Introduction to Fire Safety Management

➤ To consider enforcing authority reports and information
releases
➤ To assist in the development of safety rules and safe
systems of work
➤ To review health, safety and welfare aspects of
future development and changes in procedure
➤ To review safety aspects of purchasing equipment
and materials and in contract procurement
➤ To review renewal/maintenance programmes.
3.5.2 Composition of the committee
To function effectively it is necessary for the committee
to be composed of a representative sample of the workforce.
This usually requires a balanced approach consisting
of equal representation from management and
workforce.
The suggested composition is:
➤ A senior manager who must have adequate authority
to give proper consideration to views and recommendations
and ensure that budgets are allocated to
meet them. If this manager is the person who signed
the safety policy this helps to affi rm the management’s
commitment to health and safety issues.
➤ Supervisors, or line managers, who have the
local knowledge and expertise necessary to provide
accurate information on company policy, production
needs and technical plant, machinery and
equipment.
➤ Specifi cally competent people may need to be
present if a particular topic of concern is to be
discussed which exceeds the level of knowledge of
those normally present. It is suggested that a bank
of experts is available from which relevant persons
may be selected as necessary, rather than having
large numbers of extraneous personnel present at
each meeting.
➤ A safety adviser and/or the fi re safety manager to
provide guidance on statutory requirements, regulations,
codes of practice and safe systems of work,
capable of interpreting and suggesting methods of
compliance and implementation.
➤ Safety representatives need no specifi c
qualifi cations for committee membership, but due
consideration should be given to experience. There
is no guidance on the length of service of representatives
but a minimum term of two years is acceptable
with half the committee retiring every year. This
has the effect of livening up the committee every
year and allows the safety message to be spread
among more participating members.
The number of representatives varies depending
on the nature and activities of the business, as previously
discussed. Special consideration should be
Organising for safety
given to minority groups within the company, such
as apprentices, religious minorities or the disabled,
if these have specifi c safety concerns.
3.6 The supply chain
3.6.1 General
The term supply chain refers to all those parties involved
in the design, manufacturing, importation, erection and
installation of any article or substance used either at
work or by an end user of any articles and substances
used at work.
The supply chain concept is useful when considering
the dangers associated with any particular article or
substance used at work in that it allows consideration
of a number of sources of hazard and risk. For example,
purchasing non-fl ame retardant curtains and furniture
coverings for an area in which people are allowed to
smoke, such as a work’s social club.
It is extremely useful to note that the supply chain
involves those materials that are not only purchased
but are hired, borrowed or donated and also include the
procurement of services (contractors, etc.) and for this
reason it is helpful to use the term procurement.
Among the problems associated with procuring
articles, substances and services for work are the
provision and use of:
➤ Substandard equipment
➤ Poorly equipped, poorly trained contractors
➤ High risk chemicals and substances in inappropriate
working environments
➤ Work equipment outside its design parameters
(using it for what it is not designed to do)
➤ Inadequate information relating to:
➤ Hazards associated with chemicals and
substances
➤ How contractors undertake their activities
➤ Safe means of maintaining and testing
machinery.
3.6.2 The law relating to the supply chain
Section 6 of the HSWA places duties upon all those
who design, manufacture, import, or supply any article
for use at work. The duty that is placed upon them is
threefold:
1. To ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, that
any article used at work in the UK is designed
and constructed as to be safe and without risks to
health when properly used
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