Fire Risk Assessment
How Does a Fire Work?
• Three components
• Need all three
components to start a
fire
• Fire extinguishers
remove one or more of
the components
The Five Steps of Fire Risk
Assessment
• Step 1 – Identify the Fire Hazards.
• Step 2 – Who could be in danger.
• Step 3 – Examine the existing precautions and
re-evaluate their effectiveness.
• Step 4 – Record the findings.
• Step 5 – Review and revise the assessment.
Step 1 – Identify the Fire Hazards
For fire Heat, Fuel &
Oxygen are needed.
Common Sources of Heat
•Smoking Materials, Naked
Flames, Heaters, Welding,
Grinding, Engines, Machinery,
Faulty Electrical Equipment,
Lights & Lighting Equipment, Hot
Surfaces, Friction, Static, Metal
Impact, Arson etc.
Look for potential near misses
indicated by scorch marks,
cigarette burns or discoloured
plugs or sockets.
Step 1 – Identify the Fire Hazards
For fire Heat, Fuel &
Oxygen are needed.
Common Sources Of Fuel
•Paints, Varnish, Thinners,
Adhesives, Petrol, White Spirit,
Methylated Spirit, Paraffin,
Chemicals, Wood, Paper, Plastic,
Rubber, Foam, Furniture, Waste
Materials etc.
Step 1 – Identify the Fire Hazards
For fire Heat, Fuel &
Oxygen are needed.
Sources Of Oxygen
•The air around us.
•Oxidising Chemicals
•Oxygen Cylinders
The main supply of air to a fire is
usually the air that is around us and
the fire is encouraged to grow by
airflow though doors, windows and
other openings
Step 1 – Identify the Fire Hazards
Heat
Fuel
Oxygen
Step 2 – Who Could Be In Danger
Questions to ask yourself are,
•Who is at risk.
•In the event of a fire how can they be warned.
•How will they escape or reach a place of safety.
As well as people at their normal place of work do not forget to include
visitors, contractors and members of the general public who may be on
site.
Remember always to consider any special requirements that may be
needed for escape for example by disabled people.
Step 3 – Examine the Existing
Precautions & Re-evaluate Their
Effectiveness
Once the hazards and the people at risk have been identified then the next
step is to consider if the precautions in place are adequate and can the risks
be reduced further.
Ask the following questions,
•Are there any sources of heat that can be removed and replaced with a
safer alternative.
•Are sources of heat being used as per the manufacturers instructions and
are they being properly maintained.
•Has machinery been installed that is designed to minimise the risk of fire
and explosion.
•Have naked flame and radiant heaters been replaced by convector heaters
or central heating systems.
Step 3 – Examine the Existing
Precautions & Re-evaluate Their
Effectiveness
•Are electrical fuses and circuit breakers correctly rated.
•Is there any overloaded electrical or mechanical equipment.
•Are all ducts and flues regularly cleaned.
•When carrying out hot work is there a permit to work system in operation.
•Is there a no smoking policy with a ban on smoking or designated
smoking areas clearly defined.
•Are regular inspections of the workplace undertaken to ensure that there is
no accumulation of rubbish and to help prevent the risk of arson.
•Are flammable materials kept to a minimum and are these stored safely.
•Can flammable materials that are being used be replaced by less
flammable or non-flammable substitutes.
Step 3 – Examine the Existing
Precautions & Re-evaluate Their
Effectiveness
•Have wall and ceiling linings
where possible been treated to
reduce the rate of flame spread
across the services.
Step 4 – Record the Findings
•Once the risks and the control measures have been identified, a simple
method of recording these findings is required.
•The next slide shows a typical risk assessment and the key things to notice
are that the hazard and control measures are assessed and any remedial
measures needed are recorded and a timescale with responsibility set for
completion.
Step 4 – Record the Findings
Step 5 – Review & Revise The
Assessment
•The risk assessment will have highlighted improvements and remedial
measures to be carried out.
•A review is necessary to ensure that these tasks have been completed.
•A review is also required if there are any changes in the workplace such as
new plant and equipment, changes to buildings, work processes, number of
people present etc.