Fire Safety Management Plan: the University of Central Lancashire - Example

Contents Purpose 2 Objectives 2 Fire safety policy statement 3 Evacuation strategies 5 Emergency response 6 Fire alarm and detection 6 Fire prevention and arson awareness 7 Routine procedures for staff 7 Selection and control of materials 8 Fire systems testing and maintenance 8 Fire drills and staff training 9 Fire risk assessments 10 Record keeping 12 Auditing and updating this plan 12 References 13 Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) (2006) Fire safety law and guidance documents for business. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/ firesafety/Fire safety law and guidance documents for business -.htm 13 Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guide: Means of Escape. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.dandybooksellers.com/acatalog/Risk_Assessments.html 13 Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Open Air Events and Venues. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/ 13 Department for Communities and Local Government (2006) Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Educational Premises. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.ricsbooks.com/ education premises.htm 13 Department for Communities and Local Government (2006) Fire Safety - Risk Assessment - Large Places of Assembly. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.firesafetyguides.co.uk/bookstore.asp?FO=1228185 13 Excell Fire Safety Services Ltd (2011) Fire Evacuation Plans. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.excellfiresafetyservices.co.uk/index.php?p=fire-safety-services 13 gowild.org.uk (2012) Schools' Fire Safety Policy Statement. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.gowild.org.uk/default.htm 13 Introduction The University of Central Lancashire has a legal responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of the students, staff and anyone else that may have access to the university workplaces. Also, there are various obligations for complying with the provisions of fire safety, regulations and other related legislations. A plan on fire and safety management consists of procedures and recorded information about the safety of different fire installations and fire safety procedures of a certain building. This safety plan is designed for a four floor Sir Tom Finney Centre for Sports (STFSC) within the University of Central Lancashire consisting of sport halls, 300 spectator’s bleacher seating, squash court, viewing and changing areas, and purpose built studios, a fitness suit that is air conditioned and a disabled access. The design of the plan is on reflection of the regulatory reform order on fire safety 2005 (RR (FS)) (DCLG, 2006). Purpose Fire can be regarded as a considerable risk in any form of an organisation with a building infrastructure that is large. This plan has been designed to provide information that will assist the university on how to manage the fire risks in the STFSC appropriately and how the community within the university may be informed about the measures on fire safety. Objectives The main objectives of this plan are: To ensure that the management process on fire risk is applied to ensure high safety levels for persons and property within the sports centre. To ensure that the arising problems on fire safety are effectively and quickly contained and also resolved such as guides to facilitate an evacuation that is orderly, safe and timely when necessary. To ensure that the University of Central Lancashire fully complies with its legal responsibilities that is related to the fire safety To ensure that information and appropriate training on fire safety is provided to the staff, students and other members. Fire safety policy statement The University of Central Lancashire recognises the threat of life safety which the fire can cause in this institution. There are legal obligations for the university to comply with the reformed fire safety order. The university and the relevant authorities on fire safety are committed to maintaining and establishing high standards on the precautions on fire for protection of staff, students and other users of the building. In order to facilitate this, we must: State the appropriate steps to ensure compliance with legislations on fire safety To make sure that steps which are reasonable are taken for provision sufficient level of fire safety within the university To accept that a fire safety management that is effective is very important in day to day activities in the building To carry out appropriate risk assessments on fire safety with guidance from competent people or organisations Maintain a survey and a prioritised inspection within the university to identify fire safety strategies that are suitable and necessary improvements Work closely with the fire service providers to ensure effective elimination, reduction and control of the risks identified To provide suitable support and training to the staff to enable them to identify the risks and also comply with the relevant legislative requirements (gowild.org.uk, 2012). Fire safety management structure The vice-chancellor delegates the responsibility on fire and safety to the heads or deans of the service groups, heads of schools, and the human resources director. The deans of service groups: Ensure that there is effective governance on the issues of fire safety Allocate the resources in terms of money and time to the heads of schools and safety supervisors required to perform their tasks Ensure that minor work on the building is authorised by the estates services The head of schools: Ensures that there is nomination of competent and trained fire supervisors and wardens Ensure that the fire supervisors and wardens perform their duties Allow a working time that is sufficient for implementation of these duties Ensure that the operational assessments on fire risks and routine checks are carried out The safety supervisors and safety wardens perform the duties that are detailed in the fire safety policy of the university: Conducting a local risk assessment on fire Carrying out checks on the fire precautions that are existing Training the staff on fire safety Organising and implementing fire evacuation drill on annual basis Evacuation strategies The sounding of smoke alarms or an evidence of occurrence of fire calls for immediate evacuation; First, the safety warden contacts the fire services If fire is present: The safety warden coordinates with the floor wardens to evacuate people Safety wardens directs the evacuation to the assembly area If possible, the wardens can close the doors and windows after evacuation If you are trained you can fight the fire People should remain in the assembly area until there is a head count of everyone You should not enter the building unless the fire service advises If there was no fire and the fire service has been contacted, the safety warden should notify the people about the situation Wardens and supervisors should assist in reassuring the residents about the situation Upon arrival, he fire service should be allowed to enter the building in order to investigate the situation The safety supervisors and warden should attend in order to deal with the situation and make rectification of system faults or any other problem (Excell Fire Safety Services Ltd., 2011). Emergency response For an orderly and effective evacuation, the sports centre building requires procedures on emergency response. The procedures should reflect the regulatory reform order on fire safety 2005 and will consider the following; The action(s) that needs to be taken in case of different events; first aid, fire, earthquake, hazardous materials, and bomb threat The routes for evacuation and the areas of assembly should be illustrated on all the four floor plans of the building The persons with disabilities should be considered The equipment and resources for emergency should be available Procedures on lifts Procedures on communication and reporting Other considerations of specific workplace Once the safety supervisors and wardens have developed the procedures, a duplicate of these procedures should be located at the panel for fire indicators (Excell Fire Safety Services Ltd 2011) Fire alarm and detection The sports centre is equipped fully equipped with a fire detection that is AUTOMATIC and an alarm system that is directly connected to the fire service authorities. Thermal and smoke detectors are strategically positioned in all the floors throughout the building. Also, call points that are manual are located in the entire building. The components of the fire system must and will always at ALL times remain unobstructed. The alarm activation will: Making the sounding of the alarm in the entire floors of the building Lead to the summoning of the fire services Shut down the only ducted systems of air conditioning (DCLG, 2006). Fire prevention and arson awareness Fire prevention and awareness on arson are addressed by defining a line of reporting for fire safety issues to ensure that there is a timely management of any problem. This is achieved through; Problem notification where the safety wardens in conjunction with the users of the facilities in the building will assist the fire safety management in reporting of any problem or issue identified in the process of working and during routine inspections and maintenance. Failures and any interference of the equipments and systems will be identifies automatically with immediate reporting of any fire issue. Incident or complaint investigation where in case of an actual fire or identification of a major risk on fire safety, the problem will be fully investigated fire safety sectors. Issues remediation will be rectified by fire services with assistance from fire safety management within the university. The service contractor or other external bodies on fire safety may be included in remedial action and this depends on the nature of the problem. Routine procedures for staff The staff should inspect all the floors on continuous basis in order to make sure that: The aisles, corridors and walkways are always clear from any obstructions The exit doors will always remain unlocked and clear when the building is occupied The equipments for fire fighting are accessible and serviceable The smoke and fire doors remain shut especially those installed with systems of fire alarm Reporting any breach on safety observed within the building to the safety supervisor or warden Selection and control of materials Combustible materials in this building may not only refer to highly combustible ones but should consider those materials that easily catch fire. Retaining large quantities of these materials increases the hazards of fire. These include paper records. The combustible materials should not be pilled near electrical equipment and smoking should not be allowed in these areas. The following should be considered for risk reduction: Ensuring display and storage areas are properly monitored and controlled Where possible the suppliers should always provide you with display materials that are fire retardant Ensure the use of electrical lighting within the building will not be a potential ignition source (DCLG, 2006). Fire systems testing and maintenance Installation Date of start Test Frequency Competent Person The Smoke Alarms 1st Jan 2012 Test operation. Replace battery. Check if lighting is connected to smoke alarms. Replace the unit. Operation – done Monthly replacement of the battery – low indication Unit replacement– As per the requirements of Manufacturers Safety supervisors and wardens Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting 1st Jan 2012 As per the standards Six monthly Licensed Electrician Fire Extinguishers 1st Dec 2011 As per the standards Level 1, after 6 months Level 2, after 12 months Level 4, 5 yearly Licensed contractor for fire fighting Fire Hose Reels 1st Dec 2011 As per the standards Six monthly Licensed contractor for fire fighting Exit Door Hardware 1st June 2011 Ensure there is correct operation ALL THETIME Safety supervisors and wardens Fire drills and staff training Staff training will be provided on annual basis on the advice of the fire safety order. The course will be provided by a qualified fire contractor through training manuals. Additional courses will also be provided on demand. It is the staff’s responsibility to ensure that they attend the annual training and there is a database which identifying and reminding those not attending by sending timely reminders to them. The safety supervisors will instruct the users of the facilities at the time they register on the action taken in case of a fire threat in the building to ensure their safety and other’s safety, in particular; The procedure in case of emergency Emergency exits location Fire fighting equipment location Assembly area location Permanent staff must receive fire safety instructions within the first month of commencing work, and also at repeated annual intervals. The instructions include procedure to follow in case of fire, the means of escape, location and operation of equipment for fire fighting. A staff instruction record will be required to be retained with the original plan on fire safety management. Fire drills The exercise on fire evacuation will be done annually within the building. The exercise will educate the users of the facilities the correct way of evacuation in case of an emergency and also to meet the legal obligation of the university. The fire safety supervisors and wardens will conduct the evacuation process with fire safety officer’s guidance. Each drill will be accompanied by pre debriefing and post debriefing, There are also provisions for a safe evacuation of people with disabilities. The evacuation procedures duplicates will displayed conspicuously in the common areas within the building in order to allow the users to be familiar with the procedures for evacuation (HM Government, 2006). Fire risk assessments Fire risk assessments of the building and the ground surrounding it are very important in identification of the potential and real fire risks and hazards. The risk assessment will be in compliance with the regulatory reform order on fire safety 2005. The objectives of the risk assessment are: Identification of the fire hazards Reducing the risk of the hazards which result to harm to the lowest possible way To make decision on the physical precaution on fire and the necessary arrangements for people’s safety in case of fire. Fire risk assessment will involve five steps: Hazard identification which include identification of sources of oxygen, ignition and fuel Identification of the people at risk which include identifying the people at risk and those around and in premises Evaluation the risk of occurrence of fire to the people, removal or reduction of fire hazards and risks to the people and protection from risk Recording the finding that is significant and the action that was taken, preparation of an emergency plan, instructing and informing the people that are relevant and provision of training Reviewing which involves keeping the assessment under review and making revisions where necessary (HM Government, 2006). The risk assessment on fire safety of the sports centre involves; Assembly in large places as it holds a gathering of more than 300 people. As the risk assessment is the base for fire precaution in all premises, this assessment provides guidelines on how the assessment is done in this building and on the precaution to take on fire. Open air venue and events as the building provides outdoor venues and events. The risk assessment also provides guidelines for responsible persons on conducting the ways of conducting the risk assessment on outdoor events and venues. Disabled people means of escape as there are provisions for evacuation of disabled people. The risk assessment involves guidelines and procedures for ensuring safe evacuation for disabled people An educational premise risk assessment which provides procedures for assessing the risk in the building as an educational premise (DCLG, 2006, 2007). Record keeping Safety supervisors should keep necessary records and information in compliance to the regulatory reform order on fire safety and always have them in case of inspection. The recorded information should give proof that appropriate risk assessment on fire safety has been done and it should be recorded in regard to: Significant findings as a result of the risk assessment Result measure and action on fire safety The people at risk The arrangements on fire safety for effecting organisation, planning, monitoring and review of safety measures on fire Auditing and updating this plan The plan should be flexible, simple, tested, written disseminated and reviewed and should also incorporate: a means of escape, lifts, accounting for people, assembly areas, and other specifications that are relevant to this building (HM Government, 2006). References Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) (2006) Fire safety law and guidance documents for business. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/ firesafety/Fire safety law and guidance documents for business -.htm Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Fire Safety Risk Assessment Guide: Means of Escape. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.dandybooksellers.com/acatalog/Risk_Assessments.html Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Open Air Events and Venues. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/ Department for Communities and Local Government (2006) Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Educational Premises. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.ricsbooks.com/ education premises.htm Department for Communities and Local Government (2006) Fire Safety - Risk Assessment - Large Places of Assembly. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.firesafetyguides.co.uk/bookstore.asp?FO=1228185 Excell Fire Safety Services LtdExcell Fire Safety Services LtdExcell Fire Safety Services LtdExcell Fire Safety Services LtdBottom of Form Excell Fire Safety Services Ltd (2011) Fire Evacuation Plans. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.excellfiresafetyservices.co.uk/index.php?p=fire-safety-services gowild.org.uk (2012) Schools' Fire Safety Policy Statement. Viewed on 8th February, 2012 from: http://www.gowild.org.uk/default.htm HM Government (2006) Risk assessment, Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU. Read More