Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
➤ The capability of the individual to apply their competence
to the task to which they are assigned
➤ The time available for them to fulfi l their functions
and the means at their disposal.
Once again, the role of the competent safety adviser
will be detailed within the organisation section of the
safety policy. Dependent upon the size and nature of the
organisation the functions of the adviser will include:
➤ Assisting in the development of the safety policy
➤ Facilitating and assisting in the production of risk
assessments
➤ Advising the responsible person and/or the
employer and the management board on hazards
and risk control measures
➤ Monitoring safety management systems
➤ Active monitoring – tours and inspections, health
surveillance or air quality sampling
➤ Reactive monitoring – investigating safety events,
reports, etc.
Figure 3.2 The responsible person assisted by a competent
adviser should manage fi re safety in the workplace
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➤ Supporting the works safety committee by the
provision of:
➤ Statistics
➤ Technical information
➤ Details of any relevant statutory provision
➤ Liaising with external bodies, e.g.:
➤ Enforcers
➤ Contractors
➤ Scientifi c specialists
➤ Insurance companies
➤ Other employers
➤ Trade bodies
➤ Providing health and safety advice to all managers
and staff as required
➤ Communicating changes in current safety legislation
and best practice to the responsible person and/or
employer, safety representatives, employees and the
management board.
The competent advice and safety assistance in relation
to fi re includes the fi re safety manager and those
who provide assistance to them (fi re warden, fi re incident
controller, alarm verifi er – see Chapter 10). The law
also allows for this competent person or persons to be
appointed from outside an organisation such as the use
of consultants.
The RRFSO requires that any person appointed by
the responsible person is given appropriate information
about the factors that could affect the safety of
all persons and about any person working within the
organisation who may be more at risk (disabled persons,
sensory impaired persons, etc.).
3.2.6 Fire safety manager
There is no specifi c terminology for a variety of roles and
responsibilities for those managing fi re safety. British
Standard 5588-12:2004 Fire Precautions in the Design,
Construction and Use of Buildings – Part 12: Managing
Fire Safety provides an outline of the responsibilities of
the fi re safety manager which include:
➤ Conducting fi re risk assessments to assist in identifying
and reducing the likelihood of fi re occurring
➤ The development and implementation of a fi re
strategy
➤ Undertaking training of staff, including evacuation
exercises and the maintenance of training and evacuation
exercise records
➤ Conducting inspections, arranging for maintenance
and testing of potential fi re hazards
➤ Monitoring and maintaining the means of escape,
fi re evacuation procedures and the behaviour of
occupants and reviewing fi re plans accordingly