Fire and Safety Management Plan - Case Study Example

University of Central Lancashire Fire Safety Management Plan Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………… 3 General objectives of the fire and safety plan……………………………………. 3 Policy statement……………………………………………………………………. 3 Fire alarm, detection and evacuation plan……………………………………….. 4 Sprinkler system……………………………………………………………………. 5 Fire prevention…………………………………………………………………….... 5 Maintaining and testing fire safety systems………………………………………. 6 Alterations and repairs……………………………………………………………... 7 Fire drill procedures………………………………………………………………… 7 Proposed program of training…………………………………………………….... 7 Sound of Smoke alarms and occurrence of fire………………………………….... 8 Keeping of records…………………………………………………………………… 9 Audit and updating of the fire and safety manual.................................................... 10 Bibliography................................................................................................................. 11 Fire Safety Management Plan: Media Factory Introduction This fire and safety management plan has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – RR (FS) O. This piece of legislation addresses fire safety and it applies to university buildings such as the Media factory. The University of Central Lancashire will therefore keep this fire management plan so as to comply with the RR (FS) O. The media factory serves business people and students alike. The fire safety plan will be kept at an agreed place within the building for use in cases of fire. General objectives of fire safety plan The planning of fire safety aims at controlling fire hazards, maintenance of fire protection systems and emergency evacuation. Planning fire safety is a way of preventing fire occurrence by controlling the causative hazards. It also makes sure that there is proper operations of the systems of fire protection by putting in place procedures for maintenance and creates a systematic method for safe and organized evacuation whenever there is fire (Nfpa 2003). Policy statement The University of Central Lancashire has the goal of making sure that all the people using the building are not affected by fire. Consequently, the University management has established appropriate systems to give protection to the occupants of the building so that all systems dealing with fire and other associated requirements are maintained in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requirements. The above mentioned systems can be found in this document as well as the emergency evacuation procedures. The University of Central Lancashire is bound by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, 2005. Fire alarm, detection and evacuation plan If the building occupants see flames or smell smoke or hear the fire alarm they must immediately alert other people in the building. If it is safe enough, shut doors and shutters to reduce fire spread. Immediately, use exit signs to move out of the building through emergency exits and go to the assembly point and then call the fire service. If one discovers fire, he should activate the fire alarm pull station. Fighting a large fire is not advisable. When evacuating, avoid the elevator. Whenever it is not possible to evacuate, just remain in the room with doors shut and call for help through the window. Follow the directives from the attending officers and staff. The fire warden or manager should report about any missing persons to fire personnel. As evacuation is underway, people with disabilities will be required to move out with the help of those assisting them to safe exists. The fire safety director will be present to help in response to the call of the fire department. Occupants will have instructions provided on every floor to follow whenever fire starts (Billington, Copping & Ferguson 2008). The media factory building is equipped with an electrical alarm system with some manual call points. The building also has detectors for smoke and fire. When you get to the main entrance you see a fire alarm panel which receives all the signals from fire alarms. The building alarm signal is in the form of a siren that reaches every part of the building. The fire alarm system will always be tested on Friday every week. The siren has been made to sound for 25 seconds. Occupants will be notified of the timing for weekly tests in case there are changes in the original plans (Billington et al. 2008). Sprinkler system The premises have an automatic sprinkler system that goes on whenever fire breaks out. The sprinkler contractor will assume the role of testing the system based on the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, 2005. In case repairs are needed and the sprinkler protection is to be shut down, the contractor repairing the system will be required to program operations so that the job is completed with the least time so that protection may be reinstated (Ramachandran, 1998). In case of shut downs where the normal sprinkler operations are interfered with there will be brought portable extinguishers and quick to use hose lines. More guards and watchmen will be posted on the building and water will be connected to the sprinkler temporarily where possible. Fire prevention Occupants will not be allowed to behave carelessly and cause fires in the building. Smokers are therefore advised to smoke at designated places outside the building. The chief security officer will ensure that incomers are not allowed to enter with prohibited material. Flammable substances must have labels and be kept in protected areas (Rasbash, Ramachandran & Kandola, 2004). Weekly inspections will be carried out to confiscate prohibited items such as flammable materials and explosives. Building users shall not be allowed to use any wiring and electrical gadgets that may cause fires. People are advised to avoid cleaning using flammable materials and substances. Proper and safe disposal of clothing soaked in flammable liquids. Maintaining and testing fire safety systems It is the responsibility and duty of the fire safety director to ensure the proper inspection, service and maintenance of fire protection systems based on the RR (FS) O 2005. Whenever testing, maintenance and even servicing cannot be done by those within the university they should get a qualified person to do the task (Furness & Muckett, 2007). The fire safety director will ensure that the process of renovating, maintaining, and altering systems and equipment does not put the people in the building or the building itself in a risky position to fire hazards. He should take appropriate precautions to see that the building and its occupants remain safe. The fire and safety director will do this by consulting the fire safety plan at the time these activities are being done to make sure that they bare done in accordance with legislative requirements and those in the fire and safety plan. Alterations and repairs When repairs and alterations are underway the users of the building should not be made to suffer from fire hazards resulting from the mistakes of contractors and their equipment and supplies. The building and the part under repair should be inspected frequently so that exists may not be obstructed in any way, occupants don’t go near dangerous places of work, contractors have the required permits for operation, flammable and easily combustible substances get proper handling and storage. Also, contractors must ensure safe use of equipment that produce heat such as those used for cutting and welding, as well as portable heaters. In case a problem is detected those doing the repairs and alterations should contact the fire department for advice or inspection of the affected areas (Solomon & Nfpa 2012). Fire drill procedures It is the duty of the fire safety directors to organize and carry out a fire drill at least once per year. The occupants’ skills of evacuation will not be tested in the drill but those involved in the drill will have the chance to hear the fire alarms and think about their actions in case the fire really existed (Foley, National Fire Protection Association 2003). When the fire drill is being conducted, the occupants must be informed about the time and date of the drill. Those responsible should also inform the alarm monitoring service as well as the fire department on the phone numbers they do not use for emergency about the fire drill. Upon completion of the drill the fire department should be alerted. Discuss procedures for evacuation with D.F.S.D and any occupant that wants to take part. The D.F.S.D should be given an opportunity to demonstrate the “If you discover a fire” scenario and the “In case of fire procedures” for occupants. The plan should be the guideline that the F.S.D follows in his/her duties. Afterwards, the fire safety director should put back the manual fire alarm pull station before resetting the system. The next thing is to inform the company responsible for monitoring the company as well as the fire department about the completion of the drill. Discuss the drill process with those occupying the building to discover if there are any problems. Finally, complete the activity or incident report. Proposed program of training In accordance on the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, 2005, the manager or the fire safety director will take the role of informing the occupants of the building about the actions they must take in the event of fire so that they can react to secure their safety and that of the other people. They must be taught about the procedure to follow when there is an emergency, where to find emergency exits, the way to the exists, where to get fire fighting equipment, how to raise alarm whenever smoke alarms are not working and the place where they can assemble after evacuation (Cote at al. 1997). Permanent employees working in the building will be instructed on yearly basis before they are one month old at the work place. This should be redone after every one year. They should receive instruction on the procedure to follow whenever there is a fire emergency, the way to escape from the premises and the place where they can find the fire fighting equipment, equipment use for giving warning about fire and the fire alarms (Cote, Linville, & National Fire Protection Association 1997). Those workers caring for people with disabilities should be given instructions on how to help these people evacuate the building in any case a fire erupts. At such a place they will be accounted for and marshaled and those missing reported to fire service officers as well as the fire and safety director. A document called record worker instruction will then be kept with the fire safety management plan. An evacuation practice must be done after every one year so that the fire and evacuation plan may be practiced. A record for each of these evacuation practices will be kept with the fire safety management plan. The fire safety director will ensure that enough copies of the emergency evacuation procedure are placed in common positions within the premises so that the occupants can familiarize themselves with the evacuation procedures. Sound of Smoke alarms and occurrence of fire In case there is fire, every occupant should strive to help others move to the area of assembly without exposing self to danger (Fuller 2008). You can only fight the fire if you have training and are in a safe place. Everyone must be at the assembly area until when all people have been accounted for and the fire safety director has arrived. People should then await the coming of the fire service. No one should go back to the building before the fire service advices so. If there is no fire at all but the fire service has already arrived, inform them of the situation and help the occupants to understand the situation as well. The fire service should however enter the premises to carry out investigations. The fire and safety director should then address the situation and correct any faults in the systems. Whenever there is fire or the time smoke alarms are activated, occupants must ensure that they come out of the building immediately and assemble at a specified area (Fuller, 2008). Keeping of records The fire safety director should keep records on information about fire incidents, false alarms, fire drills, operation and disposal of fire equipment, periods of training, names, locations and the people in need of assistance and their assistants. The records should show the specific assistance needed. Finally he/she should record the minutes of meetings about fire safety (Grice 2009). Audit and updating of the fire and safety manual The fire safety plan will be administered and maintained by the fire safety director. He /she will have to update the plan any time there are alterations being done on the building. References Billington, M.J., Copping, A., & Ferguson, A. (2008). Means of Escape from Fire. John Wiley & Sons. Cote, A. E., Linville, J.L. National Fire Protection Association (1997). Fire Protection Handbook. National Fire Protection Association. Foley, S. N. National Fire Protection Association (2003). Resources for fire department Occupational Safety and Health. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Fuller, C. (2008). Fire and Disability 2008: Special Report. Workplace Law Group. Furness, A., Muckett, M., (2007). Introduction to Fire Safety Management. John Wiley. Grice, A. (2009). Fire Risk: Fire Safety Law and its Practical Application. Thorogood Publishing. Nfpa (2003). Operation of Fire Protection Systems. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Ramachandran, G. (1998). The Economics of Fire Protection. E & FN Spon. Rasbash, D., Ramachandran, G., Kandola, B. (2004). Evaluation of Fire Safety. John Wiley & Sons. Solomon, R. Nfpa 2012. Fire and Life Safety Inspection Manual. Routledge. Bibliography British Standard (BS) 5839 Part 1 : 2002 (Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings) http://www.adt.co.uk/small-business/sb-overview-of-british-standard-5839 BS 9999 :( SECTION 4: managing fire safety) (SECTION 9: managing occupied building) http://www.aosh.org.uk/presentations/dec2009_fsm.pdf BS 7974 Retrieved from http://www.firesafe.org.uk/category/premises-subject-to-the-fire-safety- order/ BS 5839 part 1 2002 fire detection and alarm systems, installation, maintenance. http://www.adt.co.uk/small-business/sb-overview-of-british-standard-58... BS 5266 part 1 2005, emergency lighting. Retrieved from http://www.electrical-t esting.co.uk/p/articles/lighting-regs BS 5499 part 4 2000 safety signs, fire safety signs http://www.firesafe.org.uk/bs-5499-safety-signs-including-fire-safety-... University of Central Lancashire Safety, Health, & Environment Section Facilities Management. Strategy for Fire Safety Management. Retrieved from http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/services/fm/safety_and_health/files/Fire_Safety_Stra tegy_D ec_2007pdf.pdf Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Means of Escape for Disabled People (Supplementary Guide). Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14898/fsra- escape-disabled.pdf. Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Large Places of Assembly, Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-large-places-of- assembly. Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Open Air Events and Venues, Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14891/fsra -open- air.pdf. Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Educational Premises. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14887/fsra -educational-premises.pdf. Read More