AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRE SAFETY ORDER

PHIL THOMPSON MIFireE FIRE SAFETY ADVISOR UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON

• Until the 1 st October 2006, fire safety legislation was covered by the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended 1999.

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 replaces all previous fire safety legislation.

Changes

The main change is the emphasis on

prevention

and

fire safety management

. It also now covers people in the vicinity of the premises and places a greater emphasis on the maintenance of equipment, including equipment provided for fire service use, e.g. dry risers

Who is responsible for complying?

• Workplace – employer or any other person in control i.e. occupier or owner.

• In all other premises – person or people in control will be responsible • If there is more than one responsible person

they must work together

.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order has now gone through the Parliamentary processes required to make it law..

• This 'new' law is not in fact new

WHY?

• Effective fire safety legislation should be a key factor in fire prevention.

• The law has been simplified by getting rid of most of the overlaps and putting in place one set of legal requirements for fire safety that apply to most places people use.

• The main focus of the new law will still be people's safety.

• It uses

risk assessment

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

• The main emphasis of the changes is the move towards fire prevention. Fire certificates have been abolished and have ceased to have legal status.

“Responsible Person”

• Ultimate responsibility falls to the Vice Chancellor. • Deans and Heads of Schools/ Departments have responsibility for ensuring that arrangements for managing Fire Safety are in place and regularly monitored.

and in addition

• The Director of Estate & Facilities Management (EFM) • Deans and Hod’s/Hos • Personnel with management responsibility

• The Director of Estate & Facilities Management (EFM)

is responsible for the implementation of the University Code of Practice for Fire Safety Management where it applies to building structure

• Deans and Hod’s/Hos are responsible for:-

• acting upon the recommendations and requirements of fire risk assessments and fire safety linked to a particular process or procedure under their control • and for ensuring that all persons under their responsibility are trained and given adequate instruction in the case of fire. • They are also required to appoint suitable responsible persons to undertake all necessary fire arrangements and procedures

• Personnel with management responsibility shall ensure:

• that all local precautions and procedures are followed • and that persons under their responsibility are trained • and given adequate instruction in the case of fire.

• Staff must comply with all instructions given to them in regard to fire safety and any other fire procedures as required by supplementary codes of practice.

• Staff must also report any observed shortcomings in fire precautions to their local management.

Fire Risk Assessment

What is a fire risk assessment?

• It’s an organized and methodical look at your workplace, office, school, workshop, etc, the activities carried on there and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm to those in and around the premises.

• Your risk assessment will have to take into consideration the effect a fire may have on

anyone

in or around your premises. • The risk assessment will help you to identify risks that can be removed or reduced • The new regulations will apply to the voluntary sector and self-employed people with premises separate from their homes. • A series of guides has been produced.

• The Risk Assessment should pay particular attention to those at special risk, i.e. disabled and those with special needs • The Risk Assessment will help you to identify risks that can be removed or reduced

What’s the aim?

• To identify the hazards and reduce the risks of those hazards causing harm to as low a level as reasonably practicable.

• To decide what physical and management policies are necessary to ensure the safety of people in your building if a fire does start.

just to remind you

HAZARD anything with the potential to cause harm RISK the chance, high normal or low, of harm occurring

How is it done?

• By following five basic steps

STEP 1

IDENTIFY THE FIRE HAZARDS • Sources of ignition • Sources of fuel

STEP 2

IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE AT RISK

STEP 3

EVALUATE, REMOVE, REDUCE AND PROTECT FROM RISKS

Preventative measures

• Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring • Evaluate the risk to people from fire • Remove or reduce fire hazards • Remove or reduce the risk to people

Protective measures

• Detection and warning • Fire fighting – extinguishers, fire mains, and

Sprinklers

• Escape routes • Lighting • Signs and notices • Maintenance

STEP 4

R ECORD, I NFORM, P LAN, I NSTRUCT, T RAIN • Record significant findings and action taken • Inform relevant people • Prepare an emergency plan • Provide instruction, and co-operate and co ordinate with others • Provide training

STEP 5

REVIEW • Keep assessment under review • Revise where necessary (especially when any changes or alterations are made)

What happens if this is not done properly, or at all

In the event that the responsible person fails to meet their obligations under the RRFSO then the local authority Fire and Rescue Service have the power • to take Informal Action • to take Formal Action

Informal Action

Notification of Fire Safety Deficiencies Form

• Identifies deficiencies which must be met under the Order • Given a reasonable period of time in which to remedy the deficiencies

Formal Action

Alterations notice

issued to premises which constitute a serious risk to persons, whether due to the features of the premises, their use or any other circumstances

once served you must before making: • a change to the premises • a change to services, fittings or equipment • an increase in quantities of dangerous substances • a change of use to the premises notify the Fire Authority of the proposed changes

Enforcement Notices

• served when you fail to comply with the requirements placed upon you by the Order • you will be given the steps to be taken to ensure compliance • prosecution may be considered for non compliance in the time allowed

Prohibition Notice

where the inspector considers the use of the premises involves a risk to persons so serious that the use of the premises ought to be prohibited or restricted, the Authority may serve a Prohibition Notice

Legal Enforcement

• When there is a failure to comply with fire safety duties imposed by the Order, and that failure has put one or more persons at serious risk of death or injury in case of fire, the Authority will consider prosecution

Penalties

• On summary conviction a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; (currently £5k) or • on conviction on indictment a fine (max £20k) or max of 2 years imprisonment, or both An indictable offence is a serious offence which requires trial by jury in a Crown court

What should I do now?

• If you haven’t already, read your risk assessment • Check the fire tracker for progress • Check the fire warden master list • Have a meeting!!

•Burden •or Benefit?

Need help or advice

• Contact the University Fire Safety Advisor Phil Thompson at the Health & Safety Department • or the Fire Safety Assistant Paul West at Trevin Towers Eastbourne