Fire Risk Assessment Guide

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N.B Only a " Competent Person " should carry out a Fire Risk Assessment.

 

 

A competent assessor may be defined as one who has

" sufficient training, experience, knowledge, and other qualities "

properly to perform their function of conducting a fire risk assessment

 

Obviously this varies according to the nature of the fire risk assessment. On the one hand, a one room single storey fruit and vegetable shop may quite easily fall within the fire risk assessment competence of the owner with no special fire safety competence. On the other hand a complex office building, factory, university or hospital will probably require the fire risk assessment competence of a fire safety specialist. It is up to the "Responsible Person" or individual concerned to establish if they have the competence or not to carry out an adequate fire risk assessment.

In order to conduct an adequate fire risk assessment the following should be recorded by a competent Fire Risk Assessor:

Please feel free to print off and use

1.

Name of Organisation

 



2.

Location




3.

Date




4.

Fire Risk Assessment Area




5.

Work Activity




6. Number of Persons Employed


7.

Maximum Number of Persons in Workplace




8.

Assess the fire risks by identifying sources of ignition




9.

Identify location of combustible materials




10.

Identify persons at significant fire risk




11.

Identify physical features which could promote or spread a fire




12.

Check how a fire can be detected in a reasonable time




13.

Check how people can be warned of a fire in a reasonable time




14.

Check how people can get out safely




15.

Provide reasonable fire-fighting equipment




16.

Check that people in the building know what to do in the event of a fire




17.

Check and maintain all fire safety equipment




18.

Priority Action Plan following the assessment




19.

Name of Fire Risk Assessor




20.

Competence of Fire Risk Assessor




Keep a copy of your completed document readily available in a safe place.

NB The above is only suitable as a guide and for premises with less than 5 persons employed.   Fire Service International Ltd accepts no responsibility for how the above guide is used.  If in any doubt contact the local Fire Authority or Fire Service International Ltd.

When carrying out a fire risk assessment the Fire Risk Assessor should keep in mind that its purpose is to identify risks in order to remove or reduce, control and monitor them. Thus, having established the extent to which it is deemed appropriate , the employer, or controller of the premises, must then comply with the requirements of the fire risk assessment where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of employees in case of fire. To the extent that it is appropriate , all workplaces must be provided with sensible and appropriate fire safety precautions.

Confused?............You needn't be..........

For further details please Contact Us

or simply ring us on 01492 878880

Fire Safety Quiz

fire service international ltd

Please be our guest and print off and use this fire safety quiz.

Fire Safety Quiz

1. Where is your nearest break glass fire alarm call point to be found? Don't know, It is easy to find out so why not go and look. TODAY !
2. What does the fire alarm sound like? (bells, klaxon, siren)
Don't know. You should be able to hear it tested for a few seconds once every single week.
3. Where is your fire assembly point?
Don't know, Why not ask somebody who does and go and look. TODAY !
4. What is the correct procedure in the event of a fire?
Don't know, just look at a fire action notice. It will also state the location of your Assembly Point.
5. What fire extinguishers must not be used near electricity? Don't know, why not go and read the instructions on a couple of different fire extinguishers. TODAY !
6. What are the meanings of the arrows on fire exit signs?
Don't know. We can help you, so why not ring Fire Service International Ltd on 01492 878880.

Answers should be immediate and 100% correct (Fire won't wait while you make up your mind) If you did not achieve 100% in the questions above, then something is not as it should be and perhaps you, or your employer, should ring Fire Service International Ltd on 01492 878880

If the quality of answers to the above leaves you concerned then you must act now. Failure to act could render a person liable for failing to fulfil THEIR individual legal responsibilities under Health and Safety legislation. Penalties, for Employers, "Responsible Persons" and/or certain members of staff under some Fire Safety legislation can include up to five years imprisonment or unlimited fines or both. The litigation which ensues may no longer only be against the organisation, more and more senior personnel are specifically targeted and sued by injured parties or in the worst case by relatives of any deceased.

Fire safety legislation, of which many people still remain unaware includes

  1. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

  2. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

  3. BS EN3

  4. DSEAR

  5. DDA

  1. Includes mandatory Fire Risk Assessments and Training

  2. Includes mandatory pictograms in fire safety signs

  3. Includes changes to colour coding of fire extinguishers

  4. Applies to all dangerous substances in most places of work

  5. Includes means of escape

Fire Safety Quiz For You

1. Is your fire risk assessment "suitable & sufficient" ; " current & valid"?
2. According to the RR(FS)O, what are " sensible" & "appropriate " safety measures;?
3. Do you know the law provides for you to appoint " competent persons " to assist you?
4. Do you know all your "legal responsibilities " for fire safety?
5. Have you the time and is it " cost effective " to fulfil these responsibilities yourself?
6. Could it be " more economical " to place this work with Fire Service International Ltd?
"Fire Service International Ltd, don't sell fire extinguishers, fire signs or self closing devices. We have no vested interest in over specifying your needs in these areas. We do conduct impartial fire risk assessments and fire safety training to enable you to comply with fire safety regulations and place accurate and economic orders with your own suppliers."

Call now to discuss, without obligation, your specific needs.

For further details please Contact Us

or simply ring us on 01492 878880

Fire Safety Training Courses, Fire Precautions Training Courses, Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Service International Ltd

A Simple Guide to Training Needs Analysis

or Am I spending my fire safety training budget wisely?

Question: Should I bother reading any further?
Answer: If you have a limitless fire safety training budget NO!


Please feel free to print off this page of Fire Safety Training Tips.

Tip No 1

If you don't have a limitless fire safety or fire prevention budget, cost effective training is essential. Read On!

What is training needs analysis (TNA)? Very simply TNA involves a process to establish what are an employee's actual as opposed to perceived training needs. How often do they do a task, what is its importance and how much of a risk does it involve.

Let us take an example of one the many tasks of a typical Receptionist. Unless the equipment or protocols change then there is little actual need for annual training on handling telephone calls. However, if they were designated as a fire warden there is now an additional actual training need..… so where do you start?

An accurate job description can form a good basis. It would be very embarrassing to send someone on a course only to find that the training forms no part of their job function. The job description should be supported by questionnaires and interviews with the job holder, their line manager and their subordinates. These will reveal what they actually do now as opposed to what they were supposed to do ten years ago.

If the person's job description shows no specific responsibility for fire prevention or fire safety other than what applies to all employees, then giving specific and detailed fire prevention or fire safety training will be an expensive misdirection of funds. What if the Receptionist is designated as the one who calls the fire brigade, assists with the evacuation, takes the roll call, meets the first appliances, provides plans of the building and acts as fire brigade liaison throughout the incident? One : they are doing too much. Two : they, and the person who drew up the job description most definitely have training needs which must be addressed.

Thus, by establishing that there is an actual training need, the training budget can be spent wisely in the most cost effective way.

Tip No 2

One of the best tips for fire safety training is to walk the means of escape route with the individual to be trained, whether they be a new person on Induction Training or an old hand on refresher training.

First go to the Fire Action Notice and read and discuss what it says.

Keeping asking HOW?

How do you raise the alarm?

How do you break the glass?

How do you know if the Fire Brigade has been alerted?

How do you know if the Switchboard Operator has called them?

How do you Evacuate the premises?

How do you know that the passageways and doors will all be clear?

Walk the route now and make sure that there are no obstructions or locked doors.

How do you know where the Assembly Point is if there is no location map?

How will a new person know where "Admin Car Park" or "Maintenance Yard" is?

How will you deal with problems like smoke blocking your usual escape route?

How will you know where the alternative escape route is? Walk it now.

Need we go on?

Tip No 3

How to deliver good training.

The art of a good lecture

Tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em.

Then Tell 'em.

Then Tell 'em what you have told 'em.

In other words start by giving the delegates something to look forward to.

Then deliver the training.

Then recap and consolidate what you have delivered.

You see we have just done it.

We told you what we were going to tell you = How to Deliver good training

Then we told you = Deliver it three times

Now we are re-capping = We are telling you what we told you

Tip No 4

Six P.s

P erfect P lanning P revents P retty P oor P erformance

Lecture or risk assessment, taking the time to dot all the I.s and cross all the T.s will pay dividends.

For good training make sure that:

You have all you need before the start ;

Ensure there are going to be no interruptions ;

Vary the training aids e.g. Multi-Media Projector, Overhead Projector, Video, Flip Chart;

Make it interactive.

Never embarrass your audience by putting one of them on the spot with a clever question,

You are supposed to know, they are not, so develop their knowledge don't show off yours

If you don't know something say so, never bluff it out find the answer and report it back

For further details please Contact Us

or simply ring us on 01492 878880

Practical Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety & Fire Risk Assessment

fire service international ltd

 

Please feel free to download this page of practical fire safety tips.

Tip No 1

Check to see if your staff have been trained in fire safety by a "competent person".

The RR(FS)O requires staff to be trained in fire safety in the actions to be taken in case of fire

Tip No 2

Check to see if you have full and up to date fire safety records readily available.

Current legislation requires;

Date of Fire Safety Training
Duration of Fire Safety Training
Location of Fire Safety Training
Who attended the Fire Safety Training
Who delivered the Fire Safety Training

Tip No 3

Check to see that you and your premises are within the law.

Tip No 4

Carry out a fire risk assessment now before it is too late

For further details please Contact Us

or simply ring us on 01492 878880

 

Competent Fire Safety Consultants

fire service international ltd

Fire Prevention Consultancy

This devastation took just a few minutes

You can choose a "Competent" fire safety consultant in a lot less time.

Specify ex-inspecting fire safety officers of enforcing authorities

  • Fire Brigade Fire Prevention Officer

Specify membership of an appropriate fire professional body

  • Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)

  • Fire Protection Association (FPA)

Specify Instructors to be well qualified

  • Members of The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) or

  • Deliverers of instruction to peers within their own profession

Specify fire safety company to carry adequate insurance

  • Public Liability five million pounds (£ 5,000,000)

  • Professional Indemnity two million pounds (£2,000,000)

Ensure fire safety company is well founded and secure e.g.

  • Limited Company

  • VAT Registered

  • Dept of Trade & Industry Pre-Qualified for Government & Local Authority work

Ensure fire safety company is well run

  • View of Health and Safety Policy

  • View of Quality statement

  • View of Terms of Business/Conditions of Engagement

Ensure fire safety company has a proven track record

  • Require company to provide names of suitable referees

Selecting a competent fire safety consultancy or fire safety consultant

Checklist to select a competent Fire Safety Consultancy

Requirement Yes No FSI
Member of Institution of Fire Engineers IFE Yes
Member of Fire Protection Association FPA Yes
Ex-Fire Service Fire Prevention Officers Yes
Members of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development Yes
Public Liability/Professional Indemnity Insurance Yes
VAT Registered Limited Company Yes
Dept Trade & Industry - Pre-Qualified Yes
Copy of Health & Safety policy Yes
Copy of Quality Statement Yes
Copy of Terms of Engagement Yes
Provision of suitable referees Yes
DTI certified  Yes

 

For further details please Contact Us

or simply ring us on 01492 878880

 

 

 
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