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Fire Safety and Awareness First name: Surname: Company: Date: Please complete the above, in the blocks provided, as clearly as possible. Completing the details in full will ensure that your certificate bears the correct spelling and date. e date should be the day you finish & must be written in the DD/MM/YYYY format. Copyright Notice is booklet remains the intellectual property of Redcrier Publications L td e material featured in this document is subject to Redcrier Publications L td copyright protection unless otherwise indicated; any breach of this may result in legal action.Any other proposed use of Redcrier Publications L td material will be subject to a copyright licence available from Redcrier Publications L td .e information enclosed is not to be used, leased or lent to any one intending to use its contents for training purposes, neither is it to be stored on any retrieval systems for use at a later date. V10.1217.01 © Redcrier Publications Limited 2017

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Page 1: Fire Safety and Awareness

Fire Safety and Awareness

First name:

Surname:

Company:

Date:Please complete the above, in the blocks provided, as clearly as possible.

Completing the details in full will ensure that your certificate bears the correct spelling and date.The date should be the day you finish & must be written in the DD/MM/YYYY format.

Copyright Notice This booklet remains the intellectual property of Redcrier Publications Ltd

The material featured in this document is subject to Redcrier Publications Ltd copyright protection unless otherwise indicated; any breach of this may result in legal action.Any other proposed use of Redcrier Publications Ltd material will be subject to a copyright licence available from Redcrier Publications Ltd.The information enclosed is not to be used, leased or lent to any one intending to use its contents for training purposes, neither is it to be stored on any retrieval systems for use at a later date.

V10.1217.01 © Redcrier Publications Limited 2017

Page 2: Fire Safety and Awareness

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Contents

Index. Page 2Learning outcomes. Page 3Fundamental standards. Pages 3 - 4

Unit One. Pages 5 - 7The importance of fire safety.Unit One Questions. Page 8

Unit Two. Pages 9 - 12Fire prevention.Unit Two Questions. Page 13

Unit Three. Pages 14 - 17Emergency equipment.Unit Three Questions. Page 18

Unit Four. Pages 19 - 23Risk assessment.Unit Four Questions. Pages 24 – 25

Appendix: Fire extinguisher quick guide. Page 26

N.B: We are aware that official practice is to use the terms “service users” or “people using this service” to describe those receiving care. We prefer the term “client” and use it throughout our training package.

Key:

worksheet important

example

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Fire Safety and Awareness

Learning outcomes.

• Recognise the importance of fire safety.• Understand how fires can be prevented.• Identify the types of emergency equipment and its uses.• Understand the need for formal and informal risk assessments.• Recognise their role in fire safety.

Fundamental standards.

The fundamental standards are the standards by which CQC will inspect social care. The standards are based on the regulations from the Care Act 2014 and CQC have changed the focus for the purposes of inspection.

The fundamental standards are those standards that no care setting must fall below.

The standards are based on five areas as follows:Safe. People are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

Effective. People’s care, treatment and support show quality of life and promote good outcomes, and providers should show evidence to prove it.

Caring. Care should be person centred involving dignity and respect, and compassion.

Responsive. Following correct working procedures as agreed by your workplace and as set out in the client’s care plan.

Well led. Management leadership and governance should ensure all of the above happens. Staff training should be recognised and openness and fairness be apparent.

These areas are known as key lines of enquiry or KLOES. Each KLOE has a set of criteria which CQC use to check whether the fundamental standards are being met.

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The fundamental standards are as follows:

Person centred care. Ensuring that those receiving the care are at the centre of all decisions.

Dignity and respect. Providing the client with dignity and respect in all aspects of their care.

Need for consent. Asking the client’s permission before carrying out tasks that affect them.

Safe care and treatment.

Following correct working procedures as agreed by your workplace and the client’s care plan.

Safeguarding service users from abuse.

Following agreed working and safeguarding procedures and being aware of signs and symptoms.

Meeting nutritional needs.

Being aware of dietary needs, working with the care plan, ensuring clients have the right equipment and conditions to eat.

Cleanliness, safety and suitability of premises and equipment.

Carrying out required checks of premises and equipment, implementing cleaning rotas and carrying out safety checks.

Receiving and acting on complaints.

Having a complaints policy and procedure in place that is accessible to all and act in accordance with the policy when dealing with complaints.

Good governance. Ensuring that all aspects of the workplace is overseen and policies and procedures are implemented and monitored regularly.

Staffing. Fit and proper persons employed.Fit and proper person requirement for Directors is followed.

Duty of candour. Relevant information must be volunteered to all persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not the information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report about that provision has been made.

Our Redcrier manuals will provide your staff with training to support attainment of the fundamental standards.

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Fire Safety and Awareness

Unit One

The importance of fire safety.

Ultimate responsibility for fire safety within the workplace rests with employers.

They must:

• Provide fire safety equipment.• Put in place emergency procedures.• Provide training for all staff.• Display information for visitors.

To comply with Fire Safety Regulations, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 employers must carry out, and formally record, risk assessments to identify fire hazards and implement measures to reduce the likelihood of fires occurring. These provisions will form part of the written health and safety policy within the workplace.

On a day to day basis, everybody must take responsibility for ensuring the workplace is a safe place and this includes preventing the risk of fires.

It is important to be aware of fire safety because ultimately it can save lives. Remember that if a fire occurs you need to:

• Be prepared.• Be confident.• Be calm.

All employees have a legal duty to:

• Be aware of emergency procedures.• Comply with the findings of employer’s risk assessments.• Report fire risks.

Misusing or tampering with equipment provided for fire safety is an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and may result in prosecution and disciplinary action. Damaged equipment puts lives at risk. It is important to be aware of fire safety because ultimately it can save lives.

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Fires are usually avoidable incidents, the most common causes in the workplace are:

1. Arson.2. Flammables and combustible materials.3. Electrical faults.4. Human error.5. Negligence.

Human actions cause fires; whether it is by deliberate intention - arson; carelessness - cigarettes, candles; or negligence - lack of maintenance of electrical equipment. Employers and employees together have a responsibility to reduce the likelihood of fires occurring by introducing safe procedures, working responsibly and identifying, reporting and repairing potential fire hazards.

The cost of a fire in a commercial building can run into £ millions.

The costs to employers when fires occur may be more than they can support, leading to business closures and job losses. Damage to buildings will have to be repaired; there may be an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire; insurance premiums could increase and there is the possibility that individuals may be prosecuted if the fire was caused by avoidable human error.

Although the costs involved in dealing with the aftermath of a fire may be huge, this is not the main reason for working to prevent them. Houses can be rebuilt, rooms can be cleaned and redecorated but people are not so easily fixed, the possibility of someone being killed or seriously injured is an unacceptable risk and everything possible must be done to ensure that fires do not happen.

Injury and death can be caused by:

• Flames and heat – burns, shock.• Smoke and toxic fumes – lung damage, asphyxiation.• Reduced oxygen – suffocation.• Collapse of buildings – crushing.

Staff and clients are not the only ones at risk in the event of a fire occurring, visitors, neighbours, passers by and fire crews may also be put in danger. Some people will be more vulnerable than others due to mobility problems, lack of familiarity with the environment, sight difficulties etc. It is, therefore, essential that any safety measures take into account all possible users of the building(s).

Although it is important for all staff to receive fire training particular attention should be paid to staff members who work at night. This is because fires are more likely to happen during the night and this is often the time when staffing levels are at their lowest.

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Night staff need to be particularly vigilant as fewer people moving around means fewer pairs of eyes to observe problems.

Safety systems might include:

• Regular tours of the premises.• Checklists to ensure all flammable materials are safe.

Disconnection of non essential electrical equipment.

• Removal of all rubbish prior to the night shift.• Extra restrictions on smoking.• Security systems to discourage unauthorised persons from entering the premises or

surrounding area.

Fire training has to be taken seriously, in the event of a fire occurring the conditions will be very different to those you may have imagined. Smoke makes visibility impossible, exits may be blocked and stairs unusable, the more confident you are about evacuation procedures etc the less likely it is that you will panic. Being able to remain calm in an emergency is vital, especially if you are responsible for the safety of others.

Fires do not have to be large to cause serious damage, smoke and poisonous fumes can kill so quickly that by the time staff are aware of the danger it may already be too late. For this reason the aim of this course is to highlight fire prevention and awareness rather than to train people to put fires out. Emergency fire precautions will be covered but the emphasis is on ensuring that fires do not start in the first place rather than limiting their effects when they do.

There are several important elements to fire safety and prevention:

• Risk assessment to recognise and reduce hazards in the workplace.• Training and information to ensure staff awareness of hazards and safe procedures.• Good housekeeping to reduce risk from dust and debris.• Regular maintenance of emergency equipment.• Regular fire drills.

While completing this course try to be extra observant while you work. Look out for the position of emergency equipment such as extinguishers and alarm call points. Consider what you would do if you discovered a fire and, if you are at all unsure, find out what your responsibilities would be if there was an evacuation.

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When are fires most likely to start?1.

Unit One Questions

4.

3.

What are the four most likely causes of fires in the workplace?6.

2.

1.

What effects could a fire in your workplace have on you?2.

In what different ways can fires kill and injure people?3.

What legal duties do you have regarding fire safety and prevention?4.

Who is at risk if a fire occurs in your workplace?5.

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Unit Two

Fire prevention.

In order to burn a fire requires three things, heat, fuel and oxygen. These elements are commonly referred to as the fire triangle, take any one away and the fire will not exist.

Fire fighting equipment works by removing one of the three elements of the fire triangle, for example fire blankets cut off the oxygen supply. Fire prevention means stopping the elements getting together in the first place. Removing oxygen from the environment is impossible as it is necessary for life, but heat and fuel, although always present, are controllable.

Heat sources include electrical equipment and fittings, cigarettes, radiators, naked flames, hot surfaces and sunlight.

Fuel sources include paperwork, cleaning materials, rubbish, bedding, clothing, furniture and cooking oil.

As you can see from the lists above (which represent only a small sample) your workplace is full of potentially dangerous materials, which, if uncontrolled, could be serious fire hazards. Good control of heat and fuel requires good housekeeping practices, competence when choosing and maintaining equipment, the ability to recognise potential hazards and staff awareness.

Good housekeeping.

If premises are not kept clean and tidy accumulated dust and rubbish provide an ideal source of

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fuel allowing fires to spread rapidly. Dust can also interfere with the working of smoke alarms.All areas should be cleaned regularly; bins must be emptied as soon as they are full and should not be left with rubbish in over night, extra care should be taken if bins are used for the disposal of cigarette ends and these should be made of metal.

Thought should also be given to the way in which rubbish is stored outside the premises. Unfortunately arson is one of the most common causes of fires on commercial properties and a large pile of rubbish presents a possible arsonist with a perfect source of fuel.

All equipment, paperwork, bedding etc should have a designated storage area within the home and you should get used to returning things to their proper places when you have finished with them. Highly flammable substances such as cleaning fluids should always be stored well away from sources of heat in a locked cupboard or building. Smoking should not be allowed in these areas. In the kitchen cooking oil, paperwork and plastic items such as gloves and aprons must be stored away from the cooker.

Like kitchens, laundries are also high risk areas due to the presence of hot electrical equipment and an abundance of fuel in the form of bedding and clothing. Washing machines and driers should be chosen and installed by a competent person and they must be kept in a good state of repair. You should do a visual check of wires etc for signs of damage before operating the equipment and must ensure that filters are cleaned out after each use. Laundry being dried must not be taken out prior to the end of the cycle before the machine has cooled; hot items once folded have been known to catch fire.

Radiators must never be used to dry clothing and furniture and curtains should be kept away from them. Over time it is possible for the heat from a radiator to build up and set materials alight.

Choosing and maintaining equipment.

All electrical equipment used in the workplace must be chosen and installed by a competent person, it must be suitable for the purpose it is intended for and for the amount of use it will get. Regular maintenance checks must be carried out on all electrical items, including those brought in by clients, a professional may be brought in to do these tests. All equipment should be visually checked prior to use, if there are any signs of damage such as frayed wires or blackened sockets the item should be taken out of use until repairs have been carried out or it has been replaced.

All electrical equipment should be switched off and unplugged when not in use, items used in wet areas such as bathrooms must be designed for that purpose and all other equipment must be kept well away from water.

Recognising hazards.

Although employers are responsible for carrying out formal risk assessments all staff must be able to recognise and control hazards in the workplace. Hazards can be divided into three

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groups: unsafe conditions, unsafe acts and topics.

Unsafe conditions – can be spotted in visual checks of the work area and equipment; they would include a build up of rubbish, objects left blocking fire escapes, spilt cleaning products, overflowing ashtrays, propped open fire doors, missing fire safety equipment and damaged wiring. You may be able to rectify the problem yourself, for example by returning objects to their proper place or cleaning up spillages. If this is not possible then you should report the situation to your manager or supervisor and record the fact that you have done so.

Unsafe acts – these can be difficult to spot; examples would be people smoking in inappropriate areas such as store rooms, staff leaving fryers unattended and misuse of electrical equipment. You should ensure that you are working safely and should have access to written records of safe working procedures. Adequate training should be provided regarding safe use of equipment and smoking areas should be clearly designated.

Topics – subjects that have been identified as common hazards eg chemicals, electrical equipment, fire safety equipment. Topics are often covered by regulations such as COSHH which specify the need for risk assessment and control measures. It is recommended that some small electrical appliances are tested by a professional and is known as PAT testing. Further detail can be found on the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm

Staff awareness.

Risk assessment findings must be communicated to all staff to ensure that they are aware of any measures put in place to control hazards. Under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 employees must be aware of any risks present in their workplace or created by the tasks they carry out.

You have a legal obligation to work in a way that does not endanger you or anybody else; you also have a duty to report any hazards that you identify in the workplace and to remove them wherever possible.

As arson is a major cause of workplace fires you should also be vigilant about the presence of strangers on the premises, all visitors should be signed in and out and anything suspicious should be reported.

Training.

Training plays a vital role in ensuring your safety in the workplace, as well as completing this course you should be involved in fire drills and take part in regular sessions on fire safety and awareness to keep up to date with good practice and safe working procedures. Although training will be provided by your employers you should take personal responsibility for ensuring that you are confident about emergency procedures and your particular role in the event of an evacuation.

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You should know:

• What action to take on discovering a fire.• Where call points are to raise the alarm.• The position of emergency exits and the easiest routes from all areas of the building.• Whether you will have any special responsibility such as picking up the visitor’s book or

calling the fire brigade.• Whether you will be required to assist particular clients and what this will entail.

If you are the member of staff designated to call the fire brigade you will need to know the exact address of your workplace including its postcode, this information may be printed on a card situated next to the telephone.

Remember that if a fire occurs you need to:

1. Be prepared.2. Be confident.3. Be calm.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

In the event of a fire it may be easier for some people to get out of the building than for others. If, for example, staff or clients have problems with hearing, poor eyesight or limited mobility their needs must be individually assessed and a personal emergency evacuation plan should be written. Creating these plans will increase awareness of the specific challenges faced, action can then be taken to improve safety for all.

Examples:

• Staff or clients who have hearing difficulties need to be made aware that the fire alarm is ringing.

• Individuals with mobility problems need to know if there is a suitable refuge point where they can go to wait for assistance.

• If evacuating clients puts them and their carers at risk a safer alternative may be to leave them with at least 2 fire doors between them and the fire until either fire crews make the building safe or they can be assisted to safety.

• Emergency equipment such as stretchers or evacuation chairs may be required to assist the evacuation of individuals who lack mobility. Staff must receive training on their safe use.

It may be appropriate to identify an alternative plan when it is a false alarm to avoid causing unnecessary risk to the person.

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Fire Safety and Awareness

Unit Two Questions

Why is it important for you to take part in fire drills?1.

How could you reduce the risk of arson at your workplace?4.

How can the risks from flammable cleaning products be reduced?5.

4.

3.

Give four examples of unsafe conditions that create fire hazards:2.

2.

1.

Give two examples of ways in which human actions could create a fire risk:3.

2.

1.

3.

What are the three elements of the fire triangle?6.

2.

1.

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Unit Three

Emergency equipment.

All workplaces must be properly equipped to deal with fires if and when they do occur and all staff should know their role in an emergency.

Fire equipment should include:

• Call points.• Fire extinguishers.• Fire blankets.• A fire alarm system.• Smoke detectors.• Emergency exits.• Fire doors.• Emergency lighting.• Signage.• Visitors’ book, staff rota, resident list: identifying who is in and out.• Assembly points.• Evacuation equipment if applicable.

Fire extinguishers.

Following legislation introduced in January 1997 all new fire extinguishers must be red. Old style coloured extinguishers may still be in use but must be replaced by a

new red extinguisher as soon as they are discharged or fail a test. The use of fire extinguishers is now identified by a symbol printed on the body of the container and, possibly, also on a sign above it.

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Extinguishers should be checked annually by an expert to ensure they are in good working order; visual checks for damage should be done on a weekly basis and any faults noticed at any other time must be reported.

Fire safety equipment should only be used when it is safe to do so - that is when the person operating the extinguisher has a safe exit and the fire is small enough to control. Only competent people should operate equipment.

Raising the alarm should take priority over tackling the fire.

Colour Coding

Red WaterWaste paper, cardboard, textiles, wood.

Black CO2Electrical fires, flammable liquids.

Blue Dry Powder Very versatile, can be used on most fires

Cream Foam Flammable liquids, paper, wood.

Yellow Wet chemical Flammable liquids (good for chip pans).

These symbols have been designed to be easily recognisable to all, they remove the necessity to remember colour codes or read written instructions. These are standard throughout Europe, British extinguishers may still retain colour coded bands but these will take up no more than 5% of their surface area. Extinguishers should be placed where they are most likely to be needed, for example fire blankets will be in the kitchen where they may be used to smother pan fires, laundries may have dry powder or CO2 for use on electrical equipment and water extinguishers could be placed near waste bins. Thought should also be given to the equipment’s accessibility; it should not be hidden or placed out of reach.

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Fire alarm systems.

Alarm systems must be operational at all times; all alarms false or otherwise must be recorded with a note of any action taken. Alarms should be tested weekly to ensure that they are in working order, these tests must be carried out from a different point each time and the audibility of alarms must be checked in all areas. A supply of spare ‘break glass’ sheets and suitable allen keys should be available at all times.

You should know where alarm call points are situated and be aware of what the alarm sounds like. Visitors should be given brief instructions on arrival.

Smoke / heat detectors.

Smoke / heat detectors must be kept unobstructed and dust free to ensure that they will work effectively. A competent person should test them on a regular basis.

Emergency exits.

Emergency exit routes should be as simple as possible so that they do not become confusing in the event of a fire. As long as the building is occupied the exits must be unlocked and free from obstruction; lives have been lost in fires where exit doors were locked. If doors must be locked they should be fitted with an automatic release linked to the alarm system. Exits must be well signposted to help visitors who may not be familiar with the building.

Fire doors.

Fire doors are designed to hold back flames and smoke and prevent them from spreading into other areas of the building. They are effective for around 30 minutes giving time for fire safety crews to arrive and rescue anyone who has become trapped. Fire doors should be kept shut at all times unless fitted with a device that will release when the fire alarm activates, they must never be propped open.

It is recommended that fire doors with closers should be kept closed at night.

Emergency lighting.

Emergency lighting exists to help people find exits in the event of an emergency evacuation when normal lighting systems have failed. Every month there should be a short simulated mains failure to enable each light to be checked, repairs should be carried out where necessary. Every six months the test should be increased in length to 15 minutes for 1 hour systems and 1 hour for 3 hour types, in addition, once a year, systems should be run for their full duration. These tests should be done at a time when they do not put anyone on the premises at risk, that is

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during daylight hours when there is enough natural light to ensure good visibility. Emergency lighting should also be serviced twice a year by a competent person.

All tests should be recorded with details of defects found and any action taken.

Signage.

You should be aware of the type of signs you may encounter in the workplace and their meaning. Emergency exit signs must have directional arrows and a picture of a person on as well as any writing; the word exit on its own is no longer acceptable.

Blue - Mandatory signs such as Fire Door Keep Shut.Red - Prohibitions such as No Smoking.Green - Safe conditions such as Emergency Exit.Yellow - Warning such as Highly Flammable Substances.White - General information.

Visitors book.

A book should be kept by the front door for the purpose of signing visitors in and out of the building; there should also be a record of staff on duty. A member of staff should be nominated to take responsibility for these records in the event of a fire occurring. It is vital that you know exactly who is on the premises so that you can make sure that everybody has safely evacuated the building, in the event of uncertainty fire personnel will have to put their lives at risk checking for missing persons. As well as visitor books there should also be staff rotas and resident lists indicating when somebody is out of the building.

Assembly points.

In order to be able to check that all staff, clients and visitors have been safely evacuated there should be a designated assembly point where everyone will gather after leaving the building. This area should be at a safe distance so that people are not at risk if the building collapses or the fire spreads. You should be made aware of the location of assembly points during training sessions and fire drills. There should also be signage to indicate the position of assembly points to visitors.

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Unit Three Questions

What colour should a dry powder extinguisher be?1.

Which of the following icons would tell you that an extinguisher was safe to use on electrical fires?

3.

Where in your workplace would you be most likely to find a fire blanket?2.

Under what circumstances would you use a fire extinguisher to tackle a fire?6.

Why is it important to monitor the number of visitors on your premises andhow is this done?

4.

What is the purpose of fire doors?5.

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Unit Four

Risk assessment.

Employers have a legal duty to carry out formal risk assessments on all fire hazards in the workplace. You must also informally risk assess the environment you work in and the equipment you use.

All parts of the work environment and work done within it must be assessed by employers, or competent people appointed by them. The following steps should be taken:

1. Identify hazards. All fuel and heat sources.2. Consider those especially at risk.3. Assess the level of risk.4. Introduce appropriate control measures (where necessary).5. Record and communicate findings.6. Create a plan to deal with any emergencies.7. Monitor and review as necessary.

Special attention should be given to high risk areas such as kitchens and laundries and to highly flammable substances such as cleaning chemicals.

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Step 1. Identify fire hazards. Sources of Heat.

Sources of Fuel.

Sources of Oxygen.Step 2. Identify people at risk. People in and around the premises.

People especially at risk.Step 3. Evaluate, remove, reduce,

and protect from risk.Evaluate the risk of a fire occurring.

Evaluate the risk to people from fire.

Remove or reduce fire hazards.

Remove or reduce the risks to people.

By providing:Warning devices.

Good housekeeping.

Escape routes.

Lighting.

Signs and notices.

Good maintenance.Step 4. Record plan.

Inform instruct& train.

Record your findings and the action taken.

Prepare an emergency plan.

Provide training.Step 5. Review. Review risk assessment regularly.

Fire risk assessment.

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Fire Safety and Awareness

Hazard identification.

The areas discussed in unit two should be considered – unsafe conditions, unsafeacts and topics. A preliminary list may be made of hazards the employer /manager may expect to find in the workplace, they should then tour the workplaceto identify specific areas of concern.

For example:

Assessing the level of risk.

Without adequate control measures in place the risk level associated with firehazards will always be high, as we have already discussed everyone in or aroundthe premises is at risk from death or serious injury so work must be done tointroduce controls in all areas.

For example:

• The likelihood of a chip pan being left unattended may be low but if this does happen a fire becomes likely.

• Blocked fire exits will not cause problems on a daily basis but if a fire starts people may be unable to escape.

• It only takes one carelessly discarded cigarette end to cause a major blaze.

Cleaning chemicals:

• Storage Are they near heat sources?Is access restricted?

• Use Is personal protective equipment available?Are staff aware of hazards?Are materials returned to their proper place after use?Are spillages cleaned up immediately?Is electrical equipment switched off before cleaning is carried out? e.g.oven.

Some members of staff / residents smoke:

• Is smoking restricted to certain areas?• Are people smoking near flammable materials?• Are residents who smoke able to appreciate the risks involved?• Do proper facilities exist for extinguishing and disposing of cigarettes?

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Control measures.

Once risks have been identified they should be removed, if this is not possible appropriate control measures must be introduced, these should be considered in the following order:

1. Substitution – flammable materials may be replaced by less hazardous alternatives.2. Isolation – equipment with hot surfaces / flammable substances etc should be kept in a safe

area away from sources of fuel / heat. Smoking should be restricted to suitable areas.3. Enclosure – sources of heat such as radiators / open fires / water heaters should be fitted

with guards or insulated and fuel sources such as paperwork and bedding should be kept away from them.

4. Ventilation – all rooms should be kept aired and dust free.5. Good housekeeping – all sources of heat and fuel must be stored correctly, spillages must

be cleared up immediately and all members of staff must take responsibility for ensuring that fire exits are not obstructed at any time.

6. Training – regular fire drills should be carried out, staff must also receive training on fire safety and prevention.

Risk assessments should also identify the most appropriate areas for the installation of fire safety equipment.

Reassessment and monitoring.

Once control measures are in place the hazard should be reassessed to ensure that the risk has been adequately reduced, regular checks should then be made to monitor their effectiveness over a period of time. If a change occurs which affects the suitability of existing controls a new risk assessment must be carried out.

Recording and communicating.

Where a hazard has been identified as creating a risk the assessment must be formally recorded with details of action taken and the results of reassessment. This information must then be passed on to all members of staff so that they can adjust their working methods where necessary and to increase their awareness of safety in the workplace.

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Informal risk assessment.

In accordance with the law formal risk assessments must be carried outperiodically, however, you have a responsibility to risk assess your work andenvironment on a daily basis. In terms of fire safety and prevention this meansthat you should:

• Visually check wiring and sockets before using electrical equipment.• Find out about the dangers involved with any equipment or materials you use.• Ensure that you are familiar with safe procedures and correct storage methods.• Look out for problems such as blocked fire exits and damaged safety equipment.

If hazards are identified they should be removed or reported immediately, if a riskis created by lack of knowledge then you should ask for appropriate information ortraining.

Remember, most fires are avoidable, by making yourself familiar with safe working practices and looking out for potential hazards you can help prevent them.

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Unit Four Questions

What is the purpose of risk assessment?1.

Identify and describe a fire hazard in your workplace.2.

What action would you take if you saw that access to a fire exit was blocked?5.

What should you do before operating electrical equipment?4.

3.

List 3 ways in which you think the hazard you identified in question two couldbe controlled.

3.

2.

1.

Where in your workplace could you find information about the riskassessments, which have been carried out?

6.

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Why is it important for the findings of risk assessments to be communicated toall staff?

7.

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