Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
hazard. For example, changing the work pattern by
undertaking the refurbishment of a main staircase in a
busy offi ce building concourse could be undertaken out
of normal working hours thereby reducing the numbers
of people exposed to the work or who may be affected
by the work (means of escape partially obstructed). In
relation to the management of dangerous substances in
the event of a fi re, a mitigating measure would be the
reduction of the number of persons potentially exposed
by undertaking the work in a remote or segregated area.
When considering a method of work it may be
possible to apply a different technique to reduce the
risks such as using a roller to apply a coating material
rather that using a spray technique which may present
an additional explosion risk due to the atomised spray
and the presence of ignition sources.
Reduction may also be achieved by the reduction of
exposure time to a hazard, such as would be the case
when managing the exposure time of persons involved
in the transportation, storage, use and disposal of
chemicals such as solvents. The Workplace Exposure
Limit (WEL) assigned to acetone, for example, is 500 ppm
in an 8-hour period, thus reducing exposure to the
prescribed limit ensures that persons are kept free from
ill health arising from the hazardous chemical. Acetone
is, however, a chemical with a low fl ashpoint so even
a small amount could present a fi re and explosion
risk and thus reducing the volume is also a fi re control
measure.
The single biggest reduction measure in relation
to dangerous substances is to reduce the quantity or
amount of the substance transported, stored, handled,
etc. to the absolute minimum. This could be achieved by
establishing a ‘call-off’ system whereby minimum stock
levels are supported by regular deliveries keeping the
stock levels down to the absolute minimum.
6.3.4 Isolation
Isolating the hazard from people by enclosing the hazard
should also be considered when elimination, substitution
or reduction cannot be achieved. Isolation can be
achieved, when handling fl ammable and reactive materials,
by the provision of a glovebox enclosure to prevent
ill-health effects from inhaling the vapours, in addition
to preventing the fl ammable vapours fi nding an ignition
source causing a fi re or explosion.
Isolation of electrical supplies throughout a building
(service risers) can be achieved by ensuring that the
risers are fi re resistant enclosures, thus should a fi re start
the secondary hazard (such as the production of smoke)
is contained within the enclosure and will not have an
adverse effect upon those escaping.
It may also be possible to undertake hot work within
an enclosure which is fi re retardant and/or fi re resistant,
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thus isolating the risk of fi re progressing outside the
enclosure by containing it within.
6.3.5 Control
Control can be achieved in two separate ways, although
like many of the controls discussed in this chapter they
may well be used together in an overall control strategy.
Engineering controls – the use of a guard or an
interlocking system is an effective engineering control
for preventing access to dangerous moving parts on
machinery. Engineering controls are widely used in
relation to fi re safety and risk management solutions, for
example smoke extract systems manage smoke levels
to allow greater time to escape from large buildings
and premises such as shopping centres. Sprinkler and
other types of fi xed fi re fi ghting installations are installed
to manage and suppress a fi re. Detection and alarm
systems are engineering controls that provide early
warning and a communications system in the event of a
fi re (Chapter 9).
Safe systems of work (SSOW) – these are formal
written procedures that describe how a process or
activity is to be undertaken. The HSWA requires the
production of SSOWs and that all employees know them.
There is a wide range of terminology used across industry
to describe an SSOW. In the construction industry, for
example, the term ‘method statement’ is used, in many
production-based organisations the SSOWs are referred
to as safe operating or standard operating procedures.
Regardless of the terminology used and the way they are
recorded, SSOWs tend to include very similar items, such
as a description of the work, its sequence, the risks and
controls, etc.; further details on SSOWs are discussed
later in this chapter.
6.3.6 Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment should only be issued as
a last resort, where risks cannot be controlled by more
positive means, i.e. with controls further up the hierarchy.
Where it is issued the employer is not allowed to make
any charge for its provision. The equipment must be readily
available and employees must have clear information
on how to obtain it, use it, maintain it and store it. In order
to ensure the proper level of protection and comfort the
PPE must be available in a range of sizes to suit the entire
workforce. PPE must conform to the relevant standards
and carry the CE mark.
Any PPE supplied must be suitable for the operating
conditions and it must protect against the specifi c risk
present. This will require the employer or responsible
person to carry out an assessment of the precise need
for protection and specify PPE which will meet those