FIRE MANAGEMENT POLICY
INTRODUCTION
The Fire Management Policy outlines the arrangements for effectively
managing fire safety in Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire agus
Phádraig premises so as to prevent the likelihood of fire occurring and, in the
unlikely event of fire, to protect employees, visitors and others from injury and
mitigate potential damage to property. Compliance with the Policy is a
requirement under The Fire and Rescue Services(Northern Ireland) Order
2006 (FSO) and The Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. This is
in addition to the requirements under The Management of Health and Safety
at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and The Disability Discrimination
Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 to implement effective arrangements for access
and emergency evacuation for employees and visitors.
AIMS/OBJECTIVES
The aims of the Fire Management Policy are to:
define Appropriate Persons under legislative requirements;
to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation;
to undertake suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessments of all
premises and to review at a regular timeframe or when material changes
occur;
to identify and implement reasonably practicable control measures to reduce
the risk of injury or damage from fire;
to deliver, as required, suitable fire safety instructions and evacuation
procedures to all employees;
to provide suitable fire safety instructions and evacuation procedures to
visitors, contractors and others whilst on premises;
to undertake and make record of regular fire evacuation drills;
to undertake and make record of testing and maintenance of all First Aid
Firefighting Equipment, Fire Alarm Systems, Emergency Lighting and the
existing fire precautions;
to undertake and make record on a regular basis of fire safety inspections of
all Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig
premises.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibility for complying with the FSO rests with the ‘Appropriate
Person’.
This is the employer or any other person who may have control of any part of
the premises; in the case of Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire
agus Phádraig premises: this is the Principal.
The appropriate person will delegate responsibility to ensure that sufficient
competent personnel with appropriate resources are available to implement
the Fire Management Policy which meets the requirements imposed by the
FSO.
The appropriate person will ensure the overall requirements of
Fire Management Policy is met.
The following post holders are identified as having specific duties for fire
management within Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire agus
Phádraig premises:
Role
The implementation and co-ordination of fire safety arrangements is
delegated to the Principal who is responsible for the maintenance of fire
safety measures and are to ensure that fire safety training needs are identified
and implemented for their staff.
The Principal must ensure that:
staff under their area of responsibility understand and implement the
requirements of the Fire Management Policy;
a Fire Risk Assessment is completed and reviewed at a regular timeframe or
when material changes occur;
action is taken to ensure that any control measures identified by the Fire
Risk Assessment are implemented or passed to the appropriate person for
action;
all fire safety measures and fire safety practices within their
Department/Area of responsibility are maintained;
all staff within the premises are provided with fire safety training including
induction training, refresher training and any further specific training, i.e., Fire
Marshals/Wardens, as required;
arrangements/liaison is made to undertake regular fire evacuation training
exercises to test effectiveness of the emergency plan;
all contractors, visitors and any other persons under their responsibility,
whilst in/on Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig
premises: are controlled and made aware of the relevant fire safety
instructions;
any person who may be especially at risk from fire has a Personal
Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) and that it is reviewed at least every 12
months. Each employee also has a responsibility and must ensure whilst at
work they take reasonable care in respect of fire for themselves and any other
person who may be affected by their actions. They must also co-operate fully
with their employer to ensure that his responsibilities are achieved.
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
A Fire Risk Assessment is required for all premises. The Fire Risk
Assessment is a methodical examination of premises looking at the activities
carried out, the likelihood that a fire could occur and, having taken account of
the significant findings, the reasonably practicable control measures
introduced to reduce the risk from fire.
The Fire Risk Assessment should therefore be used to prioritise and
implement the preventative and protective measures deemed necessary for
each premises.
The Fire Risk Assessment should include:
identification of fire hazards and assessment of risks arising from them;
identification of people at risk;
details of dangerous substances;
fire prevention and protection measures in place;
action plan compiled of any additional fire safety measures required to
address relevant risks;
procedures for fighting fire;
identity of persons with specific duties in the event of fire, e.g., Fire
Marshals/Wardens;
details of written instructions to staff;
details of fire safety training;
details of specific training where appropriate, i.e., Fire Marshal/Warden.
details of emergency evacuation drills;
details of maintenance and test arrangements in place for all fire safety
measures;
details of fire safety record keeping.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN
Our Lady and St Patrick P.S. Bunscoil Mhuire agus Phádraig will have
an Emergency Evacuation Plan. The plan will cover aspects relating to the
evacuation which will take into consideration the specific building features:
Action to take on the discovery of a fire
Action to take on hearing the fire alarm
Role of nominated persons (Fire Marshals/Wardens)
Procedures for informing the Fire & Rescue Service
How to evacuate the premises
The evacuation of persons especially at risk
The location of Assembly Point
Procedures and roll call at Assembly Point
The provision of first-aid firefighting equipment and arrangements for fighting
fire
Procedures to liaise with attending NIFRS fire crews/other Emergency
Services
Emergency evacuation drills shall be carried out at least once a year but
preferably twice. Records of all evacuations, whether by fire or drill, shall be
kept in the Fire Evacuation Record Log.
TESTING AND MAINTENANCE
The Principal shall be responsible for any testing and maintenance
requirements which are a requirement of the FSO.
The appropriate person shall ensure persons are nominated to
undertake the following duties where applicable. Maintenance by specialist
contractors will be arranged by The Principal under guidance from E.A.
South Eastern Region and CCMS. Maintenance records by specialist
contractors may be kept in the fire management folder.
(i) ALARM SYSTEMS
Shall be tested once a week preferably using a different call point.
A record of all fire alarm testing shall be kept in the relevant section of the
Fire Management Folder.
Any maintenance of the fire alarm system shall be carried out by a
competent person.
(ii) FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Shall be visually inspected weekly to ensure no defects.
All first-aid firefighting equipment will be tested annually by a competent
person.
A record of all maintenance of fire extinguishers shall be kept in the
Firefighting Media section of the Fire Management Folder.
(iii) EMERGENCY LIGHTING
Shall be subject to required testing by a competent person.
A record of all emergency lighting tests shall be kept in the Emergency
Lighting section of the Fire Management Folder.
(iv) WORKPLACE FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS
It is important that the premise is subject to a periodic fire safety
inspection timetable; this is a visual inspection so that any faults or defects
can be addressed. All faults or defects shall be reported immediately to the
appropriate person for remedial action.
Particular attention shall be paid to the following:
Fire alarm call points
Fire extinguishers
Signage
Fire doors should open and close effectively
Escape routes shall be kept clear
Final exit doors shall be readily available
Avoidance of a build-up of combustible materials
Storage of flammable materials
Consider the risk of arson
PERSONAL EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) must be developed for any
person who needs special assistance to exit a building in an emergency
situation. If someone needs assistance to leave the building safely the PEEP
should be documented along with the names of persons who will
assist them. The appropriate person should create a PEEP for anyone in their
premises who requires assistance and review it every 12 months.
The appropriate person must also take into consideration any PEEPs required
for visitors to their department.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
The appropriate person is required to ensure that the fire safety management
arrangements detailed in the Fire Management Folder are monitored on a
regular basis to ensure that they remain current and effective. Any necessary
actions or repairs must be noted in the relevant section of the Fire
Management Folder and all relevant persons informed.
All Fire Risk Assessments will be subject to regular review. The review period
should not exceed 2 years or when changes within the premises occur. The
appropriate person is responsible to ensure the review of the Fire Risk
Assessment is carried out.