Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
392
In addition procedures should be established to:
➤ Ensure that the means of escape are available at all
times [4.(1)(c)]
➤ Provide adequate numbers of fi re extinguishers
[4.(1)(d)]
➤ Give appropriate instruction to employees [Schedule
1 Part 3(h)]
➤ Ensure people from outside organisations are properly
controlled and informed [20], e.g. permits to
work, signing in and out, induction training.
Fire risk assessment
A responsible person must carry out a risk assessment
[9.(1)]. The risk assessment must be recorded if:
i. You employ fi ve or more people [9(6)(a)]
ii. There is a licence in force [9(6)(b)]
iii. An alterations notice requires you to do so [9(6)(c)]
iv. The risk assessment must record the signifi cant
fi ndings and the measures already in place or that
are required [(7)].
You must review the risk assessment regularly and where
a change may affect your fi re safety arrangements, such
as a change of work activity, a change in its use or an
alteration to the building. The risk assessment must be
amended accordingly [9(3)] and kept up to date.
Fire safety arrangements
Employers must have a system for managing fi re safety
[11], which includes measures for planning, organisation,
control and monitoring of your fi re preventive and
protective measures. This must be recorded if:
i. You employ fi ve or more people [11.(2)(a)]
ii. There is a licence in force [11.(2)(b)]
iii. You are subject to an alterations notice [11.(2) (c)].
Records
Records should include reviews of the fi re risk assessment
[9(3)], fi re safety policy, procedures or arrangements
[11.(1)(c)], training records, drills, certifi cates for
the installation and maintenance of any fi re safety systems
or equipment. The inspector can demand to see
the records.
15.28 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1995 (SI 3163)
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) require that
specifi ed injuries and dangerous occurrences resulting
from accidents arising out of or in connection with work
and specifi ed occupational diseases are reported to the
enforcing authority.
15.28.1 Interpretation – regulation 2
The following terms are defi ned in RIDDOR:
➤ Accident – includes an act of non-consensual violence
done to a person at work and an act of suicide
which occurs on or in the course of the operation of
a relevant transport system (a railway, tramway, trolley
vehicle system or guided transport system)
➤ Dangerous occurrence – a specifi ed class of occurrence
arising out of or in connection with work
including:
➤ Electrical short circuit or overload attended by
fi re or explosion which results in the stoppage
of the plant involved for more than 24 hours or
which has the potential to cause the death of
any person
➤ Unintentional explosion or ignition of explosives
➤ The unintentional ignition of anything in a
pipeline
➤ Any incident involving a road tanker or tank container
or vehicle used for the carriage of dangerous
goods in which there is a fi re which involves
the dangerous goods being carried
➤ Any explosion or fi re occurring in any large vehicle
or mobile plant which results in the stoppage
of the vehicle or plant for more than 24 hours
and which affects any place where people normally
work or the egress from such a place
➤ Disease – includes a medical condition
➤ Major injury – means a specifi ed injury or condition
including:
➤ Any fracture other than to fi ngers, thumbs or toes
➤ Any amputation
➤ A chemical or hot metal burn to the eye
➤ Any injury resulting from an electric shock or
electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or
requiring resuscitation or hospital admittance
for more than 24 hours
➤ Responsible person – includes the employer and the
person having control of the premises at which the
reportable event happened.
15.28.2 Notifi cation and reporting of injuries and
dangerous occurrences – regulation 3
RIDDOR requires the responsible person to notify the
relevant enforcing authority by the quickest practicable
means of any accident arising out of or in connection
with work which results in:
➤ The death of any person at work
➤ Any person at work suffering a major injury