Fire Safety Management Plan - Coursework Example

Fire Safety Management Plan Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 1. Introduction 3 2. Fire safety policy statement 3 3. Fire safety management structure 3 4. Evacuation strategies 4 5. Emergency response 4 6. Fire alarm and detection 5 7. Sprinkler system 5 8. Fire prevention and arson awareness 6 9. Routine procedures for staff 6 10. Selection and control of materials 7 11. Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems 7 12. Decoration, alterations and extensions 8 13. Staff training and fire drills 8 14. Fire risk assessments 8 15. Record keeping 9 16. Audit and updating of this manual 9 17. References and Bibliography 10 Fire Safety Management Plan 1. Introduction This Fire Safety Management Plan is designed to ensure that the staff, students, and visitors at Tom Finney Sports Centre (STFSC) maintain compliance with BS9999: 2008 Code of practice for fire safety (Fire Strategy Company 2009). It is designed as a guide and may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the conditions of the sports facility. The document contains three key objectives: emergency evacuation, maintenance, and application of fire protection system and control of fire hazard. 2. Fire safety policy statement Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre aims see to it that all students, university staff and visitors who use the facility are safe from risks of fire. The sports centre upholds fire safety procedures and systems to protect the sports facility, its occupants and to ensure that the fire systems are well monitored and maintained in compliance with the requirements of the BS9999: 2008 and the risk assessment for open-air events and venues (Department for Communities and Local Government 2007b). 3. Fire safety management structure a) University Directorate: ensures compliance of the sports centre to the University of Central Lancashire policies and procedures. He acts as the disciplinary contact person in case of contraventions and ensures that appropriate measures are taken (UCLAN 2012). b) Senior Management Team (SMT): ensures that the operations to facilitate compliance with the university policy and the related procedures are carried out. They ensure the supervisory staffs are well trained and equipped. c) Head of Sports Centre: ensures that supervisory staff at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre work safely and without health risks. They provide necessary supervision to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Management Plan. d) Supervisory Staff and fire wardens: ensures that Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and its occupants are protected against fire by implementing the Fire Safety Management Plan, training occupants on fire safety, inspecting the facility, and reporting any fire incident or accident. 4. Evacuation strategies In case of a fire emergency, a fire alarm will self-activate (Barrows & Thurman 1998). All occupants in the facility shall exit the building using the safe exits. Individuals with disabilities and their assistants shall advance to the nearby safe exits (Department for Communities and Local Government 2007). While exiting the facility, the evacuees should inform persons with the difficulty in hearing to evacuate (National Fire Protection Association 2007). Evacuees should make way to the corridors and ultimately through the exits quietly and orderly. Persons with mobility impairment requiring assistance should be assisted to reach the safest exit using stair-descent devices such as evacuation chairs (Newton & Ender 2010). 5. Emergency response On discovering fire, depart from fire area and close all doors behind them. The fire alarm should be sounded. Exit using the stairways. If stuck, use the Emergency Voice Communication System to alert the fire officer of the fire and give the direction of the affected area. Wait for direction or information from the authorised personnel. Close the windows, doors and contain the fire using a portable fire extinguisher to put it off (Chow 2001). 6. Fire alarm and detection The fire alarm system should be kept in best possible operational condition. The available types of fire alarm systems include single-stage and two-stage systems. The single-stage system shall activate an alarm for the entire sports facility and may prompt total evacuation. A smoke detector, heat detector, sprinkler head, or manual pull station shall be actuated. The two-stage fire alarm system shall activate to inform staff to look into and take required action. It may call for partial evacuation of the facility, particularly the affected places (National Fire Protection Association 2007). 7. Sprinkler system The automatic sprinkler system shall be actuated by heat from fire, and will discharge water over the affected area. The sprinkler contractor is responsible for testing the system in accordance with the BS9999: 2008 Code of practice for fire safety (Lawrence Webster Forrest 2015). In the event that the contractor needs to temporarily shut down the sprinkler protection while serving the equipment, the contractor shall ensure it is completed as soon as possible. Extra precautions should be ensured during the shutdowns. In case of an interruption to the normal sprinkler protection, the contractor shall first ensure that the portable extinguishers and emergency horse-lines are in operation. 8. Fire prevention and arson awareness As a risk measure, smoking is prohibited inside the sports centre (Department for Communities and Local Government 2006b). Occupants should report anyone found smoking to the supervisory staff of fire wardens. The occupants should remain alert while near electrical sports equipment, especially in the 2nd Floor. In case equipment is faulty or produces unusual sound or odour, it should be disconnected and the wardens alerted immediately. Any broken or cracked electrical cord should be disconnected. All heat generating devices should be kept away from the wall or any inflammable material. Ample space should be left to circulate around devices that often generate heat (Kumar & Sharma 2010). All suspicious character suspected to be capable of maliciously destroying property should be reported to the security personnel or the fire wardens. 9. Routine procedures for staff The Fire Safety Management Plan’s effectiveness is contingent on the efficiency of the supervisory staff. They shall be trained on fire emergency procedures each month. They shall ensure that the fire alarms system, fire extinguishers and all fire protection kit are well maintained and in maximum working condition (The University of Queensland 2009). In the event of fire, they shall make sure that the alarm system is sounded, the emergency voice communication system is used or responded to, and that the Fire Department notified. They shall supervise all evacuations from the facility. They shall coordinate efforts with the fire fighter by providing relevant information about the building (National Fire Protection Association 2007). 10. Selection and control of materials The supervisory staff should be informed of the location of fire safety equipment, respiratory protective equipment (RPE), and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The equipment should be used as outlined in the Fire Safety Management Plan. Use of PPE and RPE should be as a last resort to reduction of risks. Selection of equipment during an emergency remains the responsibility of the supervisory staff and individual occupants of the building. Any PPE has to be worn appropriately during an emergency. 11. Maintenance and testing of fire safety systems The supervisory staff shall regularly inspect the sports facility and test the fire fighting equipment as outlined in the BS9999: 2008 Code. The Code provides a list of fire fighting equipment and the frequency with which they should be checked, inspected, and tested. They should read the list and undertake the required inspection and test. The equipment include portable fire extinguisher, water supply, hose systems and standpipe, voice communication system and fire alarm, sprinklers, egress, emergency power systems, fire department access ways (Netherlands Institute For Safety Nibra 2009). 12. Decoration, alterations and extensions Decorations within the sports centre should meet the specifications of safety and fire resistance as outlined in “BS9999: 2008 Code.” The new materials used for renovating or altering ceilings, walls or floors should also meet the requirements of the Code (UCIRVINE 2014). Extension cords used in the facility should be kept from damage. Electrical decorations should not be utilised in combustible materials (such as curtains, vegetation) that may ignite or cause electrical fire. All electrical extensions, equipment, remodels, or alteration should be checked for compliance to the relevant protection requirements. 13. Staff training and fire drills The supervisory staff should have a copy of the Fire Safety Management Plan. They shall be trained and drilled regularly on how to use the fire safety equipment and fire emergency procedures -- as outlined in the Fire Safety Management Plan. The training will be done each year. Regular drills should be done to make sure the staff and occupants of the sports facility are familiarised with emergency evacuation procedures (Huseyin & Satyen 2006; Satyen et al 2003). The fire drills shall take place in all sections: Upper Ground Floor, Lower Ground Floor, 1st Floor, and 2nd Floor. Use of Voice Communication System should be whenever necessary. 14. Fire risk assessments As outlined in the “Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Educational Premises,” Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre (STFSC) has a responsibility to check that effective risk assessment of the facility is carried out (Department for Communities and Local Government 2006). This is to determine the extent to which the staff and occupants of the facility are exposed to risks of fire (McConell et al 1996). The Directors of Service will ensure that risk assessments are carried out. 15. Record keeping All incidents, accidents, or near-misses shall be recorded for future reference and to ensure they are accessible for review whenever further action is essential. The records of the staff trained, as well as the date and time of trainings shall be kept for future reference. All findings from the risk assessment shall be recorded and any recommended measures implemented to reduce fire risks (UCLAN 2012). 16. Audit and updating of this manual This manual shall be updated after annual auditing, or whenever there is any alteration to the facility, addition of equipment or a need for updating arises based on recommendations made after an incident or accident. 17. References and Bibliography Barrows, C & Thurman, Q 1998, "Fire Safety on Campus: Are College Students Prepared?" College Student Journal, Vol. 22, pp.310-314 Chow, W 2001, "Review on Fire Safety Management and Application to Hong Kong," International Journal on Engineering Performance-Based Fire Codes, Vol. 3, No. 1, p.52-58, 2001 Department for Communities and Local Government 2006, Fire safety risk assessment: educational premises, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Department for Communities and Local Government 2006b, Fire safety risk assessment: large places of assembly, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Department for Communities and Local Government 2007, Fire safety risk assessment: means of escape for disabled people, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Department for Communities and Local Government 2007b, Fire safety risk assessment: open-air events and venues, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Fire Strategy Company 2009, A Guide to BS 9999:2008, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Huseyin, L & Satyen, L 2006,"Fire safety training: Its importance in enhancing fire safety knowledge and response to fire," The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Vol. 21 No. 4 Kumar, R & Sharma, S 2010, Fire Safety in Buildings - An Engineering Approach, central Building Research Institute, Roorkee Lawrence Webster Forrest 2015, BS9999:2008 - Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings, viewed 12 Feb 2015, McConell, C, Leeming, F & Dwyer, W 1996, ‘Evaluation of a fire safety-training program for preschool children,’ Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 213-227 Netherlands Institute For Safety Nibra 2009, Consumer fire safety: European statistics and potential fire safety measures, viewed 1 October 2013, http://www.verbraucherrat.at/download/firesafetyconsumer.pdf National Fire Protection Association 2007, Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities, viewed 12 Feb 2015, Newton, F & Ender, S 2010, Students helping students: A guide for peer educators on college campuses, 2nd ed, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco Satyen, L Sosa, A & Barnett, M 2003, ‘Applications of cognitive theories to children’s fire safety education,’ Proceedings of the 39 the Annual Conference (pp. 250–254), Melbourne, Australia: The Australian Psychological Society Ltd. The University of Queensland 2009, Fire Safety Management, viewed 12 Feb 2015, UCIRVINE 2014, Fire Prevention Program, viewed 14 Feb 2015, UCLAN 2012, Statement of Policy Organisational and Procedural Arrangements, University of Lancashire Read More