Introduction to Fire Safety Management

3.2.4 Middle managers and supervisors
The role of middle managers and supervisors will nor-
mally be centred on implementing the detailed arrange-
ments for all functions of the organisation, including 
health and safety.
Although used in the HSWA and supporting ACoPs 
and guidance, the term supervisor is becoming increas-
ingly redundant. The HSE, recognising that the term 
‘supervisor’ can give a negative impression of an overly 
autocratic role, acknowledges the alternative role of ‘team 
leader’.
Whichever term is applied, middle managers and 
team leaders have a key role to play implementing health 
and safety policies. Their roles are likely to include:
➤
Providing information, training, instruction and super-
vision for those staff they have responsibility for
➤
Providing technical input to the formulation of 
polices and work practices
➤
Providing feedback to senior management on the 
effectiveness of health and safety policies and their 
implementation.
3.2.5 The competent safety adviser (safety 
assistance)
Both Article 18 of the RRFSO and Regulation 7 of the 
MHSW Regulations require that the responsible per-
son and/or the employer appoint one or more compe-
tent persons to assist him undertaking the measures he 
needs to take to comply with the requirements imposed 
upon him under the relevant statutory provisions.
This is an absolute legal duty to appoint one or 
more persons who have adequate knowledge, training, 
experience or other qualities to enable them to assist the 
responsible person and/or the employer discharge their 
legal duties.
In deciding who and how many persons to appoint 
as competent advisers the employer/RP must take into 
account:
➤
Nature and scope of work activities and the size of 
the undertaking/premises
➤
The work involved
➤
The principles of risk assessment and prevention
➤
Any current legislation and standards

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