Posted By Malcolm Greenhouse
If a company fails to do any of the following have they actual broke a specific law and if so which ones please?

1. Failure to hold training fire evacuations that cover the full 24/7 operation of the premisses.
2. Failure to provide adequate training and instruction to first line managers in fire evacuation drills. On this subject they are trying to say that attendance on an IOSH working safely course is sufficient in terms of fire knowledge content to pass for instruction in fire evacuation proceedures. Does anyone agree with this assertion?
3. Failure to carry out monthly operational tests of emergency lighting
4. Failure to test fire call points at 13 week intervals.
5. Failure to up date the fire information in the fire certificate section of the buildings log book. Specifically the change from a two stage to a single stage warning system was not incorporated in the book.

The company in question are having difficulty in seeing where they are not conforming. In fact on the question of the fire call points I recieved the answer that the system was only up dated two years ago so none should be faulty!

Any legal reference to help to exert pressure would be welcome.

Posted By Stuart Nagle
Malcolm.

Have you carried out a fire risk assessment?

If so you should have related the various requirements of the relevant legilsation to the fire policy and procedures in place to ensure compliance, in addition to identifying the usual hazards and risk posed, and the necessary control measures and/or improvements required, including training/awareness and management of policy, procedures and risk

If you are unable to identify the legislative requirememnts, you should consider; (a) getting on a suitable training course if you are responsible for these areas and also training for others (b) enlist the assistance of your local Fire & Emergency Service for advice in respect of your fire certificate/fire risk assessment, and legilsative requirements in relation to the premises and what is done there. I am sure they will be pleased to offer assistance and point you in the right direction. They may also be able to offer assistance with any necessary training etc.

In respect of changes that may have occurred following the issue of any fire certificate, an area often overlooked is that of changes to the building structure, such as office layout, partitions being erected/dismantled ect and increases in numbers of persons on the premises, particularly if the building(s) has more than one floor or fire escape routes etc are limited.

From the information you provide, there certainly appears to be action necessary, but the subject is detailed and it is not practicable to provide a serious remidy in this forum.


I hope this is of some assistance.

Stuart

Posted By Neil Pearson
Just one more detailed point - IOSH Managing Safely is great, and should be encouraged, but it won't tell anyone what the site emergency procedures are. Evacuation procedures are always different at every site because not all sites are the same. So there must be some extra way of communicating your own internal evacuation procedures. This will be dealt with in your fire certificate, if you have one.

Posted By David Sinclair
Malcolm,

The problem is that under the current legislation they may (and I say only "may") not be breaching any laws.

It really will depend on the risk assessments and/or the outcome of the risk assessments.