Factory and workshop fire risk assessment
In workshops and light industry the risks come from the work itself: machinery, hot work, dust and flammable liquids. Where dangerous substances are used, your assessment also has to meet DSEAR.
Start the factory and workshop template
What the law asks
- Assess the fire risk of the premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 if you are the Responsible Person: usually the employer, owner or whoever controls the premises.
- Record all the findings, your fire safety arrangements and who carried out the assessment. Since 1 October 2023 this applies to every Responsible Person, whatever the size of the business (Building Safety Act 2022, section 156).
- Review it regularly and whenever something significant changes.
Government guide for this type of premises: Fire safety risk assessment: factories and warehouses and HSE: Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres (DSEAR). Checked October 2026. FireRiskKit is written for England and Wales.
Typical fire hazards
- Machinery, friction and hot surfaces
- Welding, grinding and other hot work
- Wood, paper or metal dust
- Paints, solvents, thinners and gas cylinders
- Oily rags and waste
People at risk
- Operators working near the main hazards
- Contractors doing hot work
- Staff in noisy areas who may not hear an alarm
Precautions to check
- A hot work permit and a fire watch after the work finishes
- Dust extraction and regular cleaning
- Flammable liquids stored in a suitable cabinet or store, in the smallest practical quantity
- Visual alarms or beacons where noise is high
- Machinery maintained and switched off at the end of the day
Choose “Factory and workshop” in FireRiskKit and the template asks about these points, then turns every gap into a dated action with an owner.
When to use a professional
A small workshop can be assessed by the owner. Use a competent assessor where you store or use significant amounts of dangerous substances, run processes that create flammable dust or vapour, or have a large site.
Fill in the template in your browser, add your own findings and download a signed PDF with the action plan.
Start the free templateQuestions
What is DSEAR?
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. If you use or store flammable liquids, gases or dusts, you must assess the fire and explosion risk from them and control it.
Do I need a hot work permit?
It is the standard way to control welding, grinding and cutting, especially by contractors. The permit records the precautions and the fire watch afterwards.
Other premises
See also: Do I need a fire risk assessment? · Fire risk assessment checklist