Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Workplace definition

What does Workplace mean? In legal practice, workplace describes premises or parts of premises, other than a private home, that are made available for someone to work in, including areas to which they have access while at work (for example, common parts and means of access and egress). In England and Wales and Scotland, this wording is drawn from the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992; Northern Ireland has materially similar provisions in the 1993 Regulations. Those Regulations exclude domestic premises. They therefore generally do not apply to homeworking in a private dwelling, although employers still owe general health and safety duties under...

Managing Fire Safety in Office Workplaces: Practical Steps on Risk Assessment, Appointed Roles, Evacuation Procedures, Maintenance, Training, Action Plans and Annual Review

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Management expert

Practice notes

You are responsible for taking steps to reduce workplace fire hazards and to protect staff should a fire occur, minimising risk and safeguarding employees. There is no single, prescriptive set of rules dictating the exact fire safety measures you must adopt. Smaller organisations might require only basic arrangements, whereas larger organisations or those facing specific fire risks may need greater provision and additional resources. This Practice Note offers practical guidance and information on arranging, managing and maintaining fire safety in the workplace. Its scope is office-based, non-residential settings. It addresses fire safety in that workplace context only. Distinct, industry or premises-specific obligations may apply elsewhere, notably in residential and domestic properties, such as flats and multi-storey residential buildings. Regulatory requirements concerning fire safety in residential and domestic premises fall outside this Practice Note, as do building regulations requirements relating to fire safety. For details on regulatory duties relevant to office-based workplaces, see Practice Note: Fire safety in the workplace—regulatory requirements.

Fire safety assessment and planning

Establishing a clear, considered, accessible and easy-to-use framework and structure for fire safety helps ensure your organisation is run effectively and efficiently across the workplace...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Melanie O'Brien

DG Legal

Melanie read law at King's College London and was then recruited by Herbert Smith LLP (now Herbert Smith Freehills) as a trainee solicitor. After being admitted as a solicitor in 2001, she was retained by Herbert Smith as a solicitor in their litigation department and reached the level of senior associate. She was located at their London office for seven years and advised and acted upon a wide range of commercial and real estate disputes. Melanie left private practice to become a director at DG Legal, a specialist management consultancy practice where she provides advice and assistance in relation to legal practice management, compliance, risk and quality assurance. She also assists firms in setting up legal practices and submitting applications to the SRA for regulatory approval and provides assistance with ongoing compliance including firms' COLP and COFA...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...