Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Worked example 1 – Sources of ignition 
allowing fi re to start
An employer (responsible person) is operat-
ing in a small offi ce environment with a large 
number of pieces of electrical offi ce type 
equipment. The electrical equipment has 
been sourced from a reputable supplier in line 
with the company’s procurement policy. Staff 
undertake pre-user checks on an ad hoc 
basis as per their induction training guidance. 
Annual portable appliance testing is carried 
out by a competent external contractor.
During the physical inspection process of 
the fi re risk assessment it was noted that a 
cable on a vacuum cleaner within an unlocked 
cupboard had an unauthorised electrical joint 
on its cable.
Taking into account the information contained in 
Worked example 1 the company appears to have a good 
policy in terms of resourcing its electrical equipment 

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and the provision of induction training (training records 
indicate that pre-use testing is being carried out); this 
was reinforced by talking to staff members.
Also the electrical equipment was covered under the 
main health and safety policy arrangements section and 
that a formalised system for ensuring that contractors 
PAT test the equipment on an annual basis was in place. 
Each of these issues is therefore recorded in the existing 
control measures. Signifi 
cantly though the vacuum 
cleaner had had an unauthorised connector to the cable 
which increased not only the level of risk to the user but 
may also result in overheating causing a fi re – this identi-
fi es that there may be inadequate control measures in 
place.
From a fi re risk prospective the risk category with 
the existing controls is likely to rate a medium/low risk; 
however, from a health and safety prospective this 
would rate high. In either case further action is needed 
to control the risk.
The persons at risk from this hazard are likely to be 
the user (from the electrical hazard) but as in the majority 
of cases in relation to fi re, any person within the premises, 
should a fi re start from the equipment, could be affected.
The control measures included in the action plan are 
therefore likely to include, in the immediate phase, the 
removal of the cleaner from use (Priority 1). Subsequently 
a competent person would repair/replace the cable prior 
to its being used again.
It is also likely that a reminder to staff relating to 
unauthorised alterations to electrical equipment would 
be issued (this could be by way of e-mail, memo, etc.) 
(Priority 2). It would be further recommended that 
electrical appliance leads be included on visual fi re 
safety inspections/tours of the building and records 
of such inspection tours are kept (Priority 3). This last 
element may also need the overall fi re safety policy 
to be amended to include formal monthly inspection 
programmes (Priority 3/4).
The fuel hazard identifi ed by the aerosol contain-
ers and the overall lack of any formalised controls could 
be a signifi cant risk if they are involved in a fi re, as they 
will not only provide a signifi cant fuel source but could 
precipitate explosions.
There are very limited control measures are 
already in place, which include commonsense practice 
by the engineers and that the aerosols appear to be 
stored within an enclosed area and not left around the 
workshops (the odd one or two only).
The risk category will depend upon the potential 
ignition sources available; however, given the volumes of 
aerosols coupled with the availability of other combust-
ible products it is likely that the risk, with existing 
controls, will rate a medium/high or high and further 
action will be required.
As in the case of the previous example all persons 
may be placed at risk from this hazard. It should also be