Introduction to Fire Safety Management

High 100%
Level of supervision
Low
0%
Low
High
Formal supervision
found in BS 5839 Part 1, whereas the mechanisms for
ensuring that persons can safely evacuate in the event of
an emergency (means of escape) will depend upon active
monitoring such as inspections and safety tours.
The monitoring and management of contractors
is also required at a high level particularly when works
involve high risk processes such as the use of fl ammable
substances or where works are undertaken on access
and egress routes.
Consideration must also be given to how an organ -
isation monitors emergency exercises and its training
and competency levels, as the protective measures
implemented by it to keep people safe will rely upon them
following procedures for which they have been trained.
6.5 Safe systems of work
Competence
risk
Figure 6.8 Diagram of levels of supervision from HS(G)65
6.5.1 What is a safe system of work (SSOW)?
A critical element in controlling primary fi re and other
workplace hazards is the use of a safe system of work
(SSOW). This SSOW, in simple terms, defi nes a way
of undertaking a task in a safe manner, for instance it
would defi ne the safe way of refuelling a forklift truck
Defi nition of a safe system of work:
Self supervision
A step-by-step procedure based upon the
integration of people, equipment, mater ials,
and the environment, to produce an acceptable
level of safety.
High
Low
General principles of control
powered by LPG, or the safe way of undertaking hot
work processes.
Safe systems of work appear in a variety of forms
including:
➤ Standard operating procedures
➤ Safe operating procedures
➤ Method statements.
Such a system of work would on the majority of occasions
be formally recorded and documented, taking into
account all foreseeable risks associated with the operation
and detail the procedure for minimisation of the risk,
or where reasonably practicable the complete elimination
of the risk.
As can be seen from the above defi nition the safe
system of work should provide a step-by-step approach
which integrates all the facets that will secure the safety
of not only those undertaking the task or job, but also
those who may be affected by it.
As previously discussed, it is the risk assessment
that determines the need for a safe system of work to
be introduced, as part of the mechanisms by which the
hazard and associated risks are controlled. The safe
system of work relies heavily upon human behaviour
and discipline and therefore selecting a safe system of
work above other control strategies, such as elimination,
should not be considered.
The procedural controls developed in the creation of
the safe system of work will also have to take into account
technical control measures including design features
such as the use of guards on cutting equipment, noise
reduction systems and workplace modifi cations. Each
of these will be supported by behavioural controls which
address the individual in terms of selection and training,
which are included in the ‘safe person approach’.
The actual control measures should be selected on
the basis of their effectiveness, applicability, practicability
and, fi nally, cost. Some controls may be dictated by legal
requirements, e.g. equipment guards. In most cases,
however, it is usual to apply a hierarchy of measures such
as that given in the publication Successful Health and
Safety Management (HS(G)65).
It is often the case that complex or unusual tasks
are required to have a formally documented SSOW. Over
recent years the formal system has been adopted for the
majority of routine tasks as their production assists in
defi ning the safety standards required of an operation or
process and importantly provides a basis for the provision
of information, instruction and training programmes.
A number of pieces of current legislation refer to
the requirement for the production of safe systems of
work, together with the provision of information, instruction
and training. Therefore in addition to introducing
measurable standards, the introduction of safe systems
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