Fire Safety | Responsible person ongoing duties

After completion of the stages on our 'How it works' page of the Complete Fire Safety Management website, a responsible person might think that their management of fire safety and risk assessment is complete. The process is ongoing however, and involves 'housekeeping' duties.

While housekeeping most commonly refers to domestic chores, in the world of fire safety, it describes simple regular activities that must be undertaken to ensure the premises are fire safe.

Tools such as a fire safety log book help to ensure that all information is stored together and that planned maintenance, fire drills and processes can be recorded, is essential.

Common Failures

Where the management system fails, are the most common issues identified, as follows:

• Inadequate testing/maintenance of fire safety systems

• Excessive fire loading within given areas

• Means of escape routes blocked/locked/impeded

• Significant risk of fire caused by combining ignition sources/combustible materials

• Furnishings presenting a greater risk due to damage

• Inappropriate storage

• Inadequate controls over flammable materials

• Lack of controls over external personnel, e.g. contractors undertaking works

• Overloading of electrical systems

• Poor cable management (leading to damaged flex cords)

• Inappropriate potential arson assessment

This list is not considered to be exhaustive; however, it does provide some insight into typical housekeeping issues that are observed.  These examples should demonstrate that housekeeping is more than keeping your desk tidy.

Consequences

The consequences of all the examples given and for all fire safety housekeeping issues is that the risk of a fire is greater.  This can be due to the likelihood of fire occurring being greater, for example by introducing additional ignition risks to an environment, or by making the consequences of fire worse, perhaps by increasing the fire loading within an area.

Summary

We must all give fire safety housekeeping the respect it deserves, whilst it is deemed to be at the 'simple end' of the spectrum. If we fail to get this right, we are likely to fail in all areas.  There is little point in installing complex fire detection systems to protect a building (in the event a fire might start) if we overlook the issues that could cause a fire to start in the first place.  Whilst we would never suggest lessening protection systems, these systems are often measures used to detect fire/prevent its spread.  Many housekeeping issues are in place as a fire prevention measure.  If we can achieve prevention, we achieve success.

The regular checking of premises for changes to environment, changes to equipment, storage facilities, exits and other points of egress is essential. It could save lives.

If you would like to know more - or would like to arrange an appointment with one of our senior fire safety advisers - simply call Peter Gyere on 020 8668 8663