Fire Safety Regulations
Most fires are preventable – those responsible for workplaces, and other buildings to which the public have access, can avoid them by taking responsibility for and adopting the right behaviours and procedures.
General Fire Safety
- 1. Source of ignition (heat)
- 2. Source of fuel (something that burns)
- 3. Source of Oxygen
Sources of ignition include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, smokers’ materials (cigarettes, matches etc.), and anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks.
Sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish, furniture etc.
Sources of oxygen – including the air around us.
Your Responsibilities
Employers, building owners and occupiers, must carry out a ‘Fire Risk Assessment’ and keep it up to date. This shares the same approach as health & safety risk assessments and can be carried out either as part of an overall risk assessment, or as a separate exercise.
Based on the findings of the ‘Fire Risk Assessment’, employers, building owners and occupiers 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.
To help prevent fire in your workplace/building, your ‘Fire Risk Assessment’ should identify what could cause a fire to start, i.e. sources of ignition (heat or sparks) and substances that burn, and the people who may be at risk.
Once you have identified the risks, you can take appropriate action to control them. Consider whether you can avoid them altogether or, if this is not possible, how you can reduce the risks and manage them. Also consider how you will protect people if there is a fire.
- Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment initially and review regularly
- Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart
- Avoid accidental fires, e.g. make sure heaters cannot be knocked over
- Always ensure good housekeeping, e.g. avoid build-up of rubbish that could burn
- Consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start, e.g. installing smoke alarms, automatic fire detection, fire alarms call points and bells
- Have the correct fire-fighting equipment i.e. fire extinguishers etc., for putting a fire out quickly – if safe to do so (ensure all relevant personnel are trained regularly)
- Keep fire exits and escape routes, clearly marked (with relevant safety signs), and always unobstructed
- Ensure your workers receive appropriate and regular fire safety training, fire marshal-warden training, covering procedures they need to follow, including regular fire drills
- Review and update your Fire Risk Assessment.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire safety in England and Wales.
In Scotland, requirements on general fire safety are covered in Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
In most premises, local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation. The Health & Safety Executive has enforcement responsibility, on construction sites, nuclear premises, ships under construction or undergoing repair.
Dangerous substances that cause fire and explosion
Work which involves the storage, use or creation of chemicals, vapours, dusts etc., that can readily burn or explode, is hazardous. Each year people are injured at work by flammable substances accidentally catching fire or exploding.
What are the hazards?
Many substances found in the workplace can cause fires or explosions. These range from the obvious, e.g. flammable chemicals, petrol, cellulose paint thinners and welding gases, to the less obvious – engine oil, grease, packaging materials, dusts from wood, flour and sugar.
It is important to be aware of the risks, by assessing them regularly, and to control or get rid of them, preventing accidents.
What do I have to do?
To help prevent accidental fires or explosions, you first need to identify:
- What substances, materials, processes etc. have the potential to cause such an event, i.e. substances that burn, or can explode, and what might set them alight
- The people who may be at risk / harmed
Once you have identified the risks, you should consider what measures are needed to reduce or remove the risk of people being harmed. This will include measures to prevent these incidents happening in the first place, as well as precautions that will protect people from harm if there is a fire or explosion.
Fire Safety Act References
Key points to remember
- Think about the risks of fire and explosions from the substances you use or create in your business and consider how you might remove or reduce the risks
- Use supplier safety data sheets as a source of information about which substances might be flammable
- Consider reducing the amount of flammable/explosive substances you store on site
- Keep sources of ignition (e.g. naked flames, sparks) and substances that burn (e.g. vapour, dusts) apart
- Get rid of flammable/explosive substances safely
- Review your risk assessment regularly
- Maintain good housekeeping, e.g. avoid build-up of rubbish, dust or grease that could start a fire or make one worse.
You also need to consider the presence of dangerous substances, that can result in fires or explosions, as part of your Fire Risk Assessment. This is required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (in England and Wales) and under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act.
Your local Fire and Rescue Authorities deal with general fire safety matters in workplaces, excluding on construction sites – including shipbuilding, where these are dealt with by the Health & Safety Executive, or its agents.
Enforcement responsibility for fire safety, where dangerous substances are kept and used, generally lies with the Health & Safety Executive and or local authorities, if they inspect the premises.
The Law
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require employers to assess the risk of fires and explosions, arising from work activities involving dangerous substances, and to eliminate or reduce these risks.
Should you require fire extinguisher servicing, supply and training please do not hesitate to call Francis Fire on 01625 365 199, or by emailing: info@francisfire.co.uk
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