Fire Safety Management and Legislation in Event of an Emergency Service in Media Factory - Case Study Example

Student Name: Tutor: Title: Fire Safety Management and Legislation-Media Factory Course: Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 2 2.0 Fire Safety Policy Statement 3 3.0 Fire Safety Management Structure 3 3.1The Vice Chancellor 3 3.2 Director of Facilities Management 4 3.3 Development and Maintenance Manager 4 3.4 Accommodation, Buildings and Grounds Manager 4 3.5 Universities Safety, Health and Environmental Manager 5 3.6 Deans of Faculty/Heads of service/Department/Schools 5 3.7 Evacuation Coordinator 5 3.8 Floor wardens 5 3.9 General staff 6 4.0 Evacuation Strategies 6 5.0 Training program 7 5.1 For residents of the media factory 7 5.2 For Permanent employees 8 5.3 Annual evacuation training 8 6.0 Sprinkler system 8 7.0 Fire prevention and arson awareness 9 8.0 Fire Risk Assessment 10 8.1 For disabled people 10 8.2 For Large Places of Assembly 11 8.3 For Education premises 11 9.0 Auditing and updating of the fire safety management plan 11 10.0 Conclusion 11 References 12 1.0 Introduction The need for a fire safety management plan is a requirement by law. The reason for the preparation of this safety management plan is to acquaint the staff, students and all other occupants of the media factory with information on fire safety. It aims to provide guidelines on the do’s and don’ts in case of a fire and provide a guide for the safe and timely evacuation of people in a fire situation. This plan follows the guidelines set by the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) order 2005. It set the evacuation protocols to be followed in any instance that calls for the evacuation of the premises. This plan will also help emergency services like fire fighters in event of an emergency service by making available the design and floor plans, the number of inhabitants and the presence of alarm systems if any. 2.0 Fire Safety Policy Statement The institution is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment to its entire staff, students, contractors and all individuals who make use of the premises provided for. This includes providing a safe place to work with minimal risks of fire incidents. 3.0 Fire Safety Management Structure A comprehensive management structure is provided detailing the duties and responsibilities of everyone associated with the University of Central Lancashire. The responsible members of the university involved are: 3.1The Vice Chancellor As the chief executive of the University, he ensures the fire safety of the premises by: Making sure a risk assessment of the premises is done Making sure of the availability of a fire safety management plan Availing resources for the fire training of all premise users ensuring the audit of existing fire systems is done annually 3.2 Director of Facilities Management He is in charge of all the fire facilities within and outside of the premises. In this capacity, he: Makes sure all the facilities that fall under his jurisdiction are undergo general routine maintenance constantly Makes sure that the equipment allocated for fire training, fire prevention and firefighting are in working condition and orders repairs of those in need of repairs. 3.3 Development and Maintenance Manager It is his duty to: Ensure all the structures being developed comply with safety guidelines set by the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) order 2005.(Basingstoke fire protection, 2013) Makes sure a risk assessment of all the buildings are done Make sure all the buildings are up to standards in fire safety. In case of any change in the building that changes the number of residents or a fire exit he reports to the relevant fire authorities and updates the floor plans. 3.4 Accommodation, Buildings and Grounds Manager He insures that all conditions favoring combustion are eliminated. He ensures the general tidiness of the buildings by reporting any cases that are in need of repairs Makes sure the emergency passages of the buildings including fire exits are consistently maintained and repaired. He is in charge of all fire training activities for the residents He is in charge of the security of the premises 3.5 Universities Safety, Health and Environmental Manager Provides guidance to the university in all matters of fire safety Ensure a fire risk assessment is done and are consistently evaluated. Sets down a fire training system for all the residents He records information pertaining; fire incidents, false alarms, fire drills, fire equipment operations and training periods . In case of structural changes, he is responsible for reviewing the safety plans of the building.( UCLAN, 2007) 3.6 Deans of Faculty/Heads of service/Department/Schools He is in charge of implementing the fire safety policy developed by the administration Ensures their respective units are in compliance with all policies concerning fire safety Ensure safe storage of combustibles that are in use in their respective units Suggests the members from their units to help in evacuation of buildings. 3.7 Evacuation Coordinator He is in charge of coordinating evacuation of personnel from the premises Ensures all special groups get specialized assistance during evacuation. These include people with disabilities Post evacuation procedure guidelines on notice boards and corridors 3.8 Floor wardens In charge of disposal of all flammable material on their floors He is in charge of housekeeping He is in charge of enforcing smoking policies (BS9999:2008) 3.9 General staff Be available for all fire drills and fire training contacted on the premises Know where the building fire exits are located, alarm systems and know where firefighting equipment is kept. Report all deficiencies in the firefighting systems employed in the premises Report the presence of all fires in the building (UCLAN, 2007). 4.0 Evacuation Strategies These include emergency response, fire alarm response and routine procedure. On discovering a fire: Raise the alarm at once by turning on the fire alarm system Leave the area of the fire at once One should Shut all doors behind him Exit the building via the nearest fire exit Assemble at the fire assembly point If with a visitor, make sure they are with you Inform the fire safety officer and call the fire department by dialing 999 On hearing the fire alarm Leave the building using the nearest fire exit Close the door before leaving if possible Present yourself to the fire assembly point for roll call Do not reenter the building until confirmation from the fire officers that it is safe. If there is heavy smoke in the corridor, use an alternative fire exit to egress the building. If a resident is not able to evacuate the building, they are advised to stay in their rooms,shut the door and keep a wet towel at its base. They should then signal for help through the window In the event a fire trained personnel is available they should: Investigate the presence of fire if conditions allow Make sure the firefighting service have been called Try to put out the fire if the fire is manageable Building managers should make a roll call at the fire assembly point to determine the presence of all residents If there are unaccounted for individuals and it is safe to do so, look for the missing individuals Liaise with the fire service on its arrival on all aspects of the fire emergency. In case an investigation of the premises yields no fire: The safety health and environmental manager should advise the residents on the same Call the fire service to inform them(Queensland fire and rescue service,2008) 5.0 Training program 5.1 For residents of the media factory On the commencement of services at the facility, the residents will be informed about: The evacuation procedures of the facility The position of all the fire exits from the media factory When they will be required to attend fire drills The position of firefighting equipment The location of the fire assembly point (BS 9999:2008) 5.2 For Permanent employees Training should be carried out at the start of the employment period and repeated annually. The workers will undergo training on: The fire safety management policies of the university and their responsibilities as residents of the university premises. The use of all portable fire extinguishers provided How to raise the fire alarm and how to contact emergency services The do’s and don’ts during a fire emergency Evacuation procedures in case of a fire and their responsibility to help guide all the visitors to the facility through available fire exits to the fire assembly points Instructions on fire safety shall be clearly displayed for visitors and customers to the facility. These instructions will be appropriate for each building. 5.3 Annual evacuation training Annual evacuation drills should be carried out in order to get the workers and students ready for such an emergency should it occur. All evacuation drills must be documented and the records kept by the safety, health and environmental manager. The evacuation plan should always be conspicuously displayed to allow the residents to be familiar with all procedures therein (BS9999:2008). 6.0 Sprinkler system If the complex is fitted with an automated sprinkler system: It is the sprinkler contractors’ responsibility to test the functionality of the system in accordance to all statutes. In case of repair or maintenance of the sprinkler system, it shall be shut down, but portable fire extinguishers shall be made available. All closed control valves should be appropriately labeled for convenience In case of mechanical damage to the sprinkler system, notify the fire safety officer immediately 7.0 Fire prevention and arson awareness All individuals should be aware of all possible causes of fire in their work environment. All flammable substances including gas and petroleum should be kept in a safe location away from any combustion friendly environment. Risk assessment of areas with flammable products should be done regularly Proper ventilation and lighting should be provided for in the facility to prevent accidents The accommodation, buildings and grounds manager is in charge of the facilities’ security and makes sure arson isn’t committed Report any cases of suspicious persons around the facility 8.0 Fire Risk Assessment 8.1 For disabled people An evacuation plan should put into consideration all aspects of the facilities’ users. A fire risk assessment considering disabled people is therefore very important. The responsibility of evacuating disabled people should not rest on the emergency services but rather on the university staff members tasked with this responsibility. Take steps to remove all barriers that make it difficult for disabled people to move about Emergency lights shall be maintained for those with low visibility eye problems (BS 9999, 2008). Evacuation plans should be provided for regular visitors and each should be tailored to their physical conditions and needs Consider all available exit plans and how suitable they are for the disabled Carry down procedures should be provided for physically disabled individuals when necessary Flashing beacons should be installed alongside the alarm system to notify deaf and hearing impaired individuals. They should be made aware of these systems Cognitively disabled individuals would benefit from enough orientation and the use of colour codes on escape routes (HM government, 2007). False alarms should be minimised at all costs as they disproportionately affect the disabled (BS 9999:2008). 8.2 For Large Places of Assembly To ensure the safety of large numbers of people, the safety office should: Reduce risks of fire occurrence by reducing amount of combustibles in the premises and removing sources of ignition Make sure overcrowding does not occur Provide adequate fire exits and escape routes throughout the facility Insure the facility has enough notices and fire signs conspicuously displayed (HM government, 2006). 8.3 For Education premises A fire risk assessment should: Identify and remove all sources of ignition and regulate possible fuel sources Ensure sufficient provision of routes of escape Lectures to organize an orderly and swift evacuation in case of a fire(HM government, 2006) 9.0 Auditing and updating of the fire safety management plan Annual revision of this document shall be carried out. In case of alterations in the media factory, the document should be updated immediately. 10.0 Conclusion A fire management plan is therefore an important document that fulfills the legal obligations placed on the owners of the premises and ensures the safety of the premises from fire. If implemented and followed to the latter, a fire management safety plan is capable of ensuring the safety of the media factory by ensuring all individuals who use the premises are aware of their duties and responsibilities in the prevention of fire. In case of a fire occurrence, the plan will guide all the behaviors and decisions made by residents hence reducing the number of casualties or avoiding fatalities all together. References HM government, 2007, Fire safety risk assessment, Means of Escape for Disabled People. London: the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House. BS 9999:2008, 2008, BSI British standard: Code of practice for fire safety, in the design, management and use of buildings. London: BSI. HM Government, 2006, Fire safety risk assessment, large places of assembly. London: the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House. HM government, 2006,Fire safety risk assessment, Educational premises. London: the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eland House. UCLAN, 2007, Strategy for Fire Safety Management. Retrieved from : Queensland Fire and Rescue service, 2008, Fire safety management plans, development guide. Retrieved from : Basingstoke fire protection ltd, 2013, Regulatory Reform (fire safety) order 2005.RR (FS)O. Available at:< http://www.b-f-p.co.uk/services/rrfso/> Read More