Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
In any event, clearing the site of a fi re is a hazardous
task. It may be necessary to employ specialist contract-
ors to enable the site to be cleared legally and without
unnecessary risk to employees.
facility comprises a number of buildings with a variety
of uses ranging from research to production. The health
and safety on the site is a high priority and the company
is very well aware of the impact a fi re may have on their
public image.
In April 2006 a fi re was discovered in a small local
exhaust ventilation unit in the toilet block of one of the
older buildings on the site. Fortunately the fi re burnt
itself out against the concrete ceiling of the toilet block.
The fi re was therefore restricted to the compartment of
origin and resulted in limited fi re spread within the room
of origin.
The initial investigation of the site discovered that
the ventilation unit had been fi tted with the wrong size
fuse and overheated. This was thought to be a problem
with the supply and fi tting of the unit. The unit was
replaced, the room redecorated and no further action
was taken.
12.6.2 Employees
Employees will be disconcerted by a serious fi re in the
workplace and may be concerned for their own future
safety and employment prospects.
Management will need to communicate effectively
with employees to provide additional reassurance. In
addition, management will need to ensure adequate
welfare arrangements are made for staff. It may be the
case that some employees may be susceptible to post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and will therefore
benefi t from professional counselling to prevent the
chronic symptoms developing.
12.6.3 Neighbours
Owners and occupiers of adjacent premises will simi-
larly feel disconcerted by a serious fi re. If the fi re has
disrupted their business they may seek compensation
through the civil courts. As a minimum, they will want to
be assured that the fi re:
➤
Has not affected any of their building services
➤
Has not affected the structure of their building
➤
Has not resulted in the contamination of their
premises and that
➤
Their premises are safe from future fi res.
12.6.4 Business continuity
The time to plan for business continuity is prior to the
fi re. Electronic systems should be backed up and sen-
sitive/important documents should be kept in fi re proof
storage.
It may be that arrangements can be made to move
the business or part of its operation to other premises or
to subcontract operations to another company, as part
of a disaster management plan. These arrangements
should be made prior to the time when they are required
and may form part of the conditions for business
insurance.
Figure 12.19
Damage to Vent Axia
12.7
Case study
Fire in pharmaceutical production site
A multi-national pharmaceutical company occupies an
extensive site in the East Midlands region in the UK. The
Figure 12.20
Damage to electrical distribution cupboard
