Managing the Risks from Fire
Effective from 20 February 2014
Version Number: 2.1
Author: Claire Whittaker
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
te
University of Salford
Managing the Risks from Fire policy V2.1
Document Control Information
Status and reason for development
Status:
Revised to replace previous version 2.0
Revision History
Date
Author
Claire Whittaker
September 2010
Claire Whittaker
Summary of changes
Amended to reflect the role of the Senior
Building Client and general organisation
changes
General update and terminology change
March 2007
Claire Whittaker
Document developed
December 2013
Version No.
V2.1
V1.0
V2.0
Policy Management and Responsibilities
Owner:
Others with responsibilities
(please specify):
The Associate Director of Health, Safety & Wellbeing is the document owner
and has delegated responsibility for writing and amending this policy to the
Safety/Fire Safety Officer
All Students, Staff, Contractors and Visitors are responsible for engaging with
and adhering to this policy.
Assessment
Cross relevant assessments
Equality Analysis
Legal
Information Governance
Academic Governance
X
Cross if not applicable
X
X
X
Consultation
Cross relevant consultations
Staff Trades Unions via H&S Committee
Students via USSU
Any relevant external bodies
(please specify)
…………………………………..
Consultation of the original policy
took place through the Health and
Safety Advisory Group. This is an
amendment to a role title.
Authorised by:
The Executive
Date authorised:
Effective from:
Review due:
Document location:
2 years from date authorised
http://www.salford.ac.uk/hr
www.salford.ac.uk/university/governance/policies-and-procedures
Document dissemination and communications plan
The Safety/Fire Safety Officer will circulate to the Health and Safety Coordinators for the Colleges and Professional
Services to enable promotion throughout their area of responsibility.
Page 2 of 6
University of Salford
1.0
Managing the Risks from Fire policy V2.1
Purpose
To specify the University’s commitment to managing fire safety, and to identify the organisation and
arrangements for implementing the policy.
This policy will enable the University to;




Provide a safe and healthy working environment for all staff
Provide an environment which is safe for students, contractors and visitors
Minimise the risks to the Fire Authority from fire and false activation of fire alarms
Manage fire risks in accordance with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire
Safety) 2005
 Comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999.
2.0
Scope
This policy applies to all staff, students and visitors to the University
It details the responsibilities for:





Providing safe premises
Communication and cooperation between building occupants
Assessing the risks to building users
Appointing a Building Controller
Managing an emergency evacuation
2.1 Key Definitions
The Senior Building Client is the person responsible for overseeing key decisions within the
building. A link to the list of responsible individuals can be found in the related documents section.
This role used to be referred to in the Code of Practice for Appointment of Building Controllers as
the Head/Director of the Lead School/Division.
 Host – this is the person that a visitor from outside the University has come to see.
 Building Controller – the role responsible for evacuation in the event of fire and other
emergencies.
 Building Manager – the Estates & Property Services role responsible for the day to day
management of the building.
3.0
Policy Statements
The University is committed to providing a working environment which is safe and without risks to
the health, safety and welfare of its employees, students, contractors and visitors.
Employees of the University must work with the employer to safeguard their own health, safety and
welfare and bring to the employer’s attention any situation they are aware of which could pose a risk
to their health, safety or welfare or that of their colleagues.
3.1
The University Registrar:
 Provide premises which are safe and without risk to building users;
 Appoint competent staff to undertake specific roles and responsibilities;
Page 3 of 6
University of Salford
Managing the Risks from Fire policy V2.1
 Ensure adequate arrangements exist to manage the risks from fire.
3.2
Associate Director of Health, Safety & Wellbeing
 Provide advice in respect of fire standards and strategy in accordance with Building Regulations,
current Health and Safety legislation and British Standards;
 Inspect, monitor, audit and review compliance with fire safety legislation;
 Ensure the availability of a competent Safety/Fire Safety Officer.
3.3
Safety/Fire Safety Officer
 Undertake building fire risk assessments;
 Provide advice in respect of fire standards and strategy in accordance with Building Regulations,
current Health and Safety legislation and British Standards;
 Write and review policy to enable compliance with fire safety legislation
 Monitor and inspect compliance with fire safety legislation;
 Facilitate fire emergency evacuation drills;
 Provide training in respect of fire safety as required.
3.4
Director of Estates and Property Services
 Ensure provision and maintenance of buildings, which comply with Building Regulations, current
Health and Safety legislation and relevant British Standards in respect of fire safety;
 Ensure application of Building Regulations and relevant British Standards in respect of fire safety
when alteration to buildings is planned or takes place;
 Ensure all new infrastructure/buildings are designed and built in accordance with Building
Regulations, current Health and Safety legislation and relevant British Standards in respect of fire
safety;
 Ensure the management, maintenance and testing of fire detection systems and fire-fighting
equipment in accordance with relevant British Standards;
 Ensure all Contractors appointed by Estates & Property Services comply with the Control of
Contractors Policy
 Consider and prioritise bids for improvement from maintenance budgets and identify possible
other budget sources and, if not available, report at the appropriate level;
 Ensure provision of technical expertise on fire detection and fire-fighting equipment;
 Maintain and manage the function of Maxwell Control;
 Ensure, by means of monitoring through the Head of Facilities and the Building Managers, that
buildings are kept clear of rubbish build up, particularly fire escape routes and exits.
 Ensure a documented fire management system is implemented and managed for
accommodation buildings.
3.5
Senior Building Client
 Appoint the Building Controller in consultation with College Registrar/Head of School/Director of
Units for the other Units in the building;
 Upon appointment, inform the Associate Director of Health, Safety & Wellbeing;
 Ensure that all schools and professional services are aware of the need to manage their own
visitors in a way that ensures their health and safety.
Page 4 of 6
University of Salford
3.6
Managing the Risks from Fire policy V2.1
Heads of School/Directors of Professional Services
 Ensure good standards of housekeeping are maintained within their area of control;
 Ensure staff are properly inducted in the fire emergency procedures;
 Ensure all staff , students and visitors within their area of responsibility participate in emergency
evacuations;
 Ensure their contractors comply with the Control of Contractors Policy.
3.7 Academic Staff
 Ensure the safe evacuation of students under their control in a lecture or teaching session;
 Ensure Visiting Lecturers, which they have invited in, are made aware of the evacuation
procedures and assume the same responsibilities for the safe evacuation of students
3.8
Building Controllers






3.9
Prepare a written Emergency Evacuation Plan for the building;
Assist in the preparation of Personal Evacuation Plans for disabled persons;
Maintain an emergency team of Deputy Building Controllers;
Co-opt a sufficient number of staff to safely evacuate all persons from the building;
Control and monitor the evacuation of the building during an emergency evacuation;
Operate as an information centre and liaise with external emergency services or incident
controllers.
Members of Staff





Complete the induction process to ensure awareness of fire safety procedures;
Co-operate with the University and participate in fire emergency evacuations;
Ensure that any visitors under their control participate in fire emergency evacuations;
Do not interfere with equipment provided for fire safety;
Report any defects to the Estates’ Helpdesk 54444.
4.0
What happens when the policy is not followed
Failure to comply with the requirements of this policy could result in an inability to adequately
demonstrate compliance with the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005. This could result in
an enforcement notice or prosecution.
5.0
Related Documentation
Further detailed arrangements in support of implementing this policy can be found in:




Managing Emergency Evacuation Code of Practice
Personal Emergency Evacuation plans Code of Practice
Generic Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans leaflet
Fire Strategy Code of Practice
The 4 documents above are available at: www.salford.ac.uk/hr
Page 5 of 6
University of Salford
Managing the Risks from Fire policy V2.1
Senior Building Client list - www.salford.ac.uk/hr
Page 6 of 6