Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from the Fire Training for Pharmacy Staff course.

These resources are aimed at pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, medicines counter staff, delivery staff, managers and other pharmacy team members. Some items apply across the UK; others are specific to England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Together they explain statutory duties, practical precautions, emergency planning and the professional standards that affect fire safety in pharmacy premises.

1. Core Fire Safety Duties and Law

• GOV.UK - Fire safety in the workplace: who's responsible
  A clear summary of who is the responsible person in non-domestic premises and the duties to carry out fire risk assessments, maintain safety measures, plan for emergencies and provide staff training.
  https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities

• Legislation.gov.uk - The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  The principal fire-safety regulation for non-domestic premises in England and Wales, covering risk assessment, preventive measures, maintenance and enforcement.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/pdfs/uksi_20051541_en.pdf

2. Scotland

• Scottish Government - Fire safety: existing non-residential premises practical guidance
  Official guidance for dutyholders in existing non-residential premises. It sets out practical expectations for risk assessment, prevention, escape arrangements, staff training and ongoing management relevant to Scottish pharmacies.
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/practical-fire-safety-guidance-existing-non-residential-premises-2/

• Legislation.gov.uk - Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
  The main statutory framework for fire safety duties in Scotland, explaining legal responsibilities for relevant premises.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/5/pdfs/asp_20050005_en.pdf

• Legislation.gov.uk - Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
  Regulations that supplement the Scottish Act and describe practical precautions and arrangements to support compliance in non-domestic premises.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2006/456/pdfs/ssi_20060456_en.pdf

3. Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service - Business fire safety
  An official overview of business fire-safety responsibilities, with guidance, forms and links to practical support for employers and responsible persons in Northern Ireland.
  https://www.nifrs.org/home/staying-safe/business-fire-safety/

• Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service - Fire safety guides
  A set of fire-risk-assessment guides for different premises types, including offices and shops. Useful when considering suitable precautions for pharmacies.
  https://www.nifrs.org/home/staying-safe/business-fire-safety/fire-safety-guides/

• Legislation.gov.uk - Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
  The main legislative framework covering fire and rescue services and fire-safety duties in non-domestic premises in Northern Ireland.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2006/1254/pdfs/uksi_20061254_en.pdf

• Legislation.gov.uk - Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
  Regulations that set additional fire-safety requirements and explain the legal framework behind local fire procedures and risk management.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2010/325/pdfs/nisr_20100325_en.pdf

4. Practical Guidance for Small Premises and Everyday Fire Safety

• GOV.UK - A guide to making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire
  Practical guidance for smaller workplaces and customer-facing premises. It covers responsibilities, fire risk assessment, alarm systems, maintenance, exits and routine testing in an accessible format for pharmacies.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-your-small-non-domestic-premises-safe-from-fire/a-guide-to-making-your-small-non-domestic-premises-safe-from-fire-accesible

• HSE - Introduction to fire safety
  An introduction to how fires start, common ignition and fuel sources, and the role of fire risk assessment and prevention in workplaces. Useful for reinforcing everyday hazard awareness.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/fire-safety.htm

5. Dangerous Substances and Higher-Risk Hazards

• HSE - DSEAR in detail
  Explains the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations and how employers must assess and control risks from substances that can cause fire or explosion. Relevant where pharmacies store alcohol-based products, aerosols, oxygen or cleaning chemicals.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/dsear-background.htm

6. Pharmacy Standards and Safe Working

• GPhC - Standards for registered pharmacies
  Standards covering the safe and effective running of registered pharmacies in Great Britain, including the organisational and physical environment for delivering pharmacy services. Use these to link fire safety, maintenance and governance to pharmacy regulation.
  https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/document/standards_for_registered_pharmacies_june_2018_0.pdf

• GPhC - Standards for pharmacy professionals
  Professional standards for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain, reinforcing safe practice, accountability and the duty to act when risks arise.
  https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/standards_for_pharmacy_professionals_may_2017_0.pdf

• Pharmaceutical Society NI - The Code, Standards and Guidance
  An official Northern Ireland resource for professional code, standards and guidance. Relevant for pharmacy teams in Northern Ireland to align fire-safety practice with their regulatory framework.
  https://psni.org.uk/the-code-standards-and-guidance/

• Pharmaceutical Society NI - Premises Registration
  Information about pharmacy premises registration in Northern Ireland, providing context on premises oversight outside the GPhC system.
  https://psni.org.uk/pharmacies/premises-registration/

Use these readings to strengthen your knowledge of legal duties, practical risk reduction, emergency planning, dangerous substances and the professional and premises standards that support safe pharmacy environments across the UK.