Fire Safety

Summary

 

Fire prevention, and fighting and emergency arrangements in workplaces.

New legislation will be coming into force in October 2006; for further details visit the DCLG Fire Safety Guide. 

Eligibility

 

All employers, self-employed, employees and members of the public.

 

Procedure

 

Fire safety

Fire is a chemical reaction between oxygen (air) and a fuel source (paper, wood or oily rags for example) which is allowed to start because of the presence of some sort of ignition source (usually heat such as a lit match or electrical energy). It poses a threat to life through fume, smoke, burning and structural collapse. Much can be done to minimise the risk of fire starting at the work place and to contain its effects once started.

New regulations are proposed which will include fire precautions at places of work in particular and will require risk assessment, training and record keeping. This is dealt with under the following headings.

• Fire Risk Assessment
• Prevention of fire
• Raising the alarm and means of escape
• Fire fighting equipment
• Other relevant fire safety legislation
• Fire safety legislation
• Fire safety, a checklist
• Think about&

Fire Risk Assessment

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require that all employers have procedures for dealing with serious and imminent danger. As an extension to this the Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment) Regs 1999 require that a specific fire risk assessment be carried out.

The Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, require that the owner/occupier must carry out a fire safety risk assessment of their premises to ensure that persons working at or resorting to these premises are safe from any outbreak of fire. The South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service enforce the aforementioned regulations. Fire Safety advice can be obtained from the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on telephone number 01226 282222.

A risk assessment carried out under these regulations must identify the following

1. 1. Sources of fuel, ignition and air
2. 2. Persons at risk from fire
3. 3. Means of; escape, raising the alarm and of fighting the fire

Prevention of fire

Fire prevention measures centre upon the removal or control of available fuel and ignition sources. Typical fuel sources include raw materials, finished product, waste and debris, flammable gases and liquids. Waste and debris should be controlled by efficient housekeeping and waste disposal; provide proper bins and avoid accumulations. Minimum supplies of flammable materials should be kept on premises and safe storage procedures must be followed to minimise fire risk.

Electrical installations and portable appliances must be inspected and maintained regularly to avoid the risk of an electrical fire.

Special care must be taken with portable heaters, which should be strictly controlled, provided with suitable guards and not placed near flammable materials, or in escape routes. Finally, the use and disposal of smoking materials, including ashtrays, must be controlled e.g. establish and enforce your policy with regard to smoking on the premises. The risk of arson, one of the common causes of fire, should be addressed through proper security and alarm measures.

Raising the alarm and means of escape

There are many different types of fire alarm systems, from a simple manually operated one to the very sophisticated. Advice on appropriate systems for individual premises is available from the Fire Authority and in the case of new building or changes to premises may be a requirement of Building Regulations. Whatever system is chosen, regular testing (sounding of the alarm), inspection and maintenance is vital. The testing and inspection should include formal inspections and testing by a competent person who should provide a report into their findings for your records and also routine internal recorded tests. In addition you must ensure that everyone on your premises is familiar with the sound of the alarm, and that it can be heard throughout the premises at all times. If your workplace is very noisy or you employ staff who are hearing impaired you must consider if your alarm is totally suitable or would require supplementary means of attracting attention such as flashing lights.

There must be adequate means of escape in all work premises. Again, the Fire Authority can advise. Escape routes must be kept clear at all times and must be clearly marked. Escape routes must not, under any circumstances, be used for storage and fire doors must not be locked, blocked or wedged open. Ensure that everyone knows the procedure in case of fire by holding regular fire drills and clearly displaying fire instructions. Records should be kept of fire drills and any practice evacuations and these practices should be reviewed to identify any failings in the system in order that they can be improved where necessary. Part of the means of escape includes the need for lighting. Building Regulations will indicate where emergency lighting systems are required (these should also be inspected and tested both by competent persons and through internal procedures), however, you may also need to think about the provisions of torches etc (giving consideration to the times at which the premises are occupied etc, should this not be a requirement for the building.)

Fire fighting equipment

Fire fighting equipment must also be provided in all work premises. Ensure that there are sufficient fire extinguishers of the appropriate type for your workplace, suitably located to deal with any small outbreaks of fire. Provide fire blankets at locations such as kitchens. Fire fighting equipment must be regularly inspected and checked; the contracted supplier usually carries this out. It is important that staff who might be expected to use fire equipment have some training in its use and are aware of its location. It is more important to save lives than fight the fire, however, if people are to use the extinguishers or other equipment provided they must be trained, by a competent person, in the correct choice and use of the means provided.

It can be very dangerous to use the wrong extinguisher.

Types of fire extinguishers:

Water
Use on: general fires such as burning paper, cloth or wood

Foam
Use on: burning liquids, chip pan fires, petrol fires

Fire Blanket
Use on: pan fires, when a person's clothes are on fire

Dry Powder
Use on: burning liquids, electrical fires, pan fires

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Use on: burning liquids, electrical fires, pan fires

Halon
Halon gas is a CFC and as such contributes to ozone depletion. These extinguishers are no longer available. You will not be able to have them serviced adequately as the testing regime involves discharging the extinguisher from time to time. This is illegal.

Your engineer or South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will advise you when the extinguisher needs to be replaced i.e. it cannot be re-pressurised. There are alternative extinguishers that are suitable for use on electrical or burning liquid fires (see powder and CO2). There are also extinguishers equivalent to Halon available should your application need a similar specification again South Yorkshire fire and Rescue Service or your service engineer should be able to advise you.

Use on: electrical fires, burning liquids

Since January 1997, all new fire extinguishers must have 95% of their body painted red. To show what medium they contain, extinguishers will have a small coloured panel corresponding to the colours in use now i.e. black for carbon dioxide, cream for foam, blue for powder, green for vaporising liquids, all red for water based.

Existing extinguishers and those in company liveries will be phased out.

Extinguisher identification signs will also have to be changed to take account of the new standards. Education programmes to re-train staff will be vitally important.

Sprinkler systems

In some buildings/workplaces sprinkler systems which are triggered either by heat or by the alarm are fitted. These systems should be maintained and tested at regular intervals by a competent engineer and records kept.

Other relevant fire safety legislation

The Fire Precautions Act 1971
These require that the following premises must have a Fire Certificate issued by the Fire Authority:
a) Hotels and Boarding Houses, which provide sleeping accommodation for more than 6 people or which, provide sleeping accommodation above the first floor or below the ground floor.
b) Work Places (Factories, Offices, Shops and Railway Premises) where:

• more than 20 people are employed to work at any one time, or
• more than 10 people are employed to work at any one time elsewhere than on the ground floor, or
• the premises are part of a larger building which meets conditions (i) or (ii), or
• Explosive or highly flammable materials are stored or used.

A copy of the fire certificates, which deal with matters such as means of escape and fire fighting, must be kept on the premises. The local fire authority will advise on requirements.

These require that a fire risk assessment be carried out in all places of work where one or more people are employed. Where 5 or more are employed the significant findings of the assessment must be recorded. Guidance is available on what the assessment should cover and how to carry out the assessment.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002

These Regulations refer to workplaces where "dangerous substances" used or are present e.g. flammable substances or where "explosive atmospheres" exist. Guidance has been produced to help employers who use and store materials or in whose premises such atmospheres may occur.

 

Helplines

 

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Dearne Fire Safety: (01226) 282222

Regulatory Services, Health and Safety Team: 01226 773860/1
or e-mail: healthandsafety@barnsley.gov.uk

Health and Safety Executive: (0114) 2912300

 

Charges/Fees

 

No charges or fees are applicable.

 

Opening Times/Locations

 

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

 

How the customer can help

 

Fire safety - a checklist

• Have I assessed the risk from fire in my workplace?
• Have I recorded my findings?
• Are all reasonable measures taken to prevent fire?
• Are there adequate arrangements to control fire?
• Would staff be able to escape safely in the event of a fire?

Think about...

• Have all potential sources of ignition been identified and appropriate measures taken to reduce the risk from them?
• Is a good standard of housekeeping maintained to prevent the accumulation of waste and debris?
• Are combustible materials stored away from sources of ignition?
• Is fire-fighting equipment checked and inspected?
• Has consideration been given to the use of fire resistant fittings, furnishings and building materials in the premises?
• Are fire doors kept closed?
• Have all staff been properly trained in the fire drill and is regular refresher training given?
• Are fire procedure notices prominently displayed on the premises?
• Do fire drills take place at least once a year?
• Are escape routes clearly marked and kept free from obstruction at all times?
• Is the emergency lighting system regularly inspected and maintained?

 

Further Information

 

Leaflets are available from our offices (see Opening Times/Locations)

Or from HSE:

HSE Books,
PO Box 1999,
Sudbury,
Suffolk,
CO10 2WA.

01787 881165 or visit the Health and Safety Executive link to free leaflets and download Stationary Office Book Shops.

 

Legislation

 

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations 1999
• Fire Precautions Act 1971
• Fire (Workplace)(Amendment) Regulations 1999
• Dangerous substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 

Requests for advice made to Regulatory Services will be responded to within 5 working days.

 

Owner Officer Contact Details

 

Unit Manager, Food Hygiene/Health & Safety
3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

 

Related Links:

• Health and Safety Executive
• South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Prevention Association

Last modified on 17/9/2008