FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
This document should be read in conjunction with:
The Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2002
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
THE FIRE PRECAUTIONS (WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS 1997
RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
Introduction
The risk assessment consists of two stages.
Stage One: Hazard identification and persons at risk – To be completed by Schools/Service
Departments.
This section focuses on the identification of hazards and the persons at risk within the School/Service
Department by their own staff. This is accomplished by the completion of the Fire Risk Assessment
Questionnaire (FRAQ) (attached). FRAQ should be completed by Deans of School/Service Directors or
their nominated responsible person. The completed FRAQs with any floor plans (see below) should be
returned to the Safety Adviser and will be used in stage two of the risk assessment programme.
If you require floor plans of your areas to assist in the completion of the risk assessment, they are
available from the Property Services web site:
http://estates.wlv.ac.uk/psd/template.asp?document=campuses
Stage Two (a): To be completed by Stage 2 risk assessment team
The risk assessment of the building will be completed by using the Stage 2 risk assessment document
(attached) and the FRAQs completed in stage one. The risk assessment will be carried out by a team
consisting of the Safety Adviser, the Assistant Director Facilities (Property Services) and, where
necessary, the Campus Operations Manager and/or School/Service Department staff.
Stage Two (b): Follow up actions from Stage 2(a)
The identification and prioritisation of any necessary remedial action by the team will then be sent to the
Dean of the School/Service Director/Facilities Director for implementation.
The risk assessment will then be reviewed by the Safety Adviser and the Assistant Director Facilities
(Property Services).
Further Reviews
The risk assessment should also be reviewed if there is a proposal to change the layout of the
workplace, where a structural change is proposed or where there is a proposal to introduce new
materials/processes. This review must be carried out before any such change in the interests of safety
and in order to prevent the unnecessary commitment of finance and resources.
Fire Risk Assessment Procedure – Stage One
Contents

Hazard Identification Survey
This section is to be completed by Deans/Service Directors or nominated members of staff and covers the
following areas in greater detail:
1. Combustible Materials
2. Sources of Heat
3. Persons at Risk
4. Fire Procedure
5. Training
6. Fire Drills
7. Means of Raising the Alarm
8. Means of Escape
Hazard Identification Survey
Hazard Identification Survey by Dean of School/Service Director or appointed representatives.
School/Service Department:……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Survey Party – enter names and position of individuals carrying out the hazard identification exercise.
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Date of Survey:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Once completed, this survey must be approved by Dean/Service Director.
Signature (Dean/Service
Director):…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Date:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Fire Risk Assessment Questionnaire - Stage One – to be completed by Schools and Service Departments
School/Service Department::………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Location: (Indicate site and the buildings included)……………………………………………………………..
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1.
Combustible Materials – ‘Identifying sources of fuel for fire’
Anything that burns is fuel for fire. You will need to look at things that will burn reasonably easily and are in
sufficient quantity to provide fuel for a fire or cause it to spread to another fuel source. Some of the most
common ‘fuels’ in workplaces are listed below, you will need to identify if they are present in your workplace.
(Please circle the appropriate response)
a)
Flammable liquid based products such as paints, varnish, thinners and adhesives.
YES
NO
b)
Flammable solvents such as petrol, white spirit, methylated spirits and paraffin or flammable
chemicals.
Flammable chemicals
Paper and card, particularly if allowed to accumulate in the workplace
Plastics rubber and foam such as polystyrene and polyurethane
Flammable gases such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or acetylene
Textiles
Waste materials, in particular finely divided materials such as wood shavings, offcuts, dust,
paper and textiles
Are excessive quantities of combustible materials displayed or stored in the workplace?
Are substantial areas of walls or ceilings covered with flammable linings?
Are there any other readily combustible materials in the workplace, which present a significant
hazard? e.g. furniture, fabrics, etc.
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
i)
j)
k)
l)
I.
If YES (to any of the above)
Identify combustible materials present and location i.e. room numbers, buildings etc …………
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)
Have any of the following been introduced into your workplace to reduce the risks posed
by materials and substances that burn?
m)
n)
o)
p)
Flammable materials and substances have been removed or reduced to the minimum required
for the operation of the business
Materials and substances have been replaced with less flammable alternatives
Flammable materials, liquids (and vapours) and gases are handled, transported, stored and
used properly
Adequate separation distances between flammable materials is ensured
II.
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
q)
r)
s)
t)
Storing highly flammable substances in fire-resisting stores and, where necessary keeping a
minimum quantity in fire-resisting cabinets in the workroom.
Flammable waste materials and rubbish are not allowed to build up in the workplace
The storage of materials in areas that are not vulnerable to arson or vandalism
Good housekeeping practices in the workplace
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
2.
Sources of Heat – ‘Identifying sources of ignition for a fire’
Potential ignition sources in your workplace can be identified by looking for possible sources of heat, which
could get hot enough to ignite the material in the workplace. You will need to identify from the list below whether
these sources of heat are present in your workplace. (Please circle the appropriate response).
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
p)
q)
r)
s)
Naked flames
Electrical, gas or oil-fired heaters (fixed or portable)
Hot processes (such as welding or grinding work)
Cooking
Engines or boilers
Machinery
Faulty or misused electrical equipment
Lighting equipment, e.g. halogen lamps
Hot surfaces and obstruction of equipment ventilation, e.g. office equipment
Friction, e.g. from loose bearings or drive belts
Static electricity
Metal impact (such as metal tools striking each other)
Arson (is this a potential problem?)
Are there ducts or flues in the area, which may allow a fire to spread?
Are there light bulbs and fittings near flammable materials?
Have all portable electrical appliances been tested, including all privately owned appliances
used by staff/students?
Does the electrical equipment have extension leads?
Are there multi-point adaptors in electrical sockets?
Are there any other sources of heat in the workplace? (if YES give details below)
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
If YES, (to point s only)
What are they and where are they located? i.e. room numbers, buildings etc….……………….
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Indications of ‘near misses’, such as scorch marks on furniture or fittings, discoloured or charred
electrical plugs and sockets, cigarette burns etc, can help you identify hazards which you may not
otherwise notice.
3.
Persons at Risk – ‘who is at risk if there is a fire?’
As part of your assessment you will need to identify who may be at risk if there is a fire in your workplace, from
the list below please indicate who would be at risk in your workplace (please circle all relevant options)
If YES, state approx
numbers
School/Service Department Staff
Operations Staff
Students
Visitors
Contractors
Others (please specify)……………………………………
4.
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Fire Procedure
It is important that staff, students, visitors and contractors know what they should do if a fire occurs in the
workplace. They should all be given information about what to do in the event of a fire. The University Fire and
Emergency Evacuation Procedure is a concise document, which must be communicated and understood by all
members of staff and students. The Fire Procedure also impacts on visitors and contractors on the University
premises. Please indicate how the Fire Procedure is communicated in your workplace. (Please circle).
a)
b)
c)
d)
5.
Are Fire Procedure Notices prominently posted in key locations throughout the
workplace?
If NO, what action has been taken to address this situation? ………………………..
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Are all staff made aware of the Fire Procedure on their first day of employment?
If NO, what has been done/can be done to address this situation?…………………
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Are all students (Schools only) made aware of the Fire Procedure on their first
day?
If NO, what has been done/can be done to address this situation?…………………
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Are visitors and contractors made aware of the University Fire Procedure?
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
Training
Fire Precautions at work is a mandatory training event and a legal requirement for all staff at the
University. The training includes information on general fire precautions, risks from flammable materials, the
control of risks, and the role individuals can play in reducing and controlling sources of ignition and fuel for fire.
a)
Have all staff in your School/Department attended a Fire Safety Presentation or
refresher course?
If NO, what is being done to address this situation?…………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
YES
NO
b)
Have all students in your School (Schools only) received any Fire Safety Training?
YES
NO
YES
NO
If NO, what is being done to provide students with this information?
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c)
Can Fire Safety information be improved e.g. electronic reminders of fire safety
information for staff and students?
Suggestions………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
6.
Fire Drills/Emergency Evacuations
In the event of a fire your staff and students will need to know what to do. Staff and students must be trained in
accordance with the University Fire Procedures, which will need to be regularly tested. Arranging fire drills in
the workplace will be a major part of testing these procedures as well as performance in unplanned
evacuations.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Would you describe the performance of your staff in a Fire Evacuation as
satisfactory?
If NO, what has been done to address this situation?…………………………………
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Would you describe the performance of your students (schools only) in a Fire
Evacuation as satisfactory?
If NO, what has been done to address this situation?…………………………………
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Have all staff and students in your workplace taken part in an emergency
evacuation drill in the last 3 months?
If NO, why not? (e.g. no drills run, shift patterns of staff etc.)……………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Do you consider the frequency of fire drills as satisfactory?
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
If NO, how often would you recommend they are run?……………………………….
7.
Means of Raising the Alarm
Workplaces need to have effective means of detecting an outbreak of fire and for warning people in your
workplace quickly enough so that they can escape to a safe place before the fire is likely to make escape routes
unusable.
a)
b)
Can the means for giving warning be clearly heard and understood throughout the
whole of the workplace when initiated from any single point?
If NO, what are the particular issues that relate to your workplace, have they been
previously raised and who with?………………………………………………………..
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Do all of your staff know how to operate your fire warning systems and how to
respond to it?
If NO, how do you intend to make them aware of this?………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
YES
NO
YES
NO
c)
Is fire detected in your workplace by automatic smoke/heat detectors?
YES
NO
d)
If NO, how is fire detected in your workplace?………………………………………..
Is the alarm raised automatically? (Is Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) present in
your workplace)
YES
NO
If NO, how is it raised? (e.g. manual sounders etc.)……………………………………
8.
Means of Escape
Once a fire has been detected and a warning given, everyone in your workplace should be able to evacuate
without being placed at undue risk. When assessing the means of escape from your workplace, you should ask
yourself whether people could escape to a place of safety before being cut off and exposed to risk of injury.
a)
b)
c)
Are all escape routes easily identifiable, clearly signed, free from obstructions,
adequately illuminated and have acceptable travel distances to reach a place of
relative safety?
If NO please explain the problems in more detail (please give precise locations)….
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Have all staff been trained in using the means of escape
Do all staff and students leave by their ‘nearest available exit’ as requested under
the University Fire Procedure?
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
If NO what has been done to make staff and students comply?………………………
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AFTER COMPLETING THIS SECTION OF THE RISK ASSESSMENT PLEASE ENSURE IT IS SIGNED BY YOUR
DEAN OF SCHOOL/SERVICE DIRECTOR AND THEN RETURNED WITH ANY FLOOR PLANS TO:
SAFETY ADVISER, RISK, SAFETY AND HEALTH SERVICE, MOLINEUX BUILDING, CITY CAMPUS NORTH.