Introduction to Fire Safety Management

14.3.2 Recording the assessment
A recording mechanism must be considered that enables
the risk assessor to record the signifi cant fi ndings of the
assessment and, as previously discussed in Chapter
5, there is no universal layout for such forms. In principle
the majority of forms that are used follow guidance
issued by both the HSE and the ODPM; the latter
suggests the need for utilising a plan of the building or
facilities to assist in identifying locations of specifi c fi re
hazards for ease of reference.
Whichever recording layout is adopted it is likely
to be broken down into key headings that include the
following.
Introduction
The purpose of the introduction is to provide background
information that the reader of the fi re risk
assessment can use to formalise a mental picture of the
premises being assessed. It also provides information
that will be related to the main contents of the assessment
and subsequent action plans.
Management arrangements
This section should give a brief overview of the management
arrangements in place to satisfy the requirements
of the MHSWR and RRFSO and include, as a minimum:
➤ Policy and procedures
➤ Roles and responsibilities
➤ Training
➤ Inspection and monitoring systems
➤ Emergency planning arrangements.
The majority of fi re hazards that affect a building
or its operations arise out of substandard management
arrangements, e.g. when investigating accidents,
incidents, fi res, false alarms, etc. management failures
are seen to have a signifi cant effect upon whether
unsafe conditions (e.g. poor management of contract ors)
or unsafe acts (e.g. wedging open of fi re doors) occur.
There are very few occasions where both primary and
secondary fi re hazards arise which are not attributable
to management failures and therefore this is a key issue
when analysing fi re risk.
Hazards
➤ Primary hazards:
➤ Ignition sources
➤ Fuel sources
➤ Oxygen sources
➤ Secondary hazards (those that prevent an adequate
response in the event of fi re):
➤ Rapid fi re and smoke spread
➤ Spreading to adjacent properties
Fire risk assessment
➤ Inadequate warning arrangements
➤ Inadequate means of escape
➤ Persons cannot be accounted for
➤ Small fi re grows rapidly
➤ Untrained persons at risk
➤ Fire service unaware of fi re
➤ Fire service unaware of building risks
➤ Fire service cannot gain access
➤ Future construction/maintenance works.
The most obvious fi re hazards relate to sources of
ignition, sources of fuel and sources of oxygen and are
known as primary fi re hazards (Chapter 7). These will
need to be recorded, as will any fi re hazards that may
affect people being unable to escape to a place of safety
in the event of a fi re.
It is often the case that a fi re safety inspection will
not identify issues such as the control of contractors
as being a risk, unless contractors and maintenance
operations are being undertaken at the time of inspection.
This issue must be included in a risk assessment as
it is ‘reasonably foreseeable’ that contractors may either
compromise the safety of those on site while undertaking
their operations, or compromise fi re safety compartments
or other control systems.
While fi re fi ghters are not deemed to be
‘relevant persons’ under the RRFSO, the
assessment must address key areas such
as how they will be alerted in the event of
fi re, the ease of which they will gain access
to undertake fi re fi ghting and rescue operations
and risks to fi re fi ghter safety from
processes, materials, chemicals or other
noxious substances. Therefore each of
these areas must also be included within
the risk assessment.
In relation to secondary hazards associated with fi re
the following risks may also need to be considered.
➤ Slips, trips and falls (including those from height)
while evacuating
➤ Handling, lifting or carrying portable fi re fi ghting
equipment
➤ Being trapped by a structural failure such as a wall
collapsing
➤ Being asphyxiated by a gas fl ood system that operates
to extinguish a fi re
➤ Coming into contact with the release of harmful substances
such as asbestos
331