add Value

Collaborative Risk Applications delivers practical, defensible fire risk assessments that support real-world operations. Our assessments provide clear findings, realistic recommendations, and a structured path toward compliance and improved safety.

A proper fire risk assessment is more than a legal requirement — it is a critical investment in safety and resilience.