Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
60
A number of studies carried out by the HSE have 
shown that signifi cant numbers of major injury and fatal 
accidents could have been prevented by positive action 
by management.
These studies established that in the order of 70% 
of fatal accidents in construction and maintenance 
activities could have been prevented by direct, positive, 
management action.
The studies emphasise the critical role of the organ-
isation in establishing a robust health and safety culture 
and a safety management system aimed at prevent-
ing human error, as well as establishing the ‘hardware’ 
controls for health and safety.
In the fi eld of safety management, the most widely 
used defi 
nition of culture is that suggested by the 
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations. 
This defi nition was used to shape the guidance given by 
the HSE in its guidance HSG65 ‘Successful health and 
safety management’:
The investigation into safety climate argued that 
there were fi ve drivers for a positive safety climate:
Leadership
Whereby senior managers provide a demonstration of 
safety as having a high status in the organisation by 
providing:
➤
An adequate budget and resources for managing 
safety (including safety specialists)
➤
Opportunities for effective safety communication
➤
Training and support to personnel
➤
High visibility of management’s commitment to safety
➤
Effective safety management systems led by a stra-
tegic level safety management team.
Communication
Whereby there are effective:
➤
Channels for top-down, bottom-up and horizontal 
communication on safety matters
➤
Systems for reporting safety issues
➤
Transfer of information between individuals, depart-
ments and teams.