Introduction to Fire Safety Management

1.6.2 External 
information
As can be seen from the preceding section all organ-
isations are required to provide safety information in 
relation to the products and services that they manu-
facture, produce or provide. Information can therefore 
be gleaned from manufacturers’ documentation and 
records, e.g. sound levels, chemical hazards, weights of 
items and fl ammability ranges.
An extremely valuable source of information is 
HSE Books who produce free publications, guidance 
documentation and report books.
The HSE and the Department of Communities and 
Local Government (DCLG) provide information by way of 
their respective websites which can include reactive data 
such as health, safety and fi re statistics, together with a 
wealth of information relating to safety campaigns.
The Offi 
ce of Public Sector Information (OPSI) 
provides information relating to legislation and actual 
statutes and can again be accessed via the world-
wide web.
The legislation itself, together with any ACoP or 
Guidance produced by the HSE, is an equally valuable 
source, as are the Fire Safety Guides produced by DCLG. 
The British Standards Institute (BSI) can also provide 
a valuable source of information regarding items such 
as the requirements for safety management systems, 
together with physical standards such as those appertain-
ing to emergency lighting, etc.
Figure 1.26
The cost of fi re per initiation source for 
2004/2005
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
deliberate ignit
ion
electrical
friction, heat, sparks
sm
oking m
ateri
als
naked light
cooking
spontaneous com
bustion
oil
firew
orks
LP
G cutting equ
ipm
ent
spread from
secondary fire
Estimated loss £M

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