Introduction to Fire Safety Management

cooperation
between individuals, 
safety representatives and groups
➤
Ensuring 
effective 
communication
throughout the 
organisation is maintained
➤
Facilitating and monitoring the necessary individual 
and organisational 
competencies
.
BS 5588 Part 12 (fi re safety management) confi rms cur-
rent ‘best practice’ when it argues that fi re safety man-
agement is best achieved through the appointment of 
a single individual who is made responsible for all fi re 
safety matters within the organisation. Experience shows 
that where the responsibility for fi re safety management 
is spread throughout an organisation, break down in 
communication and control results in the ineffectual man-
agement of fi re safety. BS 5588 confi rms the view that if 
the role of the manager responsible for fi re safety is ill-
defi ned the standard of management is likely to be poor.
As previously discussed senior managers and 
directors have specifi c personal liabilities placed upon 
them by the HSWA and the RRFSO. Section 37 of the 
HSWA and Article 32(8) RRFSO allow that, in addition to 
the liability of a corporate body to be prosecuted for a 
breach of statutory duty, an individual manager may also 
be prosecuted for the same offence.
In its own guidance the HSE advise that the health 
and safety duties of the board are to:
➤
Review the health and safety performance of the 
organisation regularly (at least annually)
➤
Ensure that the health and safety policy statement 
refl ects current board priorities
➤
Ensure that the management systems provide for 
effective monitoring and reporting of the organisa-
tion’s health and safety performance
➤
Be kept informed about any signifi cant health and 
safety failures, and of the outcome of the investiga-
tions into their causes
➤
Ensure that the board addresses the health and 
safety implications of 
all
the board decisions
➤
Ensure that health and safety risk management 
systems are in place and remain effective. Periodic 
audits can provide information on their operation 
and effectiveness.
The above issues can easily and succinctly be adapted 
to meet fi re safety needs of an organisation.