Fire Risk Assessment
In Scotland, Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 covers requirements on general fire safety, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Based on the findings of the assessment, employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.
The key steps as the duty holder as a follows;
- carry out an assessment of the premises and review it regularly
- tell staff or their representatives about the risks you've identified
- put in place, and maintain appropriate fire safety measures
- plan for an emergency
- provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training
A suitable Fire Risk Assessment will assist with the following areas ensuring that your business has followed all the steps in achieving full compliance to Fire Risk and Safety.
Fire Action Plan
It is a management responsibility to have both an emergency fire action plan and arrangements to implement the plan.
In most cases you should nominate persons to implement the fire action plan and give them adequate training in fire fighting and evacuation procedures.
The following items should be considered where appropriate:
- Fire evacuation strategy
- Action on discovering a fire
- Action on hearing the fire alarm
- Calling the fire brigade
- Power/process isolation
- Identification of key escape routes
- Fire wardens/marshals
- Places of assembly and roll call
- Fire fighting equipment provided
- Training required
- Personal Emergence Evacuation Plan
- Liaison with emergency services
Fire Detection & Alarms
Fire detection and fire alarm systems are installed in buildings for the protection of life and property.
All work should be carried out by a competent person; defined in the standard as: [a] person with the relevant current training and experience, and with access to the requisite tools, equipment and information, and capable of carrying out a defined task
Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting is lighting designed to come into, or remain in, operation automatically in the event of a local and general power failure.
Emergency lighting should be installed in buildings or parts of a building considered to be at higher risk such as. The Fire Risk Assessment will help determine the areas that are considered to be higher risk.
Fire Extinguishers
Every business and public building in the UK must, by law, have the right fire safety equipment in place in order to operate.
Of all the fire safety equipment a business needs, fire extinguishers are possibly the most important. And Fire Extinguishers Scotland must comply with specific regulations in order to meet legal requirements. They need to be replaced every five to ten years. How often depends on the type of extinguisher.
The number of extinguishers and locations will be determined by the Fire Risk Assessment.
Fire Door Inspections
Just like any other passive fire protection system, it is essential for a fire door to perform as intended in the event of a fire.
Periodic checks should be carried out at least once every six months although newly occupied buildings may require more frequent checks in the first year of use. Plus, Where the fire door is in high use, it should be checked more frequently than other doors in the building. E.g. once per week/month.
Staff Training
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their staff are adequately trained on what to do in the event of a fire.
The three main areas to concentrate the instruction on are:
The Fire Action Plan, which forms part of your fire risk assessment, is the principle document and should be fully understood by all your employees. Information on the Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan
The elements of combustion and a basic understanding on the theory of fire. Information on the Fire Triangle
The types of fires, types of extinguishing agents, identification of fire extinguishers, use of extinguishers, use of hose reels, and the appropriate extinguisher for each type of fire. Provide practical training in the use of fire extinguishers. Information on Portable Fire Extinguishers
Following these steps will have you on the path of Fire Risk and Safety Compliance and each step can be assisted by having the Fire Risk Assessment carried out and updated as required by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.