Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Number
Risk assessment for
Assessor’
s name/s
Date of
Review
assessment
date
T
asks involved
 No.
Hazar
ds
Persons at risk
Risk rating
Contr
ol measur
es in place 
Action

 
(H,M,L)
(Control measures required)
yes/no

---

Principles of risk assessment
99
 No.
Hazar
ds
Persons at risk
Risk rating
Contr
ol measur
es in place 
Action

 
(H,M,L)
(Control measures required)
yes/no
Contr
ol hierar
chy
E
liminate
R
educe/substitute
I
solate
C
ontr
ol – engineering/SSOW
P
PE
D
iscipline/signage
Major
Serious
Slight
High
High risk
Medium risk
Medium risk
Medium risk
Low risk
Low risk
Low risk
Low risk
Medium
Low
Insignificant risk 

---

Introduction to Fire Safety Management
100
RISK ASSESSMENT ACTION PLAN
Acme Company Ltd
Number
T
asks involved
No.
Contr
ol r
equir
ed
Priority/T
arget
Person Re-assessment 
Revised 
risk
date
responsible
by (Name)
rating
1 
 
Immediate action r
equir
ed within 24 
hrs
2 
 
Short term action r
equir
ed within 1 week
3 
 
Undertake action within 1 month
4
Action within 3 months or agr
ee plan within 6 
months
5 
 
Review as part of Business Plan

---

101
6.1
Introduction
The key to effective safety management, once the risks 
have been identifi ed, is to establish and implement a 
control strategy. The control measures that are imple-
mented to secure the safety of all those at work or who 
may be affected by the work or work processes should 
refl ect the legal requirements, as a minimum standard, 
and any technological advances that have been made.
The term ‘prevention’ when used in relation to 
fi re has often been interpreted to mean preventing a 
fi re starting in the fi rst place, which clearly is the most 
effective way to deal with fi re risk management. In current 
legislation and guidance, however, the term prevention 
relates to the need to prevent persons being harmed or 
loss being sustained.
The management of fi re risks both in relation to 
primary fi re hazards (ignition, fuel, oxygen) and second-
ary fi re hazards (those preventing people escaping safely 
in the event of a fi re) will be discussed in greater detail 
later within the book allowing this chapter to focus on 
strategies of control as they relate to safety management 
as a whole.
6.2
Principles of prevention
The fundamental ‘principles of prevention’ that are 
included in both the RRFSO and the MHSW are sup-
ported by a range of additional legislation, approved 
codes of practice and guidance each providing assist-
ance when considering the control measures that may be 
required to reduce the risks to the lowest level reasonably 
practicable.
A responsible person (under the RRFSO) and/or 
employer (under the MHSW) are legally required to apply 
the ‘principles of prevention’. These are principles that 
have been adopted throughout the European Community 
and are contained in both the RRFSO and the MHSW. 
The principles state that:
➤
Where possible risk should be avoided
➤
Risks which cannot be avoided should be evaluated 
(i.e. assessed)
➤
Risks should be combated at source
➤
Control measures should adapt to technical progress
➤
Dangerous substances/articles should be replaced 
by the non-dangerous or less dangerous
➤
A coherent overall prevention policy should be 
developed, which covers technology, organisation 
of work and the infl uence of factors relating to the 
working environment
➤
Priority should be given to collective protective 
measures (i.e. those which protect the most people) 
over individual protective measures and
➤
Employees should be given appropriate instruction.
➤
An additional control included in the MHSW is that 
of adapting the work to the individual, especially as 
regards the design of workplaces, the choice of work 
equipment and the choice of working and produc-
tion methods, with a view, in particular, to alleviating 
6
General principles of 
control
This chapter discusses the following key 
elements:
➤
Principles of prevention
➤
The hierarchy of risk control measures
➤
Supervision and monitoring
➤
Safe systems of work
➤
Emergency 
procedures.

---