Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Risk assessments and
The information from previously completed risk assessment and JSA records provide a backbone 
job safety analysis
on which to formalise a safe system of work
Organisation’s policy,
Information from existing policies and procedures such as those relating to the management of 
procedures and standards
vehicles may provide a basis from which to determine the safe systems for reversing or refuelling 
vehicles
Safety event investigations
The fi ndings and recommendations contained in an investigation report may assist in reviewing 
the safe system of work
Results of health surveillance
The results are likely to be able to confi rm that the effective use of PPE has reduced exposure or 
not and that the system is effective or not
Table 6.1
Sources of information available when developing a safe system of work

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Introduction to Fire Safety Management
110
➤
End products must conform to the required quality 
and safety standards.
Environment
– a safe system must consider (where 
necessary):
➤
Control of temperature, lighting and ventilation
➤
Appropriate controls for dust, fumes, vapours, radi-
ation, chemical and biological hazards
➤
Safe access and egress
➤
Provision of adequate welfare facilities
➤
Noise and vibration
➤
Variations:
➤
In climatic conditions
➤
Due to the time of day or year
➤
Due to other persons in the work environment
➤
Evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Any safe system of work should be designed to com-
bine these four elements to produce an integrated 
method of working which will ensure that tasks are car-
ried out in the safest way that can be achieved under the 
circumstances.
To illustrate how an effective safe system of work 
might be developed, it is useful to consider the require-
ments for a ‘lone worker’ who by the very term works by 
themselves without close or direct supervision.
There are a range of work situations that may involve 
lone working and include:
➤
Cleaners (out of hours)
➤
Security 
staff
➤
Delivery 
drivers
➤
Installation and maintenance engineers
➤
Warehouse 
persons
➤
Police 
offi cers
➤
Social 
workers.
In addition to those listed above, any member of staff may 
work out of normal work hours or be working in a remote 
location and as such may be deemed to be lone working.
Using the people, equipment, material and environ-
ment approach detailed above the procedure adopted 
would take into account as a minimum:
People
– ensuring that the selection process takes 
into account the psychological capabilities required 
of the role and that adequate training assists in attain-
ing the required level of competence and confi dence. 
Regular periodic visits from their line manager to ensure 
that adequate monitoring of operations is maintained.