Fire safety arrangements

The fire risk assessment is not a one-off procedure. Construction sites are continually changing as work progresses. The site should be continually monitored to ensure that the existing fire safety arrangements and risk assessment remains realistic. The assessment should be reviewed frequently as fire significant changes take place. 

Risk assessment and fire safety arrangements - Articies 9 and 11... 

Fire safety arrangements must be made and put into effect by the responsible person where more than four are employed there is a licence for the premises or an Alterations Notice requires them to be recorded. The arrangements must cover effective planning, organization, control, monitoring and review of the preventative and protective measures. 

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Assessment of the overall fire safety arrangements at nuclear power plants (IAEA Safety Series No. 50-P-l 1). 

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Inspection of fire protection measures and fire fighting capability at nuclear power plants (IAEA Safety Series No. 50-P-6,1994). INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Assessment of the overall fire safety arrangements at nuclear power plants (IAEA Safety Series No. 50-P-l 1). 

Specific eiements that may be inciuded in the fire safety arrangements section therefore may be as indicated in Tabie2.1. 

Table 2.1 Elements of a fire safety arrangements section...

Outline the issues that are typically included in the fire safety arrangements section of a health and safety policy document. 

It may be the case that one of the employers sharing a premises has control over the premises. Such wouid be the situation when a small portion of a premises is sublet. In this case the person in control of the premises should take the lead role in ensuring adequate fire safety arrangements and exchange of health and safety information is managed adequately. When there is such a situation the subletters will need to assist the person in control of the premises. 

There are a number of inherent risks to be considered when employing contractors. In terms of fire safety management these risks arise from the actions of the contractors during the work itself and the subsequent impact upon the fire safety arrangements within the building following the contracted works. 

It follows that a sensory disabled person may have difficulties not only in perceiving the risk associated with a fire in a building but may not hear the audible evacuation warning or be able to recognise the way out. It is therefore essential to identify the special needs of any disabled employees when planning your fire safety arrangements and evacuation procedures, for example those with sensory impairments ... 

Who is responsible and for what should be clearly identified within the fire safety arrangements section within the policy. 

As has been discussed within this book the effective management of contractors has a huge bearing upon the overall fire safety arrangements within a premises. It is therefore essential that a review of contractors and their work is conducted regularly. 

The health and safety/fire safety arrangements section in the policy will need to reflect the storage, use, handling, disposal, etc. of the aerosols and the provision of adequate levels of supervision and training will also need to be addressed. 

Employees must take reasonable care of themselves and others and cooperate with their employer. They must also report any serious dangers and shortcomings in the fire safety arrangements [23(1)(a-c)]. 

You must review the risk assessment regularly and where a change may affect your fire safety arrangements, such as a change of work activity, a change in its use or an alteration to the building. The risk assessment must be amended accordingly [9(3)] and kept up to date. 

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