Introduction to Fire Safety Management: The handbook for students on NEBOSH and other fire safety courses

436 Pages·2007·8.94 MB·English

by  Andrew Furness

Introduction to
Fire Safety
Management
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Introduction to
Fire Safety
Management
Andrew Furness
CFIOSH, GIFireE, Dip OSH, MIIRSM, MRSH
2
Martin Muckett
MA, MBA, CMIOSH, MIFireE, Dip OSH
2
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First edition 2007
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ISBN: 978 0 7506 8068 4
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07 08 09 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
PREFACE ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS x
ABOUT THE AUTHORS xi
ILLUSTRATIONS CREDITS xii
1 FIRE SAFETY FOUNDATIONS 1
1.1 Defi nitions 1
1.2 Scope and nature 2
1.3 The moral, legal and fi nancial reasons for promoting good standards
of safety within an organisation 2
1.4 The legal framework for the regulation of fi re and health and safety 4
1.5 The legal and fi nancial consequences of failure to manage fi re and health and safety 21
1.6 The nature and sources of safety information 25
1.7 The basis of a system for managing safety 26
1.8 Case study 28
1.9 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 1 29
2 SAFETY POLICY 30
2.1 The importance of setting policy 30
2.2 Key features of a safety policy 32
2.3 Case study 34
2.4 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 2 35
Appendix 2.1 – Policy statement 36
3 ORGANISING FOR SAFETY 37
3.1 Introduction 37
3.2 Safety management roles and responsibilities 37
3.3 Joint occupation of premises 44
3.4 Consultation with employees 45
3.5 Safety committees 48
3.6 The supply chain 49
3.7 Work equipment 50
3.8 Hazardous substances 52
3.9 The provision of buildings 54
3.10 Case study 55
3.11 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 3 57
Appendix 3.1 58
4 SAFETY CULTURE 59
4.1 Introduction 59
4.2 The concept of safety culture and its various components 59
4.3 Tangible indicators of safety culture 61
4.4 How to assist in the development of a positive safety culture within an organisation 63
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Contents
4.5 Factors promoting a negative culture 71
4.6 External infl uences on safety culture 72
4.7 Internal infl uences on safety culture 73
4.8 Human behaviour 75
4.9 Human failure 79
4.10 Effecting cultural change 80
4.11 Case study 81
4.12 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 4 81
Appendix 4.1 82
5 PRINCIPLES OF RISK ASSESSMENT 83
5.1 Introduction 83
5.2 Defi nitions relating to risk assessment 84
5.3 Risk assessment and the law 85
5.4 Competency to conduct risk assessments 86
5.5 The risk assessment process 87
5.6 Communicating the fi ndings of a risk assessment 96
5.7 Case study 97
5.8 Example questions for Chapter 5 97
Appendix 5.1 – Example of a general activity risk assessment record and action plan 98
6 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CONTROL 101
6.1 Introduction 101
6.2 Principles of prevention 101
6.3 The hierarchy of risk control measures 103
6.4 Supervision and monitoring 106
6.5 Safe systems of work 107
6.6 Emergency procedures 112
6.7 Case study 114
6.8 Example exam questions for Chapter 6 115
7 PRINCIPLES OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION 116
7.1 Introduction 116
7.2 The chemistry of fi re 116
7.3 Classifi cation of fi re 121
7.4 Principles of fi re spread 122
7.5 Explosion 127
7.6 Case study 134
7.7 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 7 135
8 CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF FIRE 136
8.1 Accidental fi res 136
8.2 Causes of fi re relating to construction and maintenance 141
8.3 Arson 143
8.4 Prevention of fi re 147
8.5 Case study 166
8.6 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 8 166
Appendix 8.1 – Example hot work permit 167
Appendix 8.2 – Example hot work checklist 169
Appendix 8.3 – Construction phase fi re safety checklist 170
9 FIRE PROTECTION IN BUILDINGS 172
9.1 Defi nitions 172
9.2 Fire protection (preventive and protective measures) 173
9.3 Legislative requirements 173
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Contents
9.4 Building construction and design – preventive and protective measures 175
9.5 Means of escape 188
9.6 Case study 236
9.7 Example questions for Chapter 9 237
Appendix 9.1 – Classifi cation of purpose groups 238
Appendix 9.2 – Limitations on travel distance 239
10 SAFETY OF PEOPLE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE 240
10.1 Perception and behaviour of people in the event of a fi re 240
10.2 The measures needed to overcome behavioural problems and ensure
safe evacuation of people in the event of a fi re 249
10.3 Emergency evacuation procedures 254
10.4 Assisting disabled people to escape 258
10.5 Case study 262
10.6 Example NEBOSH questions for Chapter 10 263
Appendix 10.1 – Example personal emergency evacuation plan questionnaire for disabled staff 264
Appendix 10.2 – Example of responsibilities of fi re wardens 266
11 MONITORING, AUDITING AND REVIEWING FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS 268
11.1 Benefi ts of monitoring and measuring 269
11.2 Active safety monitoring procedures 269
11.3 Conducting workplace inspections 272
11.4 Auditing fi re safety management systems 275
11.5 Reviewing performance 278
11.6 Case study 280
11.7 Example questions for Chapter 11 281
Appendix 11.1 – Sample of performance indicators 282
Appendix 11.2 – Sample of fi re evacuation review/debrief log 283
12 REACTIVE MONITORING – REPORTING, RECORDING AND INVESTIGATION 284
12.1 Fires and other adverse events 284
12.2 Statutory requirements for recording and reporting adverse events 291
12.3 Civil claims 293
12.4 Investigating fi re-related events 293
12.5 Basic fi re-related investigation procedures 295
12.6 Dealing with the aftermath of fi res 302
12.7 Case study 303
12.8 Example questions for Chapter 12 304
Appendix 12.1 – F2508 RIDDOR report form 305
Appendix 12.2 – FDR 1 Fire Service fi re report form 307
Appendix 12.3 – Sample false alarm report form (adapted from BS 5839-1: 2002) 311
13 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FIRE 312
13.1 The sources of pollution in the event of fi re 312
13.2 The legal obligations related to environmental protection in the event of fi re 314
13.3 Preplanning to minimise the environmental impact of fi re 315
13.4 Containing water run-off 318
Appendix 13.1 – The quantities of substances that bring an industrial site within the scope
of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) 322
Appendix 13.2 – Example of a pollution incident response plan 324
14 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT 328
14.1 Introduction 328
14.2 Defi nitions relating to fi re risk assessment 328
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Contents
14.3 Risk assessment process 329
14.4 Example questions for Chapter 14 339
Appendix 14.1 – Example of a fi re assessment record and action plan 340
15 SUMMARY OF KEY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 345
15.1 Acts of Parliament 345
15.2 Regulations 345
15.3 The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act) 346
15.4 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 349
15.5 The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 350
15.6 The Environmental Protection Act 1990 350
15.7 The Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 (FRSA) 352
15.8 The Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984 355
15.9 The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 355
15.10 Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended by the Environment Act 1995) 356
15.11 The Building Regulations 2000 356
15.12 The Chemicals (Hazardous Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 358
15.13 The Confi ned Spaces Regulations 1997 (SI 1713) 360
15.14 The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (SI 320) 362
15.15 The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (SI 743) 367
15.16 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (SI 2677) 370
15.17 The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (SI 2776) 374
15.18 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (SI 0635) 376
15.19 The Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SI 0711) 378
15.20 The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (SI 2451) 379
15.21 The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 (SI 1513) 379
15.22 The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 (SI 0917) 381
15.23 The Health and Safety (Information for Employees) Regulations 1989 (SI 682) 381
15.24 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (SI 3242) 382
15.25 The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 (SI 2966) 385
15.26 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (SI 2306) 386
15.27 The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 1541) 389
15.28 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (SI 3163) 392
15.29 The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (SI 0500) 393
15.30 The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Safety Signals) Regulations 1996 (SI 0341) 395
15.31 The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (SI 3073) 396
15.32 The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (SI 3004) 397
ABBREVIATIONS 400
INDEX 403
viii
Preface
Introduction to Fire Safety Management has been produced for all students taking the NEBOSH Fire Safety & Risk
Management Certifi cate, whether as part of a face to face training course or as part of a distance learning programme.
It will also be of signifi cant use for those undertaking a programme of study for Level 3 and 4 S/NVQ in Fire Safety.
The book is the approved reference material for those undertaking IOSH certifi ed Fire Risk Assessment, Principles and
Practice programmes and the Fire Safety Management programmes at the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health
(IOSH).
This book has been produced to provide those establishing fi re safety management systems within their workplace
and those undertaking fi re risk assessments, on behalf of the responsible person, with an all encompassing reference
book without the need to initially access the huge range of British and European Standards in relation to fi re and risk
management.
The material included within the text effectively covers both the National General Certifi cate (NGC1) material and
the Fire Safety & Risk Management (FC1 & 2) materials so that those studying for the full NEBOSH programme do
not have to purchase two text books. It is also useful for those who have not undertaken a course of study to have
reference to general safety management principles and arrangements, as many fi re safety books fail to address the
management principles and detail only physical fi re safety systems (fi re alarm, suppression, detection, etc.).
Given that the materials included within this text book also cover previous MCI units for the Emergency Fire
Service Management (EFSM) S/NVQ, the material within this book will also assist those serving in the emergency
Fire & Rescue Services as part of their development programmes, particularly those starting within the Fire Safety and
Community Fire Safety areas.
We hope that you fi nd the Introduction to Fire Safety Management both a useful reference book for your course
of study and a source of reference when undertaking fi re risk assessments and establishing fi re safety management
systems.
Andrew Furness
Martin Muckett
July 2007
ix