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THE SCOTTISH Minister for Community Safety has hailed the success of a series of workshops advising small businesses and voluntary groups about fire safety law.
Commenting on the initiative, funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the Fire Protection Association, Fergus Ewing said: ‘No-one can afford to be complacent about fire safety, and the ready availability of information and advice is key to the education of those with duties under fire safety law. I am delighted so many of Scotland’s small firms and volunteers have benefited from the free workshops.’
The 34 free workshops, supported by the fire and rescue service, were held at locations across Scotland between January and March 2008. They were targeted at those small businesses and voluntary organisations that did not previously fall within the scope of fire safety legislation but which are now covered by Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
A survey found that 96% of the 388 participants left the events with the confidence to undertake their legal risk assessment duties.
The initiative is part of a drive to promote awareness of fire safety legislation which has placed new duties on those responsible for non-domestic premises.
Extensive guidance has been published on the Scottish Government’s Firelaw website, www.infoscotland.com/firelaw, including a series of nine sector-specific guides and bespoke guidance for the evacuation of disabled people from buildings.
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