Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Figure 6.6
A typical emergency escape sign
Clear, well-positioned and well-maintained signage 
will enhance the control measures identifi ed earlier in this 
chapter. As will be seen in Chapter 10 the use of escape 
signage is a critical control in assisting persons to leave 
the building safely.
Behavioural controls in the form of personal discipline 
is required to follow not only the safety signage but also 
the conditions laid down in SSOWs and for an individual 
to utilise engineering controls as part of an overall risk 
management strategy. The safety culture pervading in 
Figure 6.5
A typical explosive atmosphere warning sign
Figure 6.7
A typical fi re extinguisher location sign

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General principles of control
107
found in BS 5839 Part 1, whereas the mechanisms for 
ensuring that persons can safely evacuate in the event of 
an emergency (means of escape) will depend upon active 
monitoring such as inspections and safety tours.
The monitoring and management of contractors 
is also required at a high level particularly when works 
involve high risk processes such as the use of fl ammable 
substances or where works are undertaken on access 
and egress routes.
Consideration must also be given to how an organ -
isation monitors emergency exercises and its training 
and competency levels, as the protective measures 
implemented by it to keep people safe will rely upon them 
following procedures for which they have been trained.
6.5
Safe systems of work
6.5.1 What is a safe system of work (SSOW)?
A critical element in controlling primary fi re and other 
workplace hazards is the use of a safe system of work 
(SSOW). This SSOW, in simple terms, defi nes a way 
of undertaking a task in a safe manner, for instance it 
would defi ne the safe way of refuelling a forklift truck 
powered by LPG, or the safe way of undertaking hot 
work processes.
Safe systems of work appear in a variety of forms 
including:
➤
Standard operating procedures
➤
Safe operating procedures
➤
Method 
statements.
Such a system of work would on the majority of occa-
sions be formally recorded and documented, taking into 
account all foreseeable risks associated with the oper-
ation and detail the procedure for minimisation of the risk, 
or where reasonably practicable the complete elimin-
ation of the risk.
As can be seen from the above defi nition the safe 
system of work should provide a step-by-step approach 
which integrates all the facets that will secure the safety 
of not only those undertaking the task or job, but also 
those who may be affected by it.
As previously discussed, it is the risk assessment 
that determines the need for a safe system of work to 
be introduced, as part of the mechanisms by which the 
hazard and associated risks are controlled. The safe 
system of work relies heavily upon human behaviour 
and discipline and therefore selecting a safe system of 
work above other control strategies, such as elimination, 
should not be considered.
The procedural controls developed in the creation of 
the safe system of work will also have to take into account 
technical control measures including design features 
such as the use of guards on cutting equipment, noise 
reduction systems and workplace modifi cations. Each 
of these will be supported by behavioural controls which 
address the individual in terms of selection and training, 
which are included in the ‘safe person approach’.
The actual control measures should be selected on 
the basis of their effectiveness, applicability, practicability 
and, fi nally, cost. Some controls may be dictated by legal 
requirements, e.g. equipment guards. In most cases, 
however, it is usual to apply a hierarchy of measures such 
as that given in the publication 
Successful Health and 
Safety Management
(HS(G)65).
It is often the case that complex or unusual tasks 
are required to have a formally documented SSOW. Over 
recent years the formal system has been adopted for the 
majority of routine tasks as their production assists in 
defi ning the safety standards required of an operation or 
process and importantly provides a basis for the provision 
of information, instruction and training programmes.
A number of pieces of current legislation refer to 
the requirement for the production of safe systems of 
work, together with the provision of information, instruc-
tion and training. Therefore in addition to introducing 
measurable standards, the introduction of safe systems