Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
which contractors are then selected for specifi c contract
requirements.
Where organisations do not have formal QA
systems, they would be well advised to adopt the same
principles to ensure proper selection of competent
contractors.
The selection process would require the contractor
to supply relevant information regarding a number of
areas of their business management in order for the client
to form a judgement of their ability to properly carry out
the work.
The common areas which are considered are usually
concerned with ensuring the contractor is able to meet
the technical requirements of the contract. These may
include, where relevant, such items as:
➤ Financial standing
➤ Quality assurance procedures
➤ Technical experience of previous work of a similar
nature
➤ Technical skills of contractor’s employees
➤ Technical procedures relevant to the contract
➤ Technical method statements
➤ References from previous clients
➤ Industrial relations record
➤ Environmental record.
Safety performance
In addition to information regarding the contractor’s
technical ability to carry out the project works, the client
should seek information to allow them to judge the safety
management procedures and practice of the contractor.
Therefore, safety issues should form an integral part
of the selection process. The client may seek information
on relevant areas, such as:
➤ Contractor’s safety policy and/or procedures manual
➤ Employees’ safety handbook/safety instructions
➤ Contractor’s safety management system and
organisation
➤ Safety personnel – competence
➤ Safety representatives/committees
➤ Contractors safety record:
➤ Safety event statistics including; incidents, accidents
and fi res, etc.
➤ Safety-related work references
➤ Enforcement actions taken against them
➤ Membership of relevant professional bodies
➤ Training procedures – sample records
➤ Maintenance procedures – sample records
➤ Risk assessment procedures – generic and specifi c
➤ Sample assessment records for the type of work
➤ Method statements – generic or specifi c from previous
similar work
➤ Relevant insurance policies.
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The client would review all of the information presented to
form a judgement on the competence of the contractor. In
reality it is unlikely that everything provided by the contractor
will be perfect; however, a balanced judgement should
be possible based on the information provided. If this is
not the case the contractor should not be approved and
the contractor should be informed of the reasons why.
Tender stage selection
At this stage the client will be selecting a specifi c contractor
from those appearing on the approved list and
will require specifi c details from the contractor as to
how they intend to meet all of the contract specifi cation,
including the safety requirements of the project works.
To a large degree the response from the contractor
will depend on the information provided to them
by the client. In order to formulate a comprehensive
tender the contractor will require specifi c information
about the technical requirements of the contract, which is
often dealt with very well. However, they will also require
information about the safety conditions of the contract
and any risks which the client has identifi ed, which they
will need to consider during the project works.
The types of information the contractor will need will
include, as necessary, the following:
➤ A clear defi nition of the project
➤ Identifi cation of any specifi c risks presented by the
client premises, plant, substances, work processes
or operations which the contractor will need to
consider
➤ Identities of persons with health and safety
responsibilities
➤ Requirements for specifi c responsibilities within contractor
staff, e.g. stipulating for a site safety offi cer
➤ Risk control measures required by the client
➤ Health and safety performance standards required
➤ Limits on the contractor’s actions and areas of
invitation
➤ Client and joint management arrangements, reporting
and consultation procedures
➤ Permit to work procedures to be adopted
➤ Monitoring arrangements to be implemented by:
➤ The client
➤ The contractor
➤ Jointly.
Additional information:
➤ Site rules
➤ Welfare facilities provided
➤ Administration procedures
➤ Accident reporting procedures
➤ Notifi cation of other employers or contractors on site
➤ Procedures for formal release and receipt of
information.