Fire Safety

 

Information kindly provided by RSP Safety Services

Facts

Each year fire brigades attend over 35000 fires at work in which over 30 people are killed and around 2000 injured. Fire & explosions at work account for about 2% of the major injuries reportable under RIDDOR.

There are high financial risks and in many cases a large amount of businesses are thought not to resume trading.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the controller or employer of the premises to reduce and safely manage risk from fire.  The order is enforced by the local fire and rescue service although the HSE are still involved with particular industries and establishments i.e. chemical and construction sites.  The local authority may be the enforcing authority for particular establishments such as sports grounds or places of entertainment. 

Prevention is always better than the cure and suitable measures should be put in place in order to minimise the risk of fire.  This can be done through a variety of methods for example equipment maintenance, training and site rules to name a few.

A fire safety policy and risk assessment are a legal requirement where 5 or more persons are employed however it is good practice to have something in place regardless and should be carried out by a competent person.  Depending on the nature of your business it might be necessary to source specialist advice.

If you are based in a shared property there is an absolute duty to cooperate, coordinate and exchange information how fire safety will be managed by each responsible person.

Your premises should have a register of fire log book which should detail all training, fire drills, testing and maintenance.

It is important to be aware that a Fire Officer can ask to see your current fire risk assessment and log book at any time, they are also entitled to inspect a premises at any time and have the power to issue improvement and prohibition orders if it is concluded that there is a breach of order.

Sources of Ignition

- Naked Flames – from smoking materials, cooking & heating appliances
- External Sparks – from grinding metals, welding, impact tools,
- Internal Sparking – from electrical equipment (faulty & normal), machinery, lighting
- Hot surfaces – lighting, cooking, heating appliances, drive belts

Sources of Fuel

• Solids – these include wood, paper, cardboard, wrapping materials, plastics, rubber
• Liquids – these include paint, varnish, thinners, adhesives, petrol, white spirit, and methylated spirits
• Gases – flammable gases i.e. butane or propane, acelytane, hydrogen

Methods of Extinction

There are four main methods of extinguishing fires:

• Cooling, reducing the ignition temperature by taking the heat out of the fire – using water to limit ir reduce the temperature
• smothering, limiting the amount of oxygen the fire has, normally with use of foam or a blanket
• starving, limiting the fuel supply by removing the source of fuel by switching off electrical power
• chemical reaction, by interrupting the chain of combusting and combining the hydrogen atoms with chlorine atoms for example Halon extinguishers.

Fire Risk Assessment

When carrying out a risk assessment you will need to consider the following points

• assess the fire risks in the workplace (either as part of a general review of health and safety risks which is already carried out or separate if required)
• check fire can be detected in a reasonable time and that people can be warned
• check that people who may be in the building can get out safely
• provide reasonable fire fighting equipment
• check that those in the building are aware of what to do if there is a fire
• check and maintain the fire safety equipment

Will anyone be hurt if there is a fire?

There may be places in your workplace that people are more at risk in or that visitors and outside contractors may not be familiar with the surroundings or the procedures that you have put in place.

If more than four people are employed then a formal record of your findings and measures in place must be kept.

The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify where fires may start in the workplace and anyone who may be put at risk from that fire.

A fire risk assessment should include:

• any sources of ignition that may cause fire should be identified.
• combustible materials in the workplace need to be identified, steps should be taken to remove them away from sources of ignition.
• identify those people who at significant risk from fire and take steps to reduce that risk
• Structural features that promote the spread of fire should be identified
• During periods of maintenance or refurbishment it will be necessary to take steps to monitor the introduction of sources of heat

People at Risk

The nature of fire puts anyone in the workplace at risk if the necessary controls are not put into place. All employees should be trained in the use of fire fighting equipment and fire evacuation and it is important to remember that this training should not stop at the induction period but refreshed throughout employment.

Fire Plans

Fire plans should be produced and attached to the risk assessment and a copy to be accessible in the workplace. The plans need to show:

• Escape routes, number of exits, and number of stairs, fire resisting doors, and places of safety
• Fire safety signs and notices including pictorial fire exits signs and fire action notices
• The location of the fire warning call points
• The location of emergency lights
• The location and type of fire fighting equipment

When planning escape routes the following criteria should be met

• where 2 or more escape routes are needed they should lead to different paces of safety
• escape routes need to be short and lead directly to a place of safety
• ensure that escape routes are large enough for the amount if people using them

Good Housekeeping is a must to ensure that all routes of safety are kept clear and fire doors are left unobstructed at all times.

You should ensure that all escape routes are well lit and that the appropriate signage is on the walls directing people to a place of safety.

Fire Procedures for people with a disability

When planning fire precautions and escape routes it is important to make special consideration for people who have a disability. You should

• identify everyone who may need special help to get out
• allocate responsibility to specific staff to help people with a disability in emergency procedures
• consider possible escape routes
• enable the safe use of lifts
• train employees to be able to help their colleague