Introduction to Fire Safety Management

General principles of
control
6.1 Introduction
The key to effective safety management, once the risks
have been identifi ed, is to establish and implement a
control strategy. The control measures that are implemented
to secure the safety of all those at work or who
may be affected by the work or work processes should
refl ect the legal requirements, as a minimum standard,
and any technological advances that have been made.
The term ‘prevention’ when used in relation to
fi re has often been interpreted to mean preventing a
fi re starting in the fi rst place, which clearly is the most
effective way to deal with fi re risk management. In current
legislation and guidance, however, the term prevention
relates to the need to prevent persons being harmed or
loss being sustained.
The management of fi re risks both in relation to
primary fi re hazards (ignition, fuel, oxygen) and secondary
fi re hazards (those preventing people escaping safely
in the event of a fi re) will be discussed in greater detail
later within the book allowing this chapter to focus on
strategies of control as they relate to safety management
as a whole.
This chapter discusses the following key
elements:
➤ Principles of prevention
➤ The hierarchy of risk control measures
➤ Supervision and monitoring
➤ Safe systems of work
➤ Emergency procedures.
6.2 Principles of prevention
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The fundamental ‘principles of prevention’ that are
included in both the RRFSO and the MHSW are supported
by a range of additional legislation, approved
codes of practice and guidance each providing assistance
when considering the control measures that may be
required to reduce the risks to the lowest level reasonably
practicable.
A responsible person (under the RRFSO) and/or
employer (under the MHSW) are legally required to apply
the ‘principles of prevention’. These are principles that
have been adopted throughout the European Community
and are contained in both the RRFSO and the MHSW.
The principles state that:
➤ Where possible risk should be avoided
➤ Risks which cannot be avoided should be evaluated
(i.e. assessed)
➤ Risks should be combated at source
➤ Control measures should adapt to technical progress
➤ Dangerous substances/articles should be replaced
by the non-dangerous or less dangerous
➤ A coherent overall prevention policy should be
developed, which covers technology, organisation
of work and the infl uence of factors relating to the
working environment
➤ Priority should be given to collective protective
measures (i.e. those which protect the most people)
over individual protective measures and
➤ Employees should be given appropriate instruction.
➤ An additional control included in the MHSW is that
of adapting the work to the individual, especially as
regards the design of workplaces, the choice of work
equipment and the choice of working and production
methods, with a view, in particular, to alleviating
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