Introduction to Fire Safety Management

14.2.5 Risk control systems (RCS)
Arrangements that ensure that fi re risk controls (workplace
precautions) are implemented and maintained. For
example, the provision for ensuring that an adequate
level of supervision is maintained during hot work or
refuelling processes, or a system for planned preventive
maintenance for fi re safety systems (emergency lighting,
fi re doors, etc.), establishing a programme of fi re safety
inspections for buildings, sites and workplaces.
14.3 Risk assessment process
In its guidance documents HM Government (HMG) has
used a very similar approach to the HSE’s ‘Five Steps to
Risk Assessment’, which is shown below:
1. Look for the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
FIRE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT
Identify fire hazards
Identify:
Sources of ignition
Sources of fuel
Sources of oxygen
Identify people at risk
Identify:
People in and around the premises
People especially at risk
Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk
Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring
Evaluate the risk to people from fire
Remove or reduce fire hazards
Remove or reduce the risks to people
• Detection and warning
• Fire-fighting
• Escape routes
• Lighting
• Signs and notices
• Maintenance
Record, plan, inform, instruct and train
Record significant finding and action taken
Prepare an emergency plan
Inform and instruct relevant people; co-operate and
co-ordinate with others
Provide training
Review
Keep assessment under review
Revise where necessary
Remember to keep to your fire risk assessment under review.
Figure 14.1 HM Government approach to fi re risk
assessment
Fire risk assessment
3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing
precautions are adequate or whether more should
be done
4. Record your fi ndings
5. Review your assessment and revise if necessary.
Essentially Step 3 of HMG’s guidance is split
into two key areas, that of ‘preventive’ and ‘protective
measures’, which were discussed in Chapter 6.
14.3.1 Practical steps
Having prepared an inventory of buildings that are to
be risk assessed, the next stage in the fi re risk assessment
process is to determine which buildings are likely
to present the most signifi cant risk, in order to establish
a prioritised listing for the fi re risk assessment process.
While it is generally appreciated that the larger, more
complex, buildings may present a higher level of risk,
this is not always the case.
A smaller workplace that utilises high levels of
fl ammable material, predominantly built of wood, or
provides sleeping accommodation, may be considered
to present a higher level of risk, particularly if the larger,
more complex, building has effective fi re safety management
systems, is well organised and has workplace
controls in place.
Having determined a prioritised order for fi re risk
assessments, gathering information on each specifi c
facility prior to visiting the site must be seen as the next
practical step.
The fi re risk assessor, or fi re risk assessment team,
will benefi t from having a range of documentation readily
available prior to, during and following the practical risk
assessment process (visual observation, verbal information
gathering, etc.). The range of documentation that
may provide key information for the fi re risk assessment
process is likely to include:
➤ Fire safety policy document/health and safety policy
➤ Fire certifi cate (if building was previously certifi ed by
Fire Service or HSE)
➤ Enforcement letters/notices
➤ History of any fi res in premises or like premises
➤ History of building changes (Building Regulations
applications)
➤ Plans of all buildings and plan of site
➤ Construction health and safety fi le:
➤ Schematic diagrams of fi re safety systems, e.g.
emergency lighting, fi re alarm detection systems,
etc.
➤ Building materials
➤ Maintenance, inspection, testing, cleaning
arrangements for building services such as fi re
safety systems, fi re doors, etc.
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