Fire and Safety Management Plan - Assignment Example

FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR [Media Factory] [ADDRESS] [POST CODE] Introduction The significance of a Fire Safety Management Plan cannot be emphasizedcompletely. Recent decisions from civil courtsrelated fire have placed responsibility on building owners for failing tocomply with existing Fire Safety Management Plans (RRO, 2005, Part 2, Article 23). These consequences far exceed the cost of developing, and maintaining a plan. In addition, amendments to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005 have placed criminal liability on owners who do not act within the Order. ! This Fire Safety Management Plan has been createdfor Media Factory in preparing a Fire Safety Management Plan, to achieve compliance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) 2005. Fire Safety Policy Statement The Media Factory believes that guaranteeing the health and safety of its staff, visitors to the premise, and all relevant persons is essential for its success. The management and staff within the Factory are committed to providing a sophisticated level of safety to all staff and visitors to the building. Assignment of Responsibility (RRO, 2005, Part 2, Article 23) In Media Factory, it is a belief that fire safety is everyone's responsibility. All employees must have adequate knowledge on how to respond in the event of fire emergency and must help in fire prevention and providing safety measures for themselves and other members within the building. A. Management Thy management determines the Media Factory’s fire prevention and protection policies as stipulated under the RRO, 2005. The management will further provide adequate controls to ensure that workplace remains safe at all times, and will provide enough resources and training for employees to encourage fire prevention and ensure that a safe evacuation and response measures at a time of fire emergency is attainable. B. Plan Administrator Responsible Person(s) have the responsibility of managing Fire Safety Management Plan for Media Factory, and shall maintain all records for the plan as required at all times. The Plan Administrator shall also: 1. Develop and administer the Media Factory’sfire prevention training program 2. Ensure proper maintenance of fire prevention equipment and systems 3. Control fuel and gas source hazards 4. Conduct fire risk assessment and make justified recommendations. C. Supervisors Supervisors have the sole responsibility of ensuring appropriate fire training for employees notifying Responsible Person when changes in operations of the company are likely to increase fire risks. Supervisors are also responsible for enforcing Media Factory’s fire prevention and protection policies. D. Employees All employees shall: 1. To complete all training programs and sessions before working without supervision 2. Ensure to conduct their operations safely to minimize fire risks 3. Report signs of potential fire breakout to supervisors 4. Adhere to emergency procedures keenly in the event of fire Fire safety management structure Evacuation strategies The management has ensured that, in the event of danger, staff and others present in the building can evacuate quickly and safely as possible by ensuring that routes to emergency exits are as very short and kept free from any obstacles. The routes also must have adequate lighting system as outlined in RRO part 2 Article 14 (RRO, 2005). The emergency evacuation plan is as follows; In case of FIRE Leave through the nearest Upon seeingSMOKE, FLAMES or the sound ofFIRE ALARM, alert others immediately (Klote J H, 2002) If safe, ensure doors and windows are shut to confine the fire Follow the EXIT signs to leave through the nearest exit door and proceed to the fire assembly point TELEPHONEand notify the fire service If unable to evacuate, close the door and call for help at a window. Calmly follow instructions from the Fire Officers. Do not re-enter the building until advised by the manager or Fire Officers. Emergency Response The factory’s emergency response plan provides clear, specific instructions for staff responding to an emergency. The procedures provide guidelines on notifying appropriate administrative staff of the emergency and the necessary actions to prevent any damage. Each department head is responsible for maintaining copies of emergency procedures in a continuously accessible location. In the event of an emergency the following steps should be followed; Switch on any fire alarm Do not panic Notify the administration or any other responsible person Escape through the nearest exit doors, closing doors behind you to confine fire If trapped, call for help from the window Relocate to the nearest fire assembly point for roll call Do not return to the factory unless advised Fire Alarm and Detection according to BS 5839-1 • Detect any smoke presence within the Factory • Ensure to sound all smoke alarms • Ring the fire alarm bell, both the inside and outside respectively • Operate the alarm specially made for hearing impaired • Door strikers must then be released • Ensure to isolate any gas supplier • Switch off air conditioners (BS ISO 7240-8 2007) Fire sprinkler system The fire sprinkler system installed in the Media Factory consists of: • Fire sprinklers below the ceiling in each room • Fire extinguishersinstalled in the roof of every room Upon sensing any source of heat, the sprinkler automatically responds and only when; • All smoke alarms go on • The inside and outside fire alarm bells ring • Alarm(s) specially made for hearing impaired operate • Door strikers go loose and gas supply to the Factory shut • Air conditioners also shut down (BS EN 12845: 2003). Fire prevention (Part 3 of Schedule 1) Fire safety legislation puts the responsible person on the responsibility of taking steps to reduce, so far as is reasonably possible, the risk of breakout by adopting adequate fire prevention measures. The undertaken fire risk assessment should identify the measures necessary in preventing fire from occurring. The factory takes the following guidelines. Stores for flammable material have adequate sign posts and well placarded Enforcing adequate housekeeping practices prevents the buildup of flammable materials within the Factory Proper establishment of firebreaks around work site compounds reduces the chances of fires from bushfire. Reducing risks through regular grass cutting and maintenance will also reduce risks. No lighting fires in zones where fire restrictions are high Work crew fires for boiling and cooking purposes will be in carefully chosen and cleared spaces within the Factory Routine Procedures for Staff Staff in the factory have mandatory attendance to routinely training on fire safety, ensuring no gas pipes are leaking, report any possible source of fire, and ensure their safety and that of others by conducting their operations in the required safe mode. They are also expected to switch off sources of light when not needed and switch off any electronic appliances when it is less required. Maintenance of Systems as Provided by RRO, Part 2, Article 17 The owner or any other “Responsible Person” with full control of building should appoint any competent person to inspect and assess if the fire safety systems are in a good working condition and to ensure that records for maintenance and inspection are kept at all times. In the case where any of the assessed system is faulty, possible reconditions and considerations are necessary to ensure replacement or repair of the specific systems. The following tests/inspections are necessary for the Factory systems in addition to any other tests advised by the manufacturer, supplier, or the installing agent of the system. a) Weekly Test Using different call point at each test, the system should be testedevery week and at the same time. Using different call points will ensure sequential testing. It is important to identify each call point and put in record after every test on it. b) Periodic Inspection and Test The responsible person according to the Order should ensure that the basis of time between inspections shall be on a risk assessment and never should that time exceed half a year (Article 9, Part 2). A comprehensive check and test sequence is a responsibility for a competent person, in accordance with the current standards as prescribed by the British Standard for Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings BS5839 Pt1. Decoration and Alterations The factory fire management team should ensure that all fire safety signs comply with the current standard in pictorial and symbol formats and provide sufficient signs to fire exit routes. It also should ensure that all internal fire-resisting doors are indicated with a sign reading, “ .Additional, the team should mark fire exit doors marked to help on how to use door opening mechanisms. Staff Training (RRO, 2005, Part 2, Article 21) Initial Instruction The Manager of the Media Factory will instruct employees at the time they commence employment in the Factory concerning what they ought to doin the event of fire emergency in the Factory in order to ensure their own safety and that of other persons, and in particular; • The instructions followed in case of emergency • The location of emergency exits within the factory • The evacuation routes • Location of firefighting instruments • How to raise alarms in the case where smoke alarms fail to respond • The location of the assembly areas Permanent Employees Permanent Employees should receive instruction before one month elapses since they commenced work, and repeated at intervals of within twelve months. The instructions given to these new and permanent employees include procedure to necessary in the event of fire, escape measures and location and operation of instruments for firefighting and fire. Workers who have other workers in their custody are trained on how to conduct such persons outside the building into an assembly point where the manager conducts a roll call and account for every individual present and then report on any missing persons.A record of worker instruction must be retained with this Fire Safety Management Plan. Yearly Evacuation Training An evacuation practice must be conducted within the Factory at intervals of not more than 12 months to allow employees practice fire emergency evacuation plan and familiarize themselves with the procedures as required by the RRO, 2005. It is also vital to retain the instructions of the evacuation plan with the Fire Safety Management Plan. Fire Risk Assessment According to RRO, 2005, the responsible person must ensure that the Factory has a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment plan that covers the entire Factory and that the assessment plan should be reviewed on a regular basis. The fire risk assessment strategy should be well organized and have a methodical look at the factory and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm within its environment. The order points out that in the event where the fire safety management team feels that it does not have the necessary competency to conduct a fire risk assessment, it should seek the assistance of a competent person. Record Keeping The Factory will maintain records for the routine fire safety checks. The Fire Safety Manager holds fire risk assessments and training records. The RRO 2005 makes specific requirements when it comes to record keeping. According to the order, the records of the Factory will include; Significant findings from fire risk assessments Tests and checks made on escape routes Tests of fire warning systems such as alarms Emergency lighting system tests and maintenance Maintenance and tests on extinguishers, hose reels, and fire blankets Recording training of relevant people and fire evacuation drills Updating the Fire Safety Management Manual Revision of the manual should take place following any of the following:- 1. A major change of work practices 2. Changes in staff levels 3. Structural or material alteration to the factory 4. Reviewed at least annually Reference BS 9999. Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. London: British Standards Institution, 2008. BS ISO 7240-8. Fire detection and alarm systems. Carbon monoxide fire detectors using an electro-chemical cell in combination with a heat sensor. London: British Standards Institution, 2007. BS 5839: Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings: Part 1:2002 + A2: 2008 Code of Practice for system design, installation,commissioning, and maintenance; Part 2, 1983. BS EN 12845. Fixed firefighting systems.Automatic sprinkler systems. Design, installation and maintenance. London: British Standards Institution, 2003. Chow, C L., Chow, W. and Lu, Z. Assessment of smoke toxicity of building materialsProc. 6th Asia–OceaniaSymp. On Fire Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea, 17–20 March 2004. Fire safety risk assessment guides, London: Communities and Local Government, 2006. (http://www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/aboutguides/) Klote, J. and Milke, J. Principles of smoke management design. Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE, 2002. National Fire Alarm Code NFPA 72. Quincy, MA, USA: National Fire Protection Association, 2010. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1541. The Stationery Office, 2005. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents/made SFPE handbook of fire protection engineering (4th edition). Bethesda, MD: Society of Fire Protection Engineers, 2008. Read More