Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
84
implications of failing to identify risks generally, particularly 
those related to fi re safety, can also have serious implica-
tions on an organisation’s ability to fulfi l its contractual 
obligations, maintain its position in the market, protect its 
reputation and potentially, and secure its survival.
The risk assessment process will vary depend-
ing upon an organisation’s activities. It may be that 
the assessment will be a highly technical and complex 
scientifi c analysis, such as in the case of COMAH site 
activities (a site defi ned under the Control of Major 
Accident Hazards Regulations 1999). At the other end 
of the scale, the assessment may simply be a fairly 
succinct analysis of the hazards, risks and control 
measures relating to the work activities conducted in a 
small offi ce environment.
5.2
Defi nitions relating to risk 
assessment
The fi rst chapter of this book included basic defi nitions 
relating to the management of safety. There is a wide 
range and some diversity of terminology contained 
within British and European standards and HSE and 
industry guidance. The following defi nitions, drawn from 
the standards and guidance, are used in this book.
5.2.1 Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm. A source 
or situation that could cause harm such as chemicals, 
electricity, working at height, hot work processes and 
in the case of an emergency an inability to respond and 
escape to a place of safety.
5.2.2 Harm
Harm includes the effects relating to human injury and 
ill health, damage to the environment or loss to an 
organisation.
5.2.3 Risk
A combination of the likelihood (chance or probability) 
of a specifi ed event occurring and should it do so, the 
severity (or consequences) of the outcome.