Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Giving appropriate instructions to employees
– 
ensure that all relevant persons (employees, self-
employed persons, other employers) understand their 
responsibilities and what they should do, for instance 
emergency procedures or when undertaking potentially 
hazardous hot work processes.
The principles of prevention are particularly 
useful when considering controlling the risks 
from fi re. For example, when a ‘responsible 
person’ is developing a fi re risk control strat-
egy, they should attempt to completely elimi-
nate the risk of a fi re occurring. This may be 
done by having effective security, and ensur-
ing that the workplace contains no electrical 
equipment, dangerous substances or poten-
tial arsonists. In most cases this will not be a 
practical solution. Therefore the respon sible 
person will need to evaluate the fi re risk, in 
other words make an assessment of the 
nature and magnitude of the risks from fi re 
in the workplace. This will include assessing 
the risk of a fi re breaking out 
and
the result-
ant risks to people, the building and the busi-
ness assets.
Once the nature and magnitude of the fi re 
risk is known the responsible person must 
consider applying the other principles of 
prevention.
There follows some more examples of how the prin ciples 
of prevention may be understood and applied:
Avoiding risks
– if it is possible avoid a risk 
altogether perhaps by undertaking the work a different 
way, for instance using compression fi ttings when join-
ing pipe work together rather than using a naked fl ame 
and LPG.
Evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided
– 
this is undertaken by completing a risk assessment or 
series of risk assessments, for instance completing 
a risk assessment for handling a reactive fl ammable 
chemical and/or completing overall fi re risk assessment 
for a premises.