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Posted By Barrie (Badger) Etter
1) Because we are a small company of around fifty people on two sites (15/35 split) it has been suggested to me that we do away with the roll call and rely on the fire marshals to give the all clear (risk assmts aside).
2) With the second unit a five min walk away should we ring that site when an evacuation event is occurring to ascertain the location of 'missing' peoples?
What is the forum's opinion please?
Badger
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Posted By Colin Reeves
Barrie
You need to be certain that all people at the site are accounted for (including any visitors).
The roll-call is an effective method and covers the odd person who works in an isolated cupboard that never speaks to anyone else (often the post-room or similar.)
If you can find another method that is equally or more reliable then go to it - but the roll-call is a fairly simple, almost fool-proof method.
Colin
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Posted By Merv Newman
I've never known a roll-call system, including electronic gates, (you know what I mean) to be 100% reliable.
Well trained and efficient sweeps are about the only thing that works.
Roll-calls only serve to give managers something to do (don't panic !) and they also serve to reassure individuals that they really did escape in time.
Has anyone ever seen a more ridiculous "what to do in the event of a fire" instruction than "do not panic" ?
I will if I want to. And I will if you will.
Merv
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Posted By Philip Beale
If you are using fire marshals to sweep the building (as opposed to the old roll call)then there would be no need to contact the other site as the fire marshals are checking the building is empty.
just ensure you have adequate number of fire marshals to cover sickness etc and have a plan of what area each fire marshal is to cover assuming the site needs more than 1 marshal. And search areas are not to large.
Phil
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Posted By srd
We have approx 450 people on one site and currently use a sweep system.
A visiting Fire Officer has now asked us to look at replacing this with a a roll call system.
With staff arriving and leaving the premises throughout the day, we think that this would be impracticable.
It's interesting to see that you are thinking of moving in the opposite direction, from roll call to sweep.
Stephen.
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Posted By Philip Beale
No doubt if you change to a roll call the next fire inspector will want you to change back to a sweep system. Only fire drills will prove if it is effective foe your site.
I see more negative with a roll call system with people being off site and no one knowing.
Phil
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Posted By Tarquin Farquor
Barrie,
In my opinion the sweep system is far more reliable than the roll call.
The roll call is to fallable, poeple forget to sign in out, particulary when they nip to the car for something etc.
Regarding phoning the other site, I don't think that you would need to with a sweep system.
The only thing that I can think of is if you have someone working say in a roof void that would not be 'swept' by fire wardens, but then this should be picked up by a permit to work.
Regards,
TF
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Posted By Barry Cooper
I have to say there are advantages and disadvantages for each system. Which one to use depends on many factors, one of them being the size of the premises.
Our site consists of 5 hectares of buildings, and to do a sweep would take hours rather than minutes.
We have adopted the roll call system, we have approx 80 people to roll call in three assembly points and have got it right on several fire drills, but it relies on your clocking or signing in procedures; ours are very strict, but is isn't perfect, and sometimes we get it wrong.
The fire brigade have said roll call is our best option.
Having said that, if our premises were suitable I would opt for the sweep system.
Barry
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Posted By WTaylor
We use both systems side by side and they complement each other very well.
The roll call is used for the employees who work permanently in each area whereas the sweep is used for visitors from other areas and contractors (who don't always report to the manager of the area).
Once the fire wardens have finished the sweep they proceed to the assembly point and do the roll call.
We have a large number of visitors entering and leaving each area/building via a different door and it would be unwise to only use a roll call.
Roll calls are never 100% reliable, even with access control and electronic swiping in systems. In my experience I've had individuals swiping large groups of people in to save time. Not ideal in our target pressured manufacturing environment!
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Posted By Philip Beale
"Once the fire wardens have finished the sweep they proceed to the assembly point and do the roll call."
Why do both surely if you have swept the building and it's clear then why do a roll call especially by the fire wardens. They just swept the building (5 mins) then take the roll call (5 mins) it's 10 minutes before you know whether anyone is left in the building at best.
Either your not confident of the building sweep or confident of the roll call seems a waste of precious time in carrying out both.
Phil
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Posted By WTaylor
Hi Phil,
We have 11 minutes until the fire brigade arrives. Which is why I am not too fussed if the roll call takes 10 minutes. Although you will find that the sweep needs to be done in 2 minutes in our workplace (each fire warden has a relatively small area) which reduces our target time to 7 minutes.
Please bear in mind that if the building is on fire, there isn't going to be a sweep of the area as the wardens are trained to get out of there. Simply put they will evacuate and do a roll call. If you haven't trained them to do a roll call, how do you know everyone is out?
And let's not forget we have a duty SFAIRP to ensure people are out of the building. Is anyone going to tell me that in our situation that a roll call is not reasonably practicable? It may not be in other businesses, but it is in ours.
Roll calls have other benefits too, such as giving employees a reason to assemble at the assembly point and also to give the managers (oops, should I say fire wardens?) something to do (as in, do something rather than panic).
Regards Will
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Posted By Crim
An old joiner once told me to "measure twice - cut once". This goes with the old "belt and braces" saying.
If you wish to sweep and roll call I would say carry on.
A sweep on its own may miss somebody unconscious in a dark area if the "sweeper" is in a hurry due to a fire situation.
A roll call on its own may be a slow process and what happens when someone is absent?
Whatever method/s chosen at least do something and practice fire drill without warning.
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