The person responsible for every building, including, laboratory, teaching space, embedded space, office, store or any other building, or part of a building managed by the university, must ensure that it is the subject of an appropriate fire risk assessment(s). The purpose is to identify the general fire precautions needed to ensure the safety of everyone who may resort to the premises.
Most accidental fires are avoidable and the fire risk assessment is designed to help identify where they may occur and enable remedial action to be taken.
The Fire Risk assessment on the University template should;-
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Identify all ignition sources
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Identify all combustibles,
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Identify people at risk
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Identify what is provided to control the risk
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Identify failures that might affect the safety of persons from fire
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Identify further action and who needs to carry it out.
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Set a review date, no later than 13 months after the initial assessment
When using this template the first section of every hazard and risk factor shaded blue can be ticked to show that they have been considered and found either satisfactory, or not applicable.
Where the items do not conform to these standards, further details of the circumstances should be recorded with the additional control measures and whether there is any residual risk.
Residual risk should be recorded on the summary sheet and action plan as significant findings, with a date set for remedial work to be completed. The works are prioritised according to the risk level as Tolerable, Moderate, Substantial and Intolerable, with examples of each and the level of time and resources given for completion.
The review of the original fire risk assessment can be recorded in the simpler format within 13 months of completion. The review document can be used in subsequent years as long as the original fire risk assessment remains valid.
The fire risk assessment should be undertaken as a joint venture with those having specialist knowledge of the processes or building.
The fire risk assessment should be circulated to everyone who had a stake in its completion and should also be made available to anyone that works in, or occupies the building. It should also be shown to other occupiers, including non-university persons who should share their own fire risk assessment.
The person/s carrying out the fire risk assessments should have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to complete it.
The University employs a range of competent persons; departmental safety officers, divisional and area safety officers, university safety officers, facilities management, estates technical staff and Direct Labour Organisation, all of whom can be called upon to give help or advice.
