Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
40
➤
The capability of the individual to apply their com-
petence to the task to which they are assigned
➤
The time available for them to fulfi l their functions 
and the means at their disposal.
Once again, the role of the competent safety adviser 
will be detailed within the organisation section of the 
safety policy. Dependent upon the size and nature of the 
organisation the functions of the adviser will include:
➤
Assisting in the development of the safety policy
➤
Facilitating and assisting in the production of risk 
assessments
➤
Advising the responsible person and/or the 
employer and the management board on hazards 
and risk control measures
➤
Monitoring safety management systems
➤
Active monitoring – tours and inspections, health 
surveillance or air quality sampling
➤
Reactive monitoring – investigating safety events, 
reports, etc.
➤
Supporting the works safety committee by the 
provision of:
➤
Statistics
➤
Technical 
information
➤
Details of any relevant statutory provision
➤
Liaising with external bodies, e.g.:
➤
Enforcers
➤
Contractors
➤
Scientifi c specialists
➤
Insurance 
companies
➤
Other 
employers
➤
Trade 
bodies
➤
Providing health and safety advice to all managers 
and staff as required
➤
Communicating changes in current safety legislation 
and best practice to the responsible person and/or 
employer, safety representatives, employees and the 
management board.
The competent advice and safety assistance in rela-
tion to fi re includes the fi re safety manager and those 
who provide assistance to them (fi re warden, fi re inci-
dent controller, alarm verifi er – see Chapter 10). The law 
also allows for this competent person or persons to be 
appointed from outside an organisation such as the use 
of consultants.
The RRFSO requires that any person appointed by 
the responsible person is given appropriate informa-
tion about the factors that could affect the safety of 
all persons and about any person working within the 
organisation who may be more at risk (disabled persons, 
sensory impaired persons, etc.).