Risk Assessment of a Students Sleeping Accommodation - Case Study Example

RUNNING HEAD: Risk Assessment Risk Assessment of a Students’ Sleeping Accommodation: Name: Instructor: Course Unit: Date: 1.0 Introduction: The fundamental principle of risk management is to uphold the mission of an institution. All institutions are exposed to catastrophes, some of which impinge on the institutions in a very negative manner. In line of supporting the institution, the institution administration should formulate good risk management plans that are easily understood and manage these catastrophes. Managing catastrophes is not a straightforward task. Inadequate resources and an unsteady setting of hazards and vulnerabilities facilitate combating all risks an unattainable task. In this regard, the institution must possess a toolset that needs to be reliable, repeatable, productive, and minimizes risks to acceptable levels. This paper analyzes the concern of risk management in relation to fires that are occurring at an accommodation centre of students and seeks to identify the potential hazards, evaluates the risks posed by the identified hazards and then recommends on how to control and reducing the impacts of the fires. This is accomplished through undertaking of a risk assessment, which will enable to establish a strategy for minimizing the number of fires. 1.1 What is Risk, Risk Management and Risk Assessment: Risk is a measure of the incapability to realize general institution goals within distinct line up obligations and restrictions and has three factors, which include the: probability of occurrence, impact of the risk, and time horizon in which the effects will happen if the risk is not alleviated (Crouchy et al 2000, p. 2). Risks may originate from uncertainty in misfortunes, natural basis and calamities in addition to planned assaults from an opponent, but for this case the fires are being caused by student lifestyle factors and this has lead to a number of students needing treatment for smoke inhalation and two fire-fighters suffering minor burns when they were sent into a burning flat. Risk management may thus be regarded as the identification, assessment, and concentration on risks pursued by harmonized and cost-effective use of resources to reduce, monitor, and be in charge of the probability and/or effect of fateful incidents (Hubbard 2009, p. 46). The approaches to manage risk take account of conveying the risk to other individuals, evading the risk, minimizing the negative impacts of the risk, and allowing some or the entire consequences of a certain risk. These approaches combine risk assessment and decisions on how to address the risk at hand. The principle rationale for risk management in an institution is to protect the operation and assets of the institution. For that reason, risk management should be a management utility rather than a technical utility. Risk assessment is the practice of evaluating potential fatalities from a particular hazard by means of combining identified information regarding the condition, facts about the causal process, and decision concerning the information that is not identified (Crouchy et al 2000, p. 2). The fundamental objectives of risk assessment include: categorizing potentially hazardous conditions, relating fitting methods to approximate the probability that a hazard will happen, plus the uncertainty in that approximation, presenting different solutions to minimize the risk, approximating the efficiency of those solutions, presenting information to support a risk management conclusion, and approximating the uncertainty related with the investigation. The major reason for doing a risk assessment is that it outlines the basis for decision making with reference to future accomplishments. These decisions can be to carry out further analyses, to execute actions that minimize the risk, or to remain inert. 2.0 Fire Risk Assessment: The Fire Safety Order necessitates the responsible individual of any premises to perform a fire risk assessment, together with actions to minimize or eradicate the risk of fire, and identify individuals at risk, and also maintain it up to date thus making sure that all the fire precautions in the premises stay in progress and are sufficient. The local fire and rescue service’s enforce these laws by inspecting if you are complying with these laws. They examine if you have carried out an appropriate risk assessment, if they are dissatisfied they enforce you to do so. Failure to do so is an offence, punishable by the court of laws. The set of laws entail the Proponent to maintain all yearly important safety measures reports, records of maintenance check, service and repair work records on the site for check up by the Municipal Building Surveyor or Chief Officer and they also describe what the yearly critical safety measures report should contain and that the owner or agent must to sign the yearly Report (Castino & Harmathy 1982, p. 16). This is very vital because, proper management of fire safety guarantee’s that fires are not likely to take place; and if they do arise they are ready to be controlled rapidly, efficiently and carefully; or that, everybody in the enclosure is capable of getting away to total safety without difficulty and promptly. Risk assessment therefore is of significant assistance in guarantying that fire safety measures, fire prevention actions, and fire precautions are all in position and functioning correctly, and it further identifies concerns that require immediate concentration. In this regard, a fire risk assessment is a planned and systematic view of buildings, the activities performed in there and the probability that the premise could ignite and inflict harm to those in and about the building (Yung 2008, p. 5). Reasons of performing a fire risk assessment include, to: categorize the fire hazards, minimize the risk of those hazards creating harm to reasonable levels, and choosing what material for fire precautions and management measures are essential to make sure that the individuals in the premise and in the immediate vicinity will be safe if a fire starts. 2.1 The Student’s Accommodation Fire Risk Assessment: This fire risk assessment specifically covers the building as a sleeping accommodation. Its aim is to identify the fire hazards, reduce the risks to minimal acceptable levels, and make a decision to what physical and management interventions are needed to guarantee the safety of the students and other people present if a fire was to occur. The construction is a grade I listed structure. Therefore it is fundamental to select these physical fire preventative measures that will have slightest effect on the notable fabric of the building if they can attain similar measure of safety for students as more invasive ones. The common physical fire preventative measures at a fitting level in sequence of escalating effect on the building take account of: fire-fighting equipment, fire alarm system, growing fire resistance of accessible doors to protect escape routes and limit spread of fire, and emergency lighting and signs (Fire & Resilience 2006). Powder fire extinguishers are in place on each floor on the staircases and outside the boiler room. These are deemed to be adequate but, no skilled staffs is present to manage fire-fighting gear since the building is assented to a self-catering basis. Emergency lighting to light up fire-fighting gear is regarded as improper because in the occurrence of a fire, mostly at night, the safe evacuation of students is likely to be priority number one in the non-attendance of skilled staff on site. There is a spiral staircase which acts as the escape route, because the building accommodates 50 students. This is sealed with an oak door, thus providing a half an hour fire resistance. 12 doors lead to the staircase so the likelihood of malfunction of fire doors shielding the evacuating route is higher. The emergency signs and lighting are present and each cubicle is provided with a torch. Lighting on all staircases switches automatically to disconnect battery powered back up for every place in the occurrence of electricity breakdown. The fire risk assessment of the students’ accommodation is provided in the table 1; Risk Assessment – Record of Significant Findings Risk assessment for Building: Location: Assessment undertaken by Date: Completed by: Signature: Sheet number Floor/area: Use: Identify Fire Hazards Sources of ignition Smokers’ material, e.g. cigarettes, matches & lighters; Faulty or misused electrical equipment, e.g. electric blankets, computers, vending machines; Lighting equipment (fixed and movable),e.g. halogen lamps or table lamp; Obstruction of ventilation equipment; Arson; Boilers; and Electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters. Sources of fuel Furniture; Textiles and soft furnishings, e.g. hanging curtains and clothing displays; Laundry; Waste products, e.g. shredded paper, dust, & off-cuts; Waste storage, refuse containers & skips; flammable-liquid-based products, such as paints, varnishes, thinners & adhesives; Flammable chemicals, such as certain cleaning products, photocopier chemicals & dry cleaning that uses hydrocarbon solvents; Paper products, packaging materials, stationery, advertising material, paper & books; and Plastics &rubber, such as video tapes, polyurethane foam-filled furniture & polystyrene-based display materials Sources of oxygen Natural airflow; Fan supported convector in Long Drawing Room. This recovers air drained from the room through a fireproof covering in the adjacent shower room so does not supply an extra source of oxygen in the room. People at Risk All 40 students, employees and other individuals in the structure. The most vulnerable ones shall consist of the following; students who are asleep, because they will be slow and disoriented; Workers who work alone e.g. security, maintenance, and cleaners; Individuals who are unfamiliar with the premise, e.g. new students, guests and workers; students and individuals with disabilities as well as impairments; Students who are sensorial impaired due to drugs, medication and alcohol; Students and/or individuals who may have other reasons of not vacating the building rapidly, e.g. these with children and siblings; and individuals in the vicinity of the premise. Evaluate, Remove, Reduce and Protect from Risk Evaluate the risk of the fire occurring Evaluate the risk to people from a fire starting in the premises Remove and reduce the hazards that may cause a fire Remove and reduce the risks to people from a fire Cooking apparatus: students may not be versed with the kitchen; Cooking oils, alcohol and packaging are likely sources of fuel; Central heating boiler: positioned in an enclosed vault so fire could go unnoticed; Electrical wiring: defect could cause fire in uninhabited rooms and voids between floors and ceilings; Electrical appliances: defect could cause fire in uninhabited rooms; Candles are potential source of ignition if not safely placed away from flammable materials and draughts; Open fires are potential source of ignition if left unattended and carelessly; and Smokers’ materials that haven’t be properly extinguished. Students unknown with the kitchen and fire safety measures could be a fire risk to themselves and others; fire originating from the central heating boiler in the vault if not noticed could present a hazard to the main staircase which is an escape route from some of the cubicles; A defect in the electrical wiring could cause a fire in a vacant room and present a hazard if not noticed; A defect in an electrical appliance could cause a fire in a vacant room and present a hazard if not noticed; Students unaware of potential hazards of candles could place them unsafely; students may also leave open fires unattended and carelessly; students who smoke could dispose the cigarettes parts without extinguishing them. Fire safety instructions are provided for students using the kitchen; Central heating boiler is serviced yearly by an approved engineer and the boiler and oil storage tank are positioned in different fireproof inclusions; Electrical instillation is examined yearly; Electrical appliances are inspected in accordance with the IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment; safe smoking regulations and smoking zones are set aside for these who smoke; Fire safety drills are provided for workers and the proponents of the building and their responsibilities are tabled to them. Fire detection and warning systems; Presence of powder fire extinguishers on each floor of both staircases and outside, and a fire blanket in the kitchen; Reduction in travelling time to escape routes; Spacious furnishing and use of low flammability construction materials; All storages are properly locked when the building is occupied; the occupants don’t exceed 50; Proper emergency lights are put in all evacuation routes; and a record of regular checks, periodic servicing and maintenance of the fire alarm system, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting is maintained. Assessment Review Assessment/review date Completed by Signature Table 1: Fire Risk Assessment for a Students’ Sleeping Accommodation. 3.0 Risk Management Strategies: Upon the fire alarm going on, every one will have been previously trained and thus obliged to leave the building instantly by means of the nearby fire outlet to the Fire Congregate Point, where every one present shall have to register. Personnel’s on standby as well as security workers will as well guide the students away from the structure. Immobilized students will be supported to vacate by a selected individual who shall be acknowledged by the management, before the fire-fighters arrive. No student/s shall be permitted to go back to the building until the Fire Service deems it fit to do so. Lest individuals are wounded, a First Aid Box shall be accessible along with a first aid trained provider, appointed from the students themselves. If the casualty is very severe then the nearest accident and emergency unit shall be alerted immediately. The above recommended risk management strategies and these in table 1 concerning to remove and reduce; the hazards that may cause fire and the risks to people from fire, consist of risk-handling techniques like; Risk avoidance, whereby sources of high risk are replaced with lower risk resolutions; Risk transfer, whereby risk is transferred from one part of the structure to another, or between the contractor; and Risk control, whereby the risk occurrence is minimized and/or the risk's impact is reduced. These recommendations are in line with the health and safety legislation Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which emphasizes the need for risk assessment as part of the general duties of the owners of premises. Section 3 of the Act broadens this responsibility to anyone else distressed by actions of the owner to embrace service providers, guests, clients in addition to individuals from the communal. They still toe the line of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, in particular Section 6(1) (2) (Her Majesty Government 2004). The act generally emphasizes on prevention of fires because “prevention is better than cure” in that prevention reduces the number of fires that may occur as well as minimizes fire disaster’s multiplying to dangerous proportions and causing damage to more life and property. A fire and rescue service integrated risk management plan for this case shall involve; students’ safety management, counsel and education because they are the ones immediate to the fire risk; fire safety enforcement and cooperating with other parties to reduce other emergencies and inclusion of fire-fighting, rescue and environmental protection activities. Such plans form the basis of an effective and efficient Fire & Rescue service, because it amalgamates prevention, protection and emergency response, on a risk assesses basis, in turn to advance the safety of the students as well as forming a safer working environment for fire fighters. 4.0 Conclusion: The proponents of the building should have to carry out an effective risk assessment in order to identify the general fire precautions they must take in order to prevent fires and protect the students. These measures should aim at an integrated approach, because it aims at formulating the crisis at a broader perspective. Still after carrying out the fire risk assessment, the proponents should not sit back, but participate in vigorous monitoring prior to things going wrong.  They should perform routine assessments and verifications to observe that the set standards are being upheld. They should also be involved in reactive monitoring; this is after the fire in order to establish why the set objective and measures were sub-standard. Indeed Risk management is a very fundamental tool if the institution is to prosper beyond an approximated time frame. References: Castino & Harmathy (eds.) 1982, Fire Risk Assessment, American Society for Testing & Materials, Baltimore, Md: USA Crouchy, M, Mark, R & Galai, D 2000, Risk Management, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., New York, USA. Fire & Resilience 2006, Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Sleeping Accommodation, HMO. Available from: . [02 June 2010]. Her Majesty Government 2004, The Fire Services Act 2004. Available from: . [02 June 2010]. Hubbard, Douglas (2009). The Failure of Risk Management: Why It's Broken and How to Fix It, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Toronto, Canada. Yung, D 2008, Principles of Fire Risk Assessment in Buildings, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Toronto, Canada.   Read More