Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
fi re specifi c issues that the RRFSO covers in some
detail, these include:
As a result of the risk assessments, employers as
responsible persons have a duty to do all that is reason-
ably practicable to safeguard 'relevant persons'* who
may be employees and people who are not employees
but who may be exposed to risk in the event of fi re (see
Chapter 14).
➤
The duty for employers ('responsible persons') to
take 'general fi re precautions'
➤
The need to conduct a fi re risk assessment
➤
The notion of a 'responsible person'
➤
The control of risks from dangerous substances
Responsible person
The legislation refers to a 'responsible person', who is
defi ned as a specifi ed individual who is responsible for
fi re safety.
➤
Fire fi ghting and detection
➤
Emergency routes and exits
➤
Powers of inspectors and enforcement actions (dif-
fering from general health and safety).
General fi re precautions
The RRFSO identifi es a number of general fi re precau-
tions that all 'responsible persons' have an absolute duty
to provide for all non-domestic premises. These general
fi re precautions are the measures that are taken:
The meaning of the term 'responsible person'
is defi ned by the RRFSO as being twofold:
➤
In relation to a workplace, the employer,
if the workplace is to any extent under his
control;
➤
In relation to any premises not falling
within the above
➤
To reduce the risk of fi re and fi re spread
➤
In relation to the means of escape (MoE) from the
premises
➤
the person who has control of the
premises (as occupier or otherwise) in
connection with the carrying on by him
of a trade, business or other undertak-
ing (for profi t or not); or
➤
For ensuring that the MoE can be safely and effect-
ively used at all material times
➤
In relation to fi re fi ghting on the premises
➤
In relation to detecting and giving warning in case
of fi re
➤
the owner, where the person in control
of the premises does not have con-
trol in connection with the carrying on
by that person of a trade, business or
other undertaking.
➤
In relation to emergency action to be taken in the
event of fi re, including training and mitigating the
effects of fi re.
The need to conduct a risk assessment
The RRFSO has as its basis for ensuring safety from fi re
in all non-domestic buildings, an absolute requirement
for responsible persons to conduct risk assessments.
The responsible person is the main duty holder for fi re
safety and has, as a result, overall responsibility for:
➤
Undertaking the fi re risk assessment
➤
Putting precautions in place to safeguard employees
and non-employees
➤
Ensuring that testing and maintenance are carried
out for such aspects as
➤
Fire detection and alarm systems
➤
Fire fi ghting equipment
➤
Emergency exit routes and fi re exits
➤
Fire evacuation drills and assembly points.
* Note relevant persons
The RRFSO specifi es 'relevant persons' as being any person
who is or may be lawfully on the premises and also includes
any persons in the immediate vicinity who may be at risk from a
fi re. Signifi cantly, the RRFSO specifi cally excludes fi re fi ghters
who are carrying out emergency actions as there is no expect-
ation that the responsible person will know how fi re fi ghters will
go about their duties.
Figure 1.15
Means of escape
