Fire safety and evacuation plans

Your plan must show how you have:

  • a clear passageway to all escape routes
  • clearly marked escape routes that are as short and direct as possible
  • enough exits and routes for all people to escape
  • emergency doors that open easily
  • emergency lighting where needed
  • training for all employees to know and use the escape routes
  • a safe meeting point for staff

People with mobility needs

You should also make special arrangements for people with mobility needs, for example make sure there are people to help wheelchair users get downstairs if there’s a fire.

  1. Step 1 Check that you’re taking on someone as an employee

    Follow these steps if you want to take on someone with the employment status of ‘employee’ for the first time.

    1. Check who counts as an employee

    The rules are different if you want to take on someone with another type of employment status, such as agency staff, freelancers, consultants and contractors.

    1. Check your responsibilities when you take on someone with a different employment status and contract type
  2. and Check you can afford to take on employees

  3. Step 2 Make your workplace safe and accessible for employees

  4. Step 3 Register as an employer and set up PAYE

    You need to register with HMRC so you can pay tax and national insurance for your employees.

    1. Register as an employer and set up PAYE
    2. Choose how to run payroll
    3. If you decide to run payroll yourself, choose payroll software
  5. Step 4 Check your responsibilities around workplace pensions

  6. Step 5 Get Employers' Liability insurance

  7. Step 6 Recruit and employ someone