Introduction to Fire Safety Management

4.4.3 Communication
Successful organisations have an effective communi-
cation strategy, which in turn enhances and improves 
the pervading safety culture. In its guidance HSG65 
(successful health and safety management) the HSE 
propose that effective communication within an organi-
sation relies on the management of information; coming 
in, fl owing within and leaving the organisation.
Figure 4.2
Cooperation – the key to success

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Safety culture
65
Communication is defi ned as:
The imparting, conveying, sharing and 
exchange of ideas, knowledge and 
information.
taking part in fi re safety tours of the workplace, chairing 
safety committee meetings, being actively involved in 
safety event investigations and responding positively to 
suggestions made by staff.
As important as the visible behaviour of senior 
managers is the information that is communicated in 
writing. In many cases there is a legal duty to produce 
written documentation, for example there is a require-
ment to have a written health and safety policy and 
written records of the signifi cant fi ndings of fi re risk 
assessments (see Chapters 1 and 2). What is absolutely 
crucial is that written communication is clear, concise 
and understood by those it is provided for.
Examples of the range of written 
communication:
➤
Policy 
documents
➤
Notices
➤
Posters
➤
Newsletters
➤
Electronic information via e-mails or 
intranet
➤
Handouts at training programmes.
In addition to formal written policies, success-
ful organisations will use a range of other media to 
communicate the safety information. The information 
may be supported with photographs, diagrams and 
cartoons. It will also be provided at strategic locations in 
the workplace that is convenient to view and be provided 
in a language that will be understood in the workplace. 
The language used in some cases will be other than 
English, particularly when the workforce is composed of 
differing nationalities. Written communication may also 
need to use the relevant vernacular to gain acceptance 
and understanding of the target work group.
A key component, for instance, with regard to 
communicating fi re safety arrangements is the need 
to provide safety signage to direct people along an 
emergency escape route. In this case the written 
communication takes the form of internationally 
recognised pictograms.
The provision of some very specifi c information for 
employees is required by current UK legislation (see 
‘Summary of key legal requirements’ at the rear of the 
book). The main requirement is for the employer to 
display prominently an approved poster or to issue each 
employee with a leafl et.
The poster and the leafl et contain the relevant 
information relating to the HSWA, and providing the 
name and contact address of the relevant enforcing 
Inputs
The fi rst step of effective safety management is to formu-
late policy. It is vital for good sources of information to be 
readily available and to be used when developing safety 
policies and practices. This can only be achieved if an 
organisation monitors the changes of health and safety 
legislation together with any associated guidance; devel-
opments in technology that are relevant to risk control 
systems; and the application of good management prac-
tices that have been demonstrated to enhance safety 
performance.