7.4 Fire Marshals The University has in place a Fire Marshal Scheme where staff members, nominated as Fire Marshals will act, in an emergency evacuation condition, to assist University Security staff to ensure that the evacuation proceeds effectively and safely. The operation of the scheme and duties associated with the Fire Marshal role are highlighted below. FIRE MARSHAL DUTIES Persons nominated as Fire Marshals will respond to an activation of the Fire Alarm in their designated area and carry out their duties as outlined below. The Procedures indicate 3 main duties: 1. Direct staff, students and visitors to nearest exit and assembly point(s) o Provide assistance to any disabled persons as appropriate o Once out of the building, instruct persons leaving to move to the assembly points well away from the building and do not allow anybody to return until directed 2. Conduct a sweep of the area of responsibility while directing all persons to leave the area of immediate risk immediately 3. Report status of area of responsibility Fire Marshals are to report the following information to the Incident Control Point o area clear or details of persons remaining including disabled persons who may be waiting for assistance in refuge areas o number, location and type of casualties o requirement for first aid or emergency services
Appendix 6.1 Emergency Evacuation Procedures for Security Personnel and Fire Marshals. On becoming aware of a fire or the likelihood of a fire the following procedures should be followed: Detail 1 Confirm the existence of fire Responsibility Security Staff Immediate Action by Security Staff on Notification of an Incident Proceed immediately to the scene Assess the situation. If necessary consult with the Service Coordinator on action to be taken. Inform Security control of situation and decision Evacuate if fire is confirmed by setting off the fire alarm if not already 2 Fight the fire only if safe and trained to do so Person discovering fire/security Staff 3 Incident Control Sound all necessary, additional alarms Ensure that outside telephone lines/emergency lines are immediately available to the exclusion of all other calls. Call Emergency services and FSM Receive calls from disabled occupants requiring assistance Keep an accurate record of all actions and times Monitor evacuation and re-entry using CCTV Security Control Room (Security Staff) October 2011 2
4 Incident Management Ensure that Emergency Services are contacted Establish an Incident Control Point dependant on the location of the incident. The Incident Control Point will be located at the Fire Assembly point for the area being evacuated Ensure FSM is informed if not already done Assess the extent of the problem and the degree of evacuation necessary. Direct such evacuation, making full use of available Security, Portering Staff and Fire Marshals Ensure that resources are directed to assist in the evacuation of disabled people if required (may include sufficiently trained Security, Portering Staff, Fire Marshals and other staff designated to assist in evacuation of specific persons with disability) Ensure that all medical resources (ambulance/first aid) are alerted and deployed as necessary If the emergency is in the residences ensure that Residential Services are informed immediately If appropriate, consideration should be given to traffic control. Use contract car parking staff if necessary Keep an accurate record of all actions and times to enable a detailed report to be completed as soon after the event as is practicable If the situation requires, the Major Incident Plan may need to be initiated Service Coordinator/Facilities Services Manager October 2011 3
5 Arrival and Liaison with Emergency Services Ensure guide(s) are positioned at entrance(s) to direct the emergency services (Use available Security or portering staff) Ensure following information is available: Location of incident Status of evacuation including actions taken to evacuate disabled people if present. Number and location of casualties Dangerous substances or processes if present. Assist the Emergency services as directed by them Service Coordinator/ Facilities Services Manager 6 On Completion of the Incident Confirm with all emergency services incident complete and re-entry is permissible Prior to re-entry ensure access is denied to any areas as directed by the emergency services (Use available Security/Portering staff) 7 Re-entry Into Buildings Organise and manage re-entry into those areas permissible Notify completion of incident to all assembly points Utilise Security, Porters and Fire Marshalls to ensure a phased safe reentry into evacuated areas Service Coordinator/ Facilities Services Manager Service Coordinator/ Facilities Services Manager October 2011 4
Persons nominated as Fire Marshals will respond to an activation of the Fire Alarm in their designated area and carry out their duties as outlined in this procedure 8 Conduct a sweep of the area of responsibility while directing all persons to leave the area of immediate risk immediately Fire Marshals 9 Direct staff, students and visitors to nearest exit and assembly point(s) Fire Marshals Provide assistance to any disabled persons as appropriate (Fire Marshals may require training if indicated by Fire risk assessment) Once out of the building, instruct persons leaving to move to the assembly points well away from the building and do not allow anybody to return until directed 10 Report status of area of responsibility Fire Marshals Fire Marshalls are to report the following information to the Incident Control Point area clear or details of persons remaining including disabled persons who may be waiting for assistance in refuge areas number, location and type of casualties requirement for first aid or emergency services 11 Debriefing A debriefing for all Ulster staff involved in managing and controlling the incident will be held will be held as soon after the event as is possible The debriefing will be greatly enhanced if all participants commit to writing at the earliest opportunity their recollections of the sequence and timings of events H & S Services October 2011 5
Appendix 6.2 Duties of Fire Marshals The purpose of the following paragraphs is to expand on the duties of Fire Marshals so that persons who take on the role of Fire Marshal know what to do in the event of an emergency evacuation. 1 Direct staff, students and visitors to nearest exit and assembly point(s) When the Fire Alarm sounds you will ensure that everyone in the area for which you have been given responsibility, responds by leaving the building. If necessary, inform people that they must leave and direct everyone to leave using the nearest available exit route following the emergency exit signs. Provide assistance to any disabled persons as appropriate The type of assistance you will be able to give to a person with a disability which prevents him or her from completing evacuation unaided, will depend on the type of disability and the availability of an evacuation lift if the disability is such that the person cannot use the stairs i.e. If the person is confined to a wheelchair. This will not be an issue if the person requiring evacuation is located on the ground floor when evacuation to the outside will possible with minimal assistance. Evacuation Lift is Available; in this case the disabled person should be accompanied to the nearest available evacuation lift. University Security must be informed that someone requires to use the evacuation lift. Use mobile phone if fixed communication point is not available. If you are required to operate the evacuation lift you should explain to the disabled person that you will bring the lift to the appropriate floor and take them to the ground floor in the lift. The lift will already be waiting at the ground floor on activation of the fire alarm and you should go to that floor using the stairs and take control of the lift according to the evacuation lift procedures which are posted at ground floor level and inside the lift car. The procedures for the operation of the Evacuation Lift are as follows: When the building fire alarms sound the lift automatically returns to the designated fire floor (normally the ground floor level) and sits with the lift doors open. 1. Break glass in the Key Guard holder at ground floor and remove key. 2. Use key to open access flap marked FB and switch ON the switch inside. 3. Lift will now go into Fire Mode. 4. To use the lift enter lift and press the floor button you wish to go to (KEEP CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THIS BUTTON UNTIL LIFT DOORS CLOSE) failure to keep constant pressure on the button will result in the doors reopening. October 2011 6
5. The lift will now travel to the floor and sit with the doors closed, to open the lift doors press the door open button (KEEP CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THIS BUTTON UNTIL THE LIFT DOORS OPEN FULLY) failure to keep constant pressure on the button will result in the lift doors reclosing. 6. To travel within the lift to other floors repeat steps 8&9 the landing call buttons are disabled at all times throughout this procedure. 7. To use the evacuation intercom use the Up & Down arrows to scroll to the floor you wish to communicate with. 8. When the read out reads the floor you wish to communicate with press the button below CALL on the display. This enables communication with the floor on the readout. 9. To end communication press the button below END on the display, this will end communication with the floor displayed on the read out. 10. To communicate with other floors repeat steps 4-6. THE PROCEDURE BELOW MUST BE FOLLOWED OR THE LIFT WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL SERVICE. To return the lift to normal service take the lift to the ground floor, and return switch behind the FB access flap to the OFF position when the fire alarm is reset the lift will return to normal service. Using the above procedures will enable you to assist the disabled person to the ground floor and then to the outside. Evacuation Lift not available: In this case the disabled should be accompanied to the nearest appropriate Refuge Area. Disabled students or staff who have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (P.E.E.P) will be aware of the location of refuge areas in their area. Disabled visitors and others will require guidance to the nearest appropriate refuge from the fire marshal. University Security must be informed that someone is in a refuge area and may require assistance. Use mobile phone if fixed communication point is not available. The information from Security about the status of the incident will determine if it as safe to remain in the refuge area or that it is necessary to evacuate. If the information received is that there is no sign of fire then it will be sufficient to remain in the refuge with the disabled person until further information is received that it is safe to return to normal activities. If the information is that the refuge is in an area which is or might become involved in fire, then action to evacuate the disabled person requires to be taken. This action will vary according to the level of disability but may require that the disabled person is October 2011 7
carried down stairs to a final exit from the building. In this case the fire marshal will require assistance which will be requested through Security. Only those staff who have received appropriate training in carrying techniques should attempt to carry a disabled person. Once out of the building, instruct persons leaving to move to the assembly points well away from the building and do not allow anybody to return until directed It is important for safety and emergency services access purposes that once outside, persons are not permitted to congregate too close to the building. Fire marshals should instruct all those who have evacuated to move away from the building and wait at one of the designated fire assembly points. Fire marshals should wait for confirmation from security control that the incident is completed and that it is safe to return to the building before allowing anyone to return. They should ensure an orderly return based on any advice from security control. 2 Conduct a sweep of the area of responsibility while directing all persons to leave the area of immediate risk immediately During an alarm/evacuation situation, fire marshals are not expected to put themselves at risk. Their role is to ensure the evacuation proceeds smoothly and safely, that all persons are responding to the alarm and that the spread of fire is reduced by closed fire doors. Specifically, they should:- ensure all people are evacuating from the areas for which they are responsible urge people to leave their rooms, checking rooms, toilets and places where people work alone keep people moving and clear corridors as quickly as possible and encourage them to take the quickest and nearest route out of the building report any known casualties to the fire co-ordinator or emergency services immediately. Fire Marshals are NOT expected to carry out a rescue in a fire zone stay and tackle the fire. October 2011 8
3 Report status of area of responsibility Fire Marshals are to report the following information to the Incident Control Point o area clear or details of persons remaining including disabled persons who may be waiting for assistance in refuge areas o number, location and type of casualties o requirement for first aid or emergency services It is important that accurate information is given to the incident controllers so that an appropriate response in the form of further actions or resources is given to a developing situation. Fire marshals will play an important part in this process and will need to be aware that they must report any information as quickly as practical. Once any such information has been reported fire marshals should proceed to the nearest appropriate assembly point and wait for further instructions from security control. When it is decided by security control that it is safe to return to the building, fire marshals should ensure that the return is controlled and safe. Fire marshals may be requested to attend a debrief session of an incident. It would be prudent therefore if they would make a short note of any occurrences after an incident. October 2011 9