I have a client who are medium size retailer with around 40 stores based in the UK, does anyone have any suggestions for managing the fire risk assessment process for the stores?

It isn't impractical for one individual to visit each store location so currently store managers are requested to complete a template fire risk assessment forms and return the findings to head office.

Any suggestion's on ensuring the competence of the store managers, how other retailers do this or what is a sufficient and practical way of managing the process for each location would be appreciated.

What you do depends on many factors, such as current status, existing FRA, competence of person etc etc.

I currently have over 2000 High St and shopping centre units - each site has had a visit from a competent FR Assessor, therefore I know the fabric of the premises are in decent shape and the MOE are fine etc. All have sufficient detection systems maintained etc. Its management systems and processes beyond that. I'm currently trailing desk top FRA Reviews, something I've been working on with our 'Fire Authority' Primary Authority Partners. These are reviews not FRA's - any new stores or developed stores has a competent person in.

Many retailers do similar and request store managers undertake FRA - Fire Authority's except this in general - IMO its flawed and exposes the business but you can only do what you can do with the resource company's allow - PM me your mail and Id be more than happy to discuss in much more detail.

I think the "ask me and I might" is poor form for a professional forum such as this, in my personal opinion!

I do some work for a business with a very large number of retail stores and they decided to train a selection of their store managers to carry out the fra's.

Good enough for a starter but the reviews are not getting done due to heavy workload and this will eventually lead to problems as fra's are not priority for store managers.

Further whenever I visit stores to inspect contractors who are working on site in an occupied and trading store I always find that the store fire risk assessment has not been reviewed/revised to take account of the work, and the contractor, if they have done a fra have not shared it with the store.

I was recently interviewed for a job as fire risk assessor using an electronic device that has the software installed and training given to use the device.

In my opinion this can never ever be better than an individual with training and experience of fra.

My advice will be to employ a competent fire risk assessor to do all your required fra's initially then arrange a plan for reviews.

Tin hat now firmly in place :-)

Ian I believe there is a forum rule against touting for work on the open forum.

If I did use the forum looking for work opportunities I wouldn't be so bold as to put it in someone's thread.

How's that for a half way answer :-)

Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback, the major it a small units in out of town shops and won't be complex premises.

PS don't get hung up on the 'touting', in this instance i am the outsource consultant looking to do the right thing for the client in the most reasonable cost effective way. Thank you for the link Ian, i have read these guides previously.