Fire Safety & Risks

Practical guide to Fire & Safety Risk Assessment

What is Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

Essentially it is the process of considering any aspect within the workplace which could cause harm to people or premises from fire. To determine both the possibility of a fire occurring together with the potential dangers from fire.

What do we Meaning by Risk?

“Fire Risk” or “Potential” can be defined as the Likelihood of a fire occurring multiplied by the Severity of the fire.

The potential of a fire hazard depends on the “opportunity for development” of a fire which originates from the hazard and then develops the potential consequences related to the loss or injury of both life & property.

How to Consider Risk?

The potential for ignition is the first consideration – how likely and what would be the causal factors?

Other factors relate to competence as well as environmental and equipment/facility conditions.

The Potential for Development!

Factors to consider include:

a) The length of time the fire could burn before it is detected
b) How long before the fire threatens the means of escape
c) The building construction including lack of compartmentation
d) Building contents including combustible and flammable materials

Delivering an Effective Assessment Requires

a) Identification of any potential sources of fire including

Sources of ignition such as naked flames, heaters or some commercial processes;

Sources of fuel such as waste products, display materials, textiles or overstocked products; and

Sources of oxygen such as air conditioning systems or medical or commercial oxygen supplies.

Any structural features such as ducts and flues large areas of combustible materials, open roof spaces, & excessively long escape routes.

b) Ability to identify any findings and develop mitigations (measures to reduce and manage the risk from fire)

c) To Identify any group of persons considered at risk

Anyone who may be asleep on the premises

Those present in large numbers

Those who are unfamiliar with the layout

Those exposed to a specific fire risk

Those who have any impairment or disability

People working in proximity to any fire dangers

People working alone

d) Documented for reference and audit purposes

e) Subject to regular review

f) Evaluate and decide if the existing fire safety arrangements are satisfactory or need improving

g) Record the findings, produce an emergency plan, instruct, inform and train

Creating a Fire Risk Report

Determine the risk of a fire occurring by taking into account the fire prevention measures observed at the time of this risk assessment

To make the statement

It is considered that the hazard from fire (probability of ignition) at this building is: Low /Medium / High

Definition of terms

Low = 1 = Hardly any risk from fire, few combustible materials, no highly flammable substances, and virtually no sources of heat.

Medium = 2 =  There are quantities of combustible materials and sources of heat but a fire would remain confined or spread slowly.

High = 3 = A serious risk to life from fire, substantial quantities of combustible materials, highly flammable substances, or likelihood of the rapid spread of fire, heat or smoke.

Determine the potential consequences if a fire was to occur

Consider both the nature of the building and the occupants, as well as the fire protection and procedural arrangements observed at the time of this risk assessment, it is considered that the consequences for life safety in the event of fire would be:

Slight harm / Moderate harm / Extreme harm

Slight harm = 1 = Outbreak of fire unlikely to result in serious injury or death of any occupant.

Moderate harm = 2 = Outbreak of fire could result in injury of one or more occupants, but it is unlikely to involve multiple fatalities.

Extreme harm = 3 = Significant potential for serious injury or death of one or more occupants.

Measure of Assessment

Multiply the  likelihood value x Consequence  minimum 1 x 1 =1  maximum 3 x 3 =9 any value of 6 or over will require specific mitigation action

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