Fire risk assessment is a procedural evaluation of possible fire risk factors, the likelihood of a fire and potential damages. Carrying out a fire risk assessment is mandatory in virtually all commercial buildings. The evaluation needs to be carried out by a competent person with the necessary training and experience. You can choose to assess if you are qualified enough (for example, if you have taken a fire warden training course) or hire a professional to do it on your behalf. Either way, the following procedure must be followed for a successful fire safety risk assessment.
Fire Hazards Identification
This involves surveying through your building and identifying any possible fire risk areas. Some areas to consider include kitchen or cooking areas, storage units, chemical storage areas, electrical closets and large machinery storage areas. Look for any possible sources of ignition such as friction and sparks, naked flames, hot surfaces and hot working areas. Pinpoint any flammable materials in the building, such as wood, paper, textile and furniture. If it's an industrial environment, identify flammable gases and liquids.
Determine Who's at Risk
At this point, you need to identify the people occupying the premises and the areas they frequent. Assess these areas in combination with the fire risk to come up with the right fire safety measures. Some of the high-risk areas that people frequent are cooking areas, smoking zones and sleeping quarters. You also need to identify people with higher risk, such as the elderly, the disabled and those unfamiliar with the building.
Evaluate, Act and Execute a Plan
The next step is taking action to minimize the risks. You can do so by cleaning up rubbish piles or moving the chemical storage unit into a safer place. You also need to identify the best areas to install fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire alarms. Identify a convenient fire assembly point in case of a fire. After evaluation, you need to document the fire safety and risk assessment. Make sure that all the building occupants are aware of what needs to be done in case of a fire emergency. Also, ensure that your employees are trained on fire fighting and evacuation plans.
Review the Plan Regularly
To ensure that your fire assessment is practical, you must review and revise it regularly. Doing so allows you to identify any new fire hazards and implement the right control measures. In case of any changes, inform your staff and carry out a retraining program if need be.
Share27 September 2019
There is no better feeling than knowing you have done your bit to protect the planet. If you are interested in saving the planet, you have come to the right place. On this blog, I hope that I can encourage you to take action. I would love it if everyone who read the articles I have published here took a step towards living in a carbon-neutral home which utilises green energy. I'm not an expert and I don't work in the industry. However, I am passionate about the environment and I have been working with local green energy contractors to improve my home.
