Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Outline
ways of minimizing the risk of serious in-
jury from electricity when using a portable electri-
cal drill
(iv) 
Describe
the types of inspection and/or test 
to which the drill should have been subjected, 
identifying the particular features that should be 
checked by 
EACH
type and the factors that might 
affect the frequencies required.
7. 
Outline
measures that should be taken to minimize 
the risk of fi re from electrical equipment.
8. 
List
the items that should be included on a checklist 
for the routine visual inspection of portable electrical 
appliances.
9. With respect to the use of portable electrical appli-
ances in the workplace, 
identify EIGHT
examples 
of faults and bad practices that could contribute to 
electrical accidents.
10. (a)
Outline
the 
THREE
levels of inspection that 
should be included in a maintenance and inspec-
tion strategy for portable electrical appliances
(b) 
Identify
the reasons for keeping centralized 
records of the results of portable appliance test-
ing within an organization.

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13.1 
Introduction
Chapter 13 covers fi re prevention in the workplace and 
how to ensure that people are properly protected if fi re 
does occur. Each year UK fi re brigades attend over 35 000 
fi res at work in which about 30 people are killed and over 
2500 are injured. Fire and explosions at work account for 
about 2% of the major injuries reported under RIDDOR.
The fi nancial costs associated with serious fi res 
are very high including, in many cases (believed to be 
over 40%), the failure to start up business again. Never 
underestimate the potential of any fi re. What may appear 
to be a small fi re in a waste bin, if not dealt with can 
quickly spread through a building or structure. The 
Bradford City Football ground in 1985 or King’s Cross 
Underground station in 1987 are examples of where 
small fi res quickly became raging infernos, resulting 
in many deaths and serious injuries. The Buncefi eld 
fuel storage depot fi re in December 2005 is a further 
recent example of the destruction which a large fi re and 
explosion can cause.
Since the introduction of the Fire Services Act of 
1947, the fi re authorities have had the responsibility for 
fi ghting fi res in all types of premises. In 1971, the Fire 
Precautions Act gave the fi re authorities control over 
certain fi re procedures, means of escape and basic fi re 
protection equipment through the drawing up and issuing 
of Fire Certifi cates in certain categories of building. The 
Fire Certifi cation was mainly introduced to combat a 
number of serious industrial fi res that had occurred, with 
a needless loss of life, where simple well-planned protec-
tion would have allowed people to escape unhurt.
Following a Government review in the 1990s the Fire 
precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999 came into 
force in December of that year. These regulations were 
made under the HSW Act. They were amended in 1999 so 
as to apply to a wider range of premises including those 
already subject to the Fire Precautions Act 1971. In many 
ways these Regulations established the principles of fi re 
risk assessment which would underpin a reformed legisla-
tive framework for fi re safety. There remained a difference 
of opinion within Government, as to the right home for 
fi re legislation. The Home Offi ce believed that process fi re 
issues should remain with the HSW Act, while general fi re 
safety should have a different legislative vehicle.
In 2000 the Fire Safety Advisory Board was 
established to reform the fi re legislation to simplify, 
rationalize and consolidate existing legislation. It would 
provide for a risk-based approach to fi re safety allowing 
more effi cient, effective enforcement by the fi re and 
rescue service and other enforcing authorities.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 
(RRFSO) SI No 2005 1541 was made on 7 June 2005. The 
Order came into force on the delayed date of 1 October 
2006. A summary of the Order has been included in 
Chapter 17. The Fire Precautions Act 1971 is repealed and 
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 are 
revoked by the Order. Since the CDM2007 Regulations 
were approved, the RRFSO has been amended, as the 
fi re sections within the Construction (Health, Safety and 
Welfare) Regulations 1997 (now revoked) have been 
transferred to the CDM2007.
The RRFSO reforms the law relating to fi re safety 
in non-domestic premises. The main emphasis of the 
changes is to move towards fi re prevention. Fire certifi -
cates under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 are abolished 
by the Order and cease to have legal status. The RRFSO 
replaces fi re certifi cation with a general duty to ensure, so 
far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees.
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