1.1.4 The findings from Fire Risk Assessment must be incorporated into the FRAMS Action Plan to manage fire safety at each premise.

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1 Fire Safety Policy 1.1 Policy Statement of Intent Under the current UK Legislation (In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010), Fire Safety has become the responsibility of Action for Children and its Management. Action for Children recognises its duty to manage the fire safety of each of its premises The Fire management process within Action for Children falls under the Fire Risk Assessment and Management System (FRAMS) Action for Children will provide a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment by a Competent Person at each of its Premises The findings from Fire Risk Assessment must be incorporated into the FRAMS Action Plan to manage fire safety at each premise Action for Children will consult with employees; others who may work under Action for Children s control and relevant third parties (Landlords, etc.) to ensure significant findings are communicated and that effective arrangements for managing fire safety are implemented. The Fire Risk Assessment should be made readily available on site and shared with third parties and enforcement authorities The Fire Risk Assessment will be managed and reviewed locally as part of the e-health and Safety Management process. Fire Risk Assessments will be reviewed by the HSW Fire Safety Advisor at appropriate levels depending on occupancy risk and changes at each of the premises The Fire Risk Assessment will be recorded, maintained and a printed copy held on site for three years The significant findings and action plan for the service will be managed as part of the FRAMS and the e-health and Safety monitoring process All Action for Children staff / volunteers will receive appropriate fire training for their role in normal working hours Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 1

2 Fire Risk Management Procedure 1. Introduction Parklands Campus has a duty to provide a safe place of work, this includes considering the impact of fire, managing and reducing the likelihood of fire starting. This procedure outlines the step to be taken to ensure that Action for Children meets the requirement of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in all workplaces occupied by Action for Children. 2. Standards Standard All workplaces have a Fire Risk assessment completed by a competent person and reviewed at least annually Action plans (significant findings) of FRA are actioned in a timely manner All workers complete suitable training relevant to roles within the FSMP All fire safety equipment provided, managed and maintained will be adequate and suitable and sufficient All workplaces will conduct minimum 6 monthly fire evacuation drills or more if required these will be recorded with time required for evacuation. The repair of passive fire protection will be provided by a competent person or company How it will be attained FRA completed by HSWS Fire Safety Advisor and / or Managers complete and update FRAMS Fire Safety Advisor will inform operations (premises manager) of findings of the FRA The premises manager will liaise with PSD or Landlord and agree a timetable for action and delegation of tasks. Where significant findings are identified by a manager these are actioned locally - All workers complete fire awareness training annually - Workers nominated as fire wardens complete Fire warden training and refresher training annually - Workers nominated as Responsible person (RP) complete Fire RP training and refresher training annually -The Fire Safety Advisor will attend at least one Fire Warden training event per supplier All equipment will be subject to routine inspection and maintenance organised by PSD or the Landlord, Fire Logs will be held on site and updated by engineers. Testing records will be held on site or available on-line. On site duty holder will arrange for fire drill to be conducted at least 6 monthly and record in FRAMS The PSD will brief and vet companies and suppliers to confirm compliance to the agreed standards. Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 2

3 The service and repair of active fire protection systems will be provided by a competent person or company The PSD will brief and vet companies and suppliers to confirm compliance to the agreed standards. 3. Roles and Responsibilities In addition to the general roles and responsibilities outlined in the HSW Policy the following additional responsibilities apply: Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 3

4 Fire Warden The Fire Warden(s) is appointed by the Principal, as part of a team of people to assist in the evacuation of the building and liaise with the Fire Authorities. Parklands Campus does not expect its staff to fight fires, unless there is an immediate threat to life or it is considered safe by the user to do so. Fire Wardens are required to: a) Complete Action for Children Fire Warden Training b) Review FRA and annual FRA Review to be aware of people at risk and potentially hazardous storage or processes c) Participate in Fire Drills d) Know the location and type of Fire Extinguishers and other fire safety equipment and be familiar with their use e) Assist the On Site Duty Holder / Responsible Person / Duty Holder in spotting and reporting hazards f) Assist on Site Duty Holder / Responsible Person / Duty Holder to check and enforce Contractors permits and Hot Works Permits g) In the event of a fire assist in the evacuation of the building as the Fire Action Plan directs and carry out a roll call h) Know how to operate (Silence, test, reset, etc.)the Fire Alarm system (if fitted) Workers All workers including paid employees, volunteers, temporary employees and others who are unescorted and acting on behalf of Action for Children on the premises where it has the duty to manage must comply with the FRMP Each Worker of Action for Children is expected to: a) Complete Action for Children Fire Awareness Training annually b) Be familiar with the Fire Action Plan and evacuate when directed c) Know how to activate the fire alarm (if fitted) d) Be familiar with the evacuation plan e) Assist the local manager / Responsible Person / Duty Holder in spotting and reporting hazards f) Complete local signing in / out procedures Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 4

5 g) Take care of their own fire safety and that of others and not do anything which may harm themselves or others h) Not interfere with anything put in place to ensure fire safety within the workplace i) Report immediately all identified noncompliance occurrences including damaged broken items of equipment put in place for fire safety to their local manager j) Briefing any contractor or unattended visitor, regarding action in the event of fire on arrival and ensure that they sign into the visitors book. Contractors and unattended visitors Each Contractor or Visitor who will be in the building with out a member of staff in attendance (unattended visitor) must support the fire safety management of the building by: a) Signing in on arrival as required by Action for Children visitors procedures. b) If required complete a Hot Work permit, outlining the risk to the buildings occupants and action taken to mitigate any risk c) At no time should any equipment, provided in connection with fire-fighting, fire detection and warning, be tampered with or moved without an appropriate risk assessment undertaken. d) Keeping escape routes clear and accessible at all times. If work in the escape route is required then a risk assessment should be carried out as part of the Permit to Work e) Sign out upon completion of the work/ end of visit to indicate the work is complete and you are no longer on site Fire Risk Assessment A competent person trained in risk assessments shall completed a campus wide fire risk assessment which will be updated annually and reviewed more frequently if significant changes occur. This risk assessment shall be shared with all employees and volunteers at Parklands Campus. The risk assessment will be held centrally and made available on request. FIRE INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING TRAINING In the event of fire the safety of everybody in the school depends on the ability of staff to respond promptly. It is important therefore that all staff members are trained in fire awareness, are aware of the Fire Precautions applicable to the school, and action to be taken in the event of fire. The aim will be to ensure that everybody has received practical demonstration and instruction appropriate to their responsibilities in the event of an emergency. As far as is possible all employees and Students will be Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 5

6 made aware of evacuation procedures, and those who are willing are to be encouraged to participate in fire training. The instruction will take place as part of fire drills once every term. Instruction and training will provide for the following: The action to be taken upon discovering a fire; The action to be taken on hearing the fire alarm; Raising the alarm; Location of alarm call points and indicator panel; The correct method of calling the Fire Brigade; Knowledge of escape routes; Appreciation of the importance of fire doors and the need to close them in the event of fire or the alarms sounding; How to remove those requiring assistance in an emergency. Such details as are necessary to show training and instruction have been given and understood will be recorded in each employees, personal record file. In all premises one nominated person will take overall responsibility for organising staff training. At a conspicuous position a printed notice will be displayed giving the action to be taken on discovering a fire or hearing the alarm, the escape routes and the assembly point. PROCEDURE IN THE EVENT OF FIRE On hearing the fire alarm, the on duty fire warden will check the fire panel. The fire warden will then discuss the cause of the alarm with the most senior person on duty to determine whether the Emergency Services are required. If the emergency services are required reception will call 999. When the Exchange Operator answers, ask for the FIRE SERVICE. When connected to the Fire Service state slowly and clearly; This is (give full name and address of premises). WE HAVE A FIRE Do not replace the receiver until there is confirmation this information has been understood and acknowledged. Proceed to the nearest fire exit. Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 6

7 IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE The Fire Marshall / School Manager will be responsible for fire safety and will: 1.- determine the location of the fire 2.- initiate roll call for staff, residents and visitors. 3.- ensure the Fire Brigade has been alerted. 4.- liaise with the Senior Fire Officer, giving information concerning: 5 - location of the fire 6 - missing patients/residents, employees and visitors. 7 - gas and electricity isolating points 8. - liaise with the Senior Fire Officer before entering the building ensure that all discharged fire extinguishers are replaced. FIRE PREVENTION The person responsible for Fire Safety will: I. - ensure that fire equipment is regularly tested and serviced ensure that employees are instructed on the fire procedures and on the use of firefighting equipment carry out regular inspections to ensure that fire safety provisions are maintained at a satisfactory level carry out regular evacuation practice sessions Passive and Active Fire Safety Measures Parklands Campus has a cycle of fire safety systems testing. Westronics is the names company for Fire Systems servicing. An annual service visit tests all fire systems and equipment. Emergency lighting is tested every 6 month Call points are tested every 3-4 months Fire alarms, sounders, detectors and fire doors are tested every 6 months Fire drills are carried out termly by school staff Fire extinguishers are examined on rotation by the Fire Warden Fire exits are visually checked daily 6. Evacuation Policy Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 7

8 It is the responsibility of the Principal to ensure that all staff, service users and others who may be affected can evacuate to a total place of safety without assistance from the Fire and Rescue Service if required to do so. The Evacuation Policy must ensure that all people in the workplace know what to do if there is a fire and that the premises can be evacuated safely. Single Stage Evacuation A Single stage evacuation, is full evacuation at the first activation of Fire Alarm All persons evacuate straight away to the identified Assembly at the front of the main school building upon hearing the fire alarm signal. # Where a worker declares mobility impairment or it is identified by risk assessment that assistance is required, then a policy will be prepared so that an individual can be evacuated 7. Monitoring Audit and Review of Fire Safety Fire Safety Management is subjected to a 360 degree system of checks to ensure that Parklands Campus is doing everything reasonably and practicably possible to demonstrate fulfilment of our obligations to protect staff, volunteers and service users. The completed FRA will be kept and maintained on the premises to which it relates to and will be made available upon request to all who have a reasonable right to do so. The FRA will be monitored for compliance under the eh&s monitoring process by the Manager as part of the quarterly self check and six monthly Independent Peer Evaluation process Fire Management is a fixed standing agenda of Corporate HSW and local DMT reporting (H&SW) agenda and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis for compliance monitoring Fire compliance will be audited as part of the HSWS agreed rolling audit programme conducted by the HSWS team, results will be reviewed by the FSA and significant findings monitored for compliance and escalated to the Head of HSWS, local workplace Divisional management with recommendations for remedial action. The HS&W Fire Safety Advisor will be registered as a Third Party Certified Fire Risk Assessor by a suitably accredited appointed body Fire Safety Training is to be monitored and logged by: - Local Centre s is monitored by the Responsible Person / Duty Holder Offices and administrative centre s by line managers for Fire Awareness Training and Responsible Persons for Fire Warden and Responsible Person Training Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 8

9 Revision table Issue Number Date issued Revision/change Approved by PLGB October 2015 Page 9