Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
of the type of monitoring that is being undertaken, there
are a number of techniques that can be used to gather
information, these include:
➤ Direct observation of:
➤ Workplace conditions, e.g. obstructed emergency
escape route
➤ People’s behaviour, e.g. smoking in an unauthorised
area
➤ Communicating with people to gather information,
both fact and opinion
➤ Examining documents, e.g. fi re policy or fi re plan,
contractors’ method statements
➤ Examining records, e.g. fi re alarm test, emergency
lighting testing, training records.
The frequency of formal proactive monitoring will depend
upon a number of factors, including legislative and
British/European Standards and the level of risk. They
may also take into account previous trends and events
and refl ect the fi ndings of previous monitoring, e.g. if a
workplace inspection identifi es that fi re extinguishers
are being moved away from their allocated position then
more frequent inspections may be required.
The effectiveness of the proactive monitoring
programme will be judged by the reduction of substandard
fi ndings and issues identifi ed by whichever technique
is used over a given period of time. When completing
proactive monitoring programmes to assist trend analysis,
many organisations utilise a scoring mechanism, particularly
in relation to auditing. The scoring and analysis
mechanism is similar to that of the way reactive data is
measured and analysed so that graphical evidence may
be produced which will then be used to communicate
the effectiveness of the safety management systems
throughout the organisation.
11.3 Conducting workplace inspections
A system for inspecting workplace precautions is essential
in any proactive monitoring programme. On many
occasions it can form part of an organisation’s arrangements
for the planned preventive maintenance of plant
(e.g. electrical maintenance and testing) and equipment
(e.g. fl ashback arresters for oxy/fuel systems) which are
also covered by legal requirements.
In addition, inspections should include other
workplace precautions such as the ability for a fi re door
to close against its rebates effectively and other aspects
of the premises such as the location/obstruction of fi re
fi ghting equipment and means of escape.
A suitable inspection programme will address all
risks; however, it should take into account those that
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present a low risk (inspections may be undertaken every
month to two months) covering a wide range of precautions,
or higher risks that may need more frequent and
detailed inspections such as the storage and use of
fl ammable materials (inspections may be undertaken
each day or twice daily).
The inspection programme must refl ect any specifi c
legal requirements and the risk priorities which are
usually identifi ed as part of the risk assessment process.
Particularly, in relation to fi re, a fi re log book’s
contents and records will refl ect the schedules and
performance standards required by not only the law
but a variety of British and European Standards. These
schedules are likely to be supplemented with inspection
forms, checklists or aides-memoires, which will enable
a consistency of approach and assist the individuals
conducting the inspection to cover all key requirements
without the need to remember each element.
Inspections should be undertaken by competent
persons who are able to identify relevant hazards,
workplace precautions and risk control systems, the
standards that need to be met and any shortcomings in
the preventive and protective measures. This area will be
discussed later within this section.
11.3.1 Recording an inspection
It may well be that fi re safety inspections are included as
part of a general health and safety workplace inspection
programme. It is likely that a safety inspection form will
be produced to ensure that key elements are covered by
the inspection and to ensure consistency of approach.
There are a number of key headings which are likely to
be found on a fi re safety inspection record, whichever
recording mechanism is used. These following items are
should be included as a minimum:
➤ Ignition sources
➤ Fuel and oxygen sources
➤ Specifi c high fi re risk activities
➤ General housekeeping
➤ Means of escape
➤ Warning and detection systems
➤ Emergency lighting
➤ Fire fi ghting equipment
➤ Procedures and notices.
Under each of the headings there will be a number of
subquestions to confi rm the adequacy of workplace
precautions and management controls which can be
either answered in a closed question technique (yes or
no), or be provided with a score in relation to the level of
compliance/non-compliance.
In either of the above cases, where non-compliance
is identifi ed, there should be a mechanism for recording