{"id":22428,"date":"2016-01-26T09:53:19","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T09:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=22428"},"modified":"2016-01-26T09:53:38","modified_gmt":"2016-01-26T09:53:38","slug":"management-fire-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/health-safety-news\/management-fire-safety\/22428\/","title":{"rendered":"Management of fire safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chief Fire Officers Association give an overview of how fire safety management is integral to reducing fire hazards within public buildings\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Many of us take our safety in case of fire for granted. Few of us ever witness a severe fire, our high streets are not filled with burned out shells of buildings and our public buildings seem to be a constant in our lives. For those that know, or have seen the devastation fire can cause, the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of helplessness leave a lasting impression. The feeling of helplessness and loss is perhaps felt more widely in public buildings.<\/p>\n

For the most part our safety in case of fire is well looked after. New buildings are subject to building regulations, including requirements for fire safety measures and a process of statutory consultation means that the Fire and Rescue Authority has to be consulted as to the fire safety of the proposal. For older buildings, there is a strong possibility that the premises was once subject to certification by the Fire and Rescue Authority, when they exercised responsibility for the fire safety measures in buildings.<\/p>\n

Today our safety in case of fire is provided in consequence of a risk assessment. The Fire and Rescue Authority is not involved in these assessments (other than inspecting their suitability and sufficiency, according to a risk based inspection programme). Rather the assessment can be done by the person responsible for the premises, regardless of their fire safety understanding or by a third party. Both methods are fraught with potential dangers. A lack of knowledge and experience can lead to fire hazards being missed or inappropriately mitigated, whereas the third party can lead to those responsible being divorced from the fire safety measures that protect them (assuming the third party has sufficient skills to identify and mitigate the risks).<\/p>\n

The process of undertaking a \u2018risk assessment\u2019 might be seen as a one-off process; assess the risk \u2026 job done. (Then review it occasionally). For the ongoing fire safety of premises the term \u2018fire safety management\u2019 is arguably more appropriate. It suggests the ongoing nature of keeping fire safely under control, which is so important to maintain safe premises. The constant management of fire safety is vital for the ongoing function of the fire safety measures that are designed and installed to keep people safe.<\/p>\n

In common with many subjects, fire safety can be straightforward and relatively simple. Likewise, it can quickly become complicated. For the simple approach the way to achieve fire safety is by continually providing general fire precautions:<\/p>\n