Significance of Fire Risk Assessment in the Workplace - Coursework Example

Fire Risk Assessment Insert Name Module one MODULE TUTOR: Graham Wilson/Tony Robinson 9th August 2008 Fire Risk Assessment is the systematic examination of the workplace, work activity, working environment and people at risk. The event of Risk assessment identifies what could go wrong and how, in order to determine the measures needed to prevent things going wrong or minimise the harm. (Ingrid Siebert, 2006) Risk assessment is a legal duty for all working premises, and a proper written record proves to your insurers and to law enforcement officers that risks in the workplace have been addressed competently and are taking the most effective steps to control them. This written risk assessment will for instance be one of the first defences. The risk assessment is one of the first documents asked for by the authorities and by the legal advisers of injured parties when things go wrong. Fire assessment therefore serves as compliance to the law which requires it carried out. In risk reduction significance however, fire assessment helps knowing the workplace better, the premises, the activities and the managerial arrangements. Moreover, by carrying out the fire risk management one will better understand and be able to manage fire risks that the persons within his premises or the workplace are exposed to. (I. F.E, 2005) Risk Assessment in the workplace is a significant step in protecting the people workplace; also the compliance with the law which requires this to be done is another important aspect as well. The assessment helps focus on the risks that really matter in the workplace; that which has the potential to cause real harm. In many instances, general measures can readily control risks; for example ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip or cupboard drawers are kept closed to ensure people do not trip. For most that means simple, cheap and effective measures to ensuring that the workforce is protected. There are various ways of taking a fire risk assessment in the workplace; and how the assessment in turn helps reduce the danger of having a fire and even reducing the occurrence of fire in premises, here are five of the steps for carrying out the assessment. The assessment should be carried out by someone who has had recommendable training or has good experience or knowledge of fire safety. A fire risk assessment starts with the identification of the fire hazards; this helps one in getting to know all the fire hazards and risks in the premises of the workplace. The knowing of what the hazards are brings the awareness and in turn measures being taken to control the hazards. The importance of this process is that controlling the hazard/danger at this juncture will be easy because the hazards are known. This helps in reducing the occurrence of fire in the workplace. (LFB/LFEPA 2008) Identification of the hazards comes the identification of the people at risk. If there is a fire, the greatest danger is the spread of the fire, heat and smoke through the premises. If this happens, the main risk to people is from the smoke and products of combustion, which can very quickly injure those escaping. If a premise does not have adequate means of escape or if a fire can grow to a substantial size before it is noticed, then people may become trapped or overcome by heat and smoke before they can evacuate. By having the knowledge this risk, it is possible to know the probable speed of growth and spread of the fire in the premise depending on the number of persons in the workplace which include employees, visitors and the members of public. These people are identified as “the relevant persons” in the Fire Safety order. (I. Siebert Associates, 2006)  Arrangements for giving warning to the people in case of the fire occurrence is a vital part of this assessment, this helps in giving the need to the fitting of fire detection and alarm systems in the workplace. In accordance to the building regulation for safety, the assessment also serves as a measure of compliance with workplace regulations, how the people within the workplace may be able to escape from the scene, whether they will be able to make their way outside quickly, easily and more safely. Once the hazards and the persons at risk have been identified, the assessment of the effect of any particular hazards, taking account of any existing control measures that are already in place is then done. Once this has been done, you may decide if any further control measures are needed in order to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. The measures of control may include acting to reduce the possibility of an occurrence of ignition, if this works within the workplace, the possibility of fire occurrence is reduced. Another important aspect is reduction of potential fuel load in the premises which is one of the main causes of fire in many work places. If the workplace is situated in a relatively modern building it should already incorporate important control measures that were installed to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations these are, fire escape staircases, fire lobbies, fire doors, and emergency lighting. The existing control measures details should be included in the fire risk assessment this is, for the understanding and evaluation of the existing control measures I helps in deciding if any further action to be taken. The escape routes in a workplace should not be obstructed or exits locked. Therefore it is essential to have proper fire safety where all escape routes and exit doors are maintained free from obstruction and accessible for use while there are people in the workplace. This will ensure that these routes and exits can be easily opened by persons using the premises. The escape routes outside as well as inside the premises should be kept unobstructed and immediately available for use and well, clearly indicated and effectively indicated or illuminated. In the mechanical aspect of prevention of fire, there should be fire resisting doors, smoke stop doors, exit doors, self-closing devices, panic bolts and crash bars and they should be inspected and maintained in a useable and fault-free condition. Exit doors should be capable of being readily opened at all times. Doors, gates and barriers should not impede escape from a concourse or yard which discharges to a place of safety. (MoE, 2006) In order to maintain an existing building at an acceptable fire safety level, the fire safety facilities, which include building fabric/structural fire protection means, as well as the building services/fire services installations, should be maintained at good and efficient levels. Fire risk assessment being a continuous process, all fire extinguishers, spare gas cartridges and replacement charges are inspected making sure that appliances are in their proper position, and have not been discharged, or lost pressure like in the case of fire extinguishers fitted with a pressure indicator or suffered damage or breakage. Through this process, extinguishers that are not available for use should be replaced by serviceable extinguishers. The Fire safety Order 2005 and Fire Risk assessment The Order which came to effect in 2006 affects all non-domestic premises and also applies to activities taking place outdoors. The order places the emphasis towards the reduction of risks and fire prevention. The responsibility of complying with the order is given to the responsible person and in a workplace; This Responsible person can be the owner of the premises or business or the person with day-to-day control of the premises, in the case of a workplace this person is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises like the occupier or owner. The employer in the workplace is required to carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety in case of fire of all 'relevant persons'. A relevant person means the persons that are legally in a particular building or premise an example of the workers or anyone who may be affected by the fire precautions on the premises. The RRFSO 2005 requires that the responsible person to have or arrange to have a Fire Risk Assessment for the premises, produce a policy, develop procedures (particularly with regard to evacuation), provide staff training and carry out drills. The responsible person must also provide and maintain adequate means of escape, suitable signage, notices, emergency lighting, adequate means of giving warning in case of fire and appropriate means to fight fires. The assessment should also include for the structure of the premises, storage of dangerous materials and persons at special risk such as the disabled and those with special needs. In the case of those premises that have 5 or more persons who are likely to be affected by a fire in the premises, the significant findings of the Fire Risk Assessment must be recorded. The fire risk assessment is required to show great concern to the people who are at special risk, such as young people, the disabled and those with special needs, and must put into consideration any dangerous substance likely to be on the premises. The fire risk assessment helps identify risks that can be removed or reduced and to decide the nature and extent of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. The order also requires that all non-domestic premises have sufficient and satisfactory fire precautions put in place to cover general fire precautions and other fire safety duties. These are required to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around most premises. The main effect of the Order is the move towards there being greater emphasis placed upon fire prevention. This applies to all premises to which this Order applies. The Fire Safety Order 2005 is enforced by the Local Fire Authority who have the authority to issue Improvement Notices and or take any appropriate action that could include immediate closure, should the risk be substantial. (Fire safety order 2005) Mechanical and Electrical means of fire protection Fire risk assessment should be done regularly for it ensures that the maintenance of fire protection and fire fighting equipment is done. Building regulations requires that a building/ workplace is fitted with fire these equipments. The fittings should include; Sprinkler system, Standpipe system, Fire alarm which should serve to alert the people at a workplace, Public address system which is used to tell the public on cases of emergences and assist in evacuation process, there should also be emergency power systems in the workplace. Fire risk assessment keeps the responsible person on the look out for fire starters, an example of the need to re-fit the frayed wiring systems and also the having personal space heaters functional. In this, there should not be abandoned cables in the workplace. Repairs to the building should also be one of the crucial impacts of fire risk assessment. In the workplace the responsible person should post evacuation signs and instructions inside the building and go ahead to provide for evacuation chairs for disabled workers.  An evacuation chair is a type of wheelchair capable of transporting a disabled person down a flight of stairs with the help of an attendant. All this will work along way in preventing fire, its spread and also maintaining the damage of the fire. Works cited Fire Risk assessment 2006 Retrieved on 8th August 2008, from http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/fire_safety/at_work/step5.asp National Fire Protection Association: 2006, Retrieved on 9th August 2008; from http://www.nfpa.org/ National Infrastructure Protection Centre, 2004; Retrieved on 8th August 2008 from, http://www.nipc.gov/ Occupational Safety and Health Administration October 2006: Retrieved on 7th August 2008, from http://www.osha.gov/ Latest Chicago High-Rise Fire; 'This could happen in your city too.'" PR Newswire. December 8, 2004. James Carlini. Aftermath of LaSalle Bank Fire, Building Safety Becomes Key. EPrairie.com. December 28, 2004. Fire fighting, Encyclopaedia Britannica,2008, Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 9thAug.2008, From; http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9034330. Read More