Posted By Malcolm Greenhouse When I was performing fire risk assessment of similar properties one o the questions referred to security and the risk of arson. How will security be provided on the site? Without regular visits who will perform fire call point checks, emergency light checks, fire door checks, etc.? How will evacuation of the premises be carried out without a member of staff on site? Just a few of the question I think you should raise with them.

Posted By Ashley Wood Stuart, I agree with what Malcolm Greenhouse said. in addition, your organisation will still have to ensure that what is being done by the people that are hiring the facility is safe, otherwise you could end up with a null and void insurance policy! The key is the legislative requirements i.e RRFSO. If you do not check means of escape are clear, doors open correctly, security and arson checks etc, then you are in breach of the legislation and liable to a fine and/or custodial sentence.

Posted By Stuart Hufton Hi Thanks for the info. so far. Fire is the obvious one and I have that one well covered but I am as concerned by liability issues from accidents due to defects or damage, health and hygiene with no one checking kitchens etc. between uses. I guess what I’m really looking for is something to help support the regime I am telling them they should have in place. What do similar places have in place, what is a reasonable inspection regime.

Posted By Pete48 Stuart, You do not say whether this hire will take place during normal working hours when other company staff may also be on the premises or out of hours when no staff are present. You do not say whether residents or other clients may be on site during the hire periods. The controls would be different for each of those cases. I would strongly suggest that this is one for your legal department to look at terms and conditions of hire. This can be a complex area that goes beyond H&S matters. If there are staff on the premises whenever the area is hired out, then they will probably need to be made responsible for the matters that I think you have already identified. If there are no staff on site, then the key areas for me are: Premises have to be safe for intended use. You are the controller of the premises and have the duty to provide a safe place for the identified uses. Users can affect the safe condition and you would still have some if not all the responsibility if the venue is unsafe for the next hirer and you have not checked. How will you know if you don't check each time? Users can affect the safe place by importing equipment and materials, improper use of the facilities and equipment on site. This will all need covering in any hire agreement. Users will need information about safety and security procedures that they may need to follow both for their own safety and that of others who may be affected such as your staff or residents or other clients. You will need to consider how reasonable it is for them to understand and follow those instructions without trained staff. Security of premises may be compromised by failure of hirers to secure after use, your insurers will need to be consulted on this. They may want to increase premiums or limit cover. For our village hall, we always check between events that the hall is fit for use by the next users. We attend on site to “train” or inform any new users on safety drill and to check that they have understood our prohibitions which for us includes not plugging in any their own electrical equipment to our ring main unless we have seen proof of PAT and have checked will not overload our systems. ( we have an electrician on the committee you see) We will also attend to secure whenever we are not confident that we can trust the hirers. Everything else is left to the hirer to act reasonably.