Workplace Fire Risk Assessment Flashcards
Simple basis of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Requires any person who has some level of control of premises to take reasonable steps to reduce risk from Fire and to ensure people can escape
Fire Class A
Carbonaceous Solids
Fire Class B
Flammable Liquids
Fire Class C
Gas
Fire Class D
Metal
Fire Class F
Fats and Cooking Oils
Article 3 - Meaning of Responsible Person
The Employer if the workplace is under his control.
The Occupier or Owner, in so far as the workplace is under his control
Meaning of General Fire Precautions
- Measures to reduce the risk and spread of fire
- Means of escape
- Measures to fight fire
- Measures to detect and warn
- Instruction & Training of employees
- Mitigate effects
Legal - Purpose of an Alterations Notice
Assist enforcing authorities to maintain risk based inspection programme to highlight potentially high life-risk premises.
Notifies the responsible person that the enforcing authorities consider the premises to be high risk
Name of legislation covering fire in the workplace
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
3 aims of a fire risk assessment
- Identify the hazards
- Reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable
- Determine physical fire precautions and management arrangements to safeguard people and premises
What is a fire hazard?
Something that could cause a fire
What is a fire risk?
Likelihood of a fire occurring and the seriousness if it did
5 steps to Fire Risk Assessment
1. Identify the hazards 2 . Identify the people at risk 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect 4. Record, plan, inform, instruct and train 5. Review
3 circumstances an emergency plan must be documented
- More than 5 employees
- Premises is licensed
- An alterations notice requiring it is in force
4 possible enforcement actions of the fire enforcing authority
- Alteration Notice
- Enforcement Notice
- Prohibition Notice
- Prosecution
Part B of schedule 1 of the Building Regs 2010 requires
Building are designed and constructed so appropriate provisions for early warning of fire, and appropriate means of escape in case of fire
Manual Alarm System (M)
Break glass units and alarm sounders connected to a control panel, only activated by an individual on detection of a fire
Automatic Alarm System
Manual + Smoke and Heat detectors, which gives warning if people are present or not
Life Protection (L)
L system ensures people are quickly and safely evacuated. ‘People Out’ approach
Property Protection (P)
P system requires interface with extinguishing systems. ‘Fire Out’ approach
3 categories of alarm system (BS 5839-1)
M - Manual alarm system
L - Life protection
P - Property protection
PFE
Portable Fire-fighting Equipment
Suitable locations for PFE
Room exits Corridors Stairways Lobbies Landings
Height small extinguishers should be mounted
Handle should be approx 1.5m from the floor
Height large extinguishers should be mountd=ed
Handle should be approx 1m from the floor
Monthly fire extinguisher check list
- Correctly located in designated place
- It is unobstructed and visible
- Operating instructions are clean, legible and outward facing
- It has not been operated, is not damaged and has no missing parts
- Pressure gauge is within limits
- Seals and tamper indicators are not broken or missing
Frequency of basic extinguisher servicing
Annually
Frequency of extended extinguisher servicing
5 years
Training in use of PFE
- How to operate different types of extinguisher
- Assessment of physical capability
- Maximum distance reasonable to carry an extinguisher
- Necessity of maintaining a route to safety
- Indication of maximum size of fire to be tackled