Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Figure 6.8
Diagram of levels of supervision from HS(G)65
Defi nition of a safe system of work:
A step-by-step procedure based upon the 
integration of people, equipment, mater 
ials, 
and the environment, to produce an accept-
able level of safety.
Level of supervision
High
100%
Low
Low
High
Formal supervision
Self supervision
High
Low
Competence
risk
0%

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Introduction to Fire Safety Management
108
of work assists an employer or responsible person to 
comply with the law.
In order for an organisation to effectively use safe 
systems of work as part of its risk control strategy it will 
be necessary to consider the follow:
➤
When a safe system of work is required
➤
How safe system of work will be developed
➤
How the safe system of work will be documented
➤
How the system will be communicated and persons 
trained
➤
How the system will be monitored, reviewed and 
when necessary revised.
6.5.2 When is a safe system of work required?
As discussed above a safe system of work may well be 
recorded and documented for the majority of tasks or 
operations undertaken. In general the risk assessment 
of an operation will determine the need to document 
the safe system or consider that an informal approach 
is appropriate. To assist in determining the level of for-
mality that a safe system of work takes the following key 
factors may be considered:
➤
The level of risk identifi ed in the risk assessment
➤
The legal requirements, i.e. (Construction Design 
Management Regulations ACoP)
➤
Guidance from trade bodies in relation to ‘best prac-
tice’ (Fire Protection Association)
➤
Complexity of the task or operations
➤
Previous experience (safety events, accidents, 
incidents)
➤
Level of resources required to implement and moni-
tor the SSOW:
➤
Documentation
➤
Training
➤
Supervision.
Safe systems of work do not always require document-
ing, for example the changing of a light bulb on a desk 
lamp. If, however, there is no formal safe system of work 
the mechanisms by which people undertake tasks and 
operations may vary and there is the potential that people 
may be harmed as a result. A formalised system enables 
standards to be communicated, implemented, monitored 
and reviewed which will assist in managing the risk.