Risk assessment fire precautions

A whole range of precautions may be based on the principles summarized earlier. However, general precautions, applicable to the majority of work situations, are listed in Table 5.13, many of which are included in legal requirements. For example, in the UK The Fire Precautions Act 1971 specifies requirements for fire resistance of surfaces and building structure, assessment of risk, means of escape, means for giving warning, firefighting equipment, and fire instruction and drills. 

Fire Precautions drills, maintenance of exit routes, regular maintenance. Hazards risk assessments/responsibilities and procedures (see Chapter 3 for further details). 

A responsible person be appointed to carry out the risk assessment and demonstrate that the fire safety precautions are adequate including adequate safety training provision. 

There is a general duty, in relation to non-employees to take such fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances to ensure that premises are safe and a duty to carry out a risk assessment. 

This Order, made under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, reforms the law relating to fire safety in nondomestic premises. It replaces fire certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 (which it repeals) with a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees a general duty, in relation to non-employees, to take such fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances to ensure that premises are safe and a duty to carry out a risk assessment. 

The responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to identify the general fire precautions he needs to take. 

For many years, premises of all types have been subject to legislative requirements to have adequate fire precautions. These requirements were often enforced through the Fire Authority s powers to issue fire certificates. However, recent legislation has shifted the emphasis of tire responsibility for compliance from the Fire Authority to the employer/occupier. The legislation recognises that the fire precautions should be risk bas and places a duty on the employer to ensure that the precautions he implements match the fire risk faced as determined from a fire risk assessment. 

The Fire Authority are responsible for checking on the adequacy of the fire precautions and the fire risk assessment. Fire certificates will no longer be required. However, premises that have a fire certificate could use it as part of their fire risk assessment providing it is up to date. 

In relation to fire, the responsible person, in addition to other duties, must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed in order to identify the general fire precautions that are required to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed by the Order. 

The prioritisation of any recommendations contained within the action plan will also need to reflect, not only the level of risk, but also the feasibility (practicality) of implementing the prescribed workplace precautions and risk control systems. Risk assessments that merely list long-term recommendations, such as review. .. policy are unlikely to address the immediate requirements for managing fire risks, waiting for a formal policy or procedure, for example a review and revision of contractor selection and management due to poor management of hot work operations, may well take some time to be produced, approved and implemented. 

All necessary fire prevention equipment, and fire extinguishers, must be in place prior to the commencement of work. Management s role is to check specifically that all required precautions are taken. No work should take place in areas where the presence of flammable or explosive substances is suspected without specific assessment, or the area and any containers to be cut are certified as Gas Free . Fire sentries must be posted where there is an assessed significant risk of fire or heat transfer to adjacent areas. A check of the work area should be carried out by management on completion of the shift or the work for any possibility of latent fire hazards, including smouldering. 

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