Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy

Transcription

1 Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy Policy Type Regulatory Last Review Summer 2017 Next Review Summer 2018

2 Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 1. Fire Safety Introduction Our priority is to minimise the risk to life and to reduce injury by maintaining the physical fire safety integrity of the school in ensuring that staff, pupils and visitors do not add to the fire risk and through safe evacuation of our buildings if a fire breaks out. The fire safety policy, procedures and risk assessments at Haberdashers Aske s School for Girls are designed to help our community to respond calmly and effectively in the event that fire breaks out in one of our buildings. This policy is applicable to all staff, visitors and pupils including those in EYFS. Responsibilities The Bursar acts as the School s Safety Co-ordinator responsible for advising the Headmistress on the measures needed to carry out work in the School with the least risk to health and safety; coordinating any safety advice given to the School by specialist advisers and those with enforcement powers, monitoring health and safety within the School and reporting any breaches of the Health and Safety Policy to the Headmistress. He is Chairman of the School s Health and Safety Committee. The Assistant Bursar (Operations) is responsible for matters relating to fire and emergency evacuation procedures. In the case of a fire practice or actual alarm they have executive authority to clear the building and to manage such roll calls or checks as may be necessary up until the time when the practice is satisfactorily completed or responsibility is handed over to the attending Fire Service officer. The Premises Manager is the designated School Fire Safety Manager, working closely with the Bursar and Assistant Bursar (Operations) so that: The fire safety policy is kept under regular review by Governors and the SMT. The fire safety policy is promulgated to the school community. Everyone in the school is given clear written instructions on where they should go in the event of fire. Records are kept of the fire induction training given to new staff and pupils. Procedures for emergency evacuation are regularly tested and lessons absorbed. Fire risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Fire prevention measures are meticulously followed. Fire procedures and risk assessments are reviewed on each occasion that a building is altered, extended or rebuilt, or when new buildings are acquired. Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 2

3 2. Fire Safety Procedures Briefing New Staff and Pupils All new staff (teaching and non-teaching alike) and new pupils are given a briefing on the school s emergency evacuation procedures on their first day at school, and are shown where the main fire assembly points are located. Fire action notices are displayed prominently on the walls of all rooms and in all corridors, and we make certain that everyone knows what they look like, and where they should go on hearing the fire alarm. All new staff are shown how to activate the fire alarms if they see or smell a fire. The safe evacuation of everyone - staff and pupils alike, is our priority. Protecting property comes second. No one should attempt to fight a fire at the expense of their own, or anyone else s safety. The School offers fire awareness training, including the basic use of fire extinguishers, to its staff. Key members of staff are fully trained in the use of fire extinguishers. Evacuation Procedures and Summoning the Fire Brigade The School s fire alarms and evacuation procedures operate throughout the entire school. The Premises Manager is responsible for ensuring that evacuation instructions and routes to assembly points are placed next to the main exit from all rooms. The relevant Head of department responsible for the engagement of contractors must ensure that all contractors are briefed on fire and evacuation drills. In the event of the discovery of a fire it is the responsibility of the person making the discovery to raise the alarm at once. No action should be taken to contain the fire using local appliances until the alarm has been sounded. The School day is divided into THREE time zones: Zone hrs to 1715hrs Zone hrs to End of evening function. Zone 3 End of evening function to 0700hrs Zone 1 Zone 2 On hearing the wailing fire siren the building will be evacuated to the Emergency Assembly area. The Duty member of maintenance staff will go to the fire panel in the main office to ascertain the location of the fire. They will then go to the area via the outside of the buildings to establish the reality of the situation. They will then report to the Headmistress, her Deputy or the Bursar at the Assembly Area. If the decision is taken to call the Fire Brigade they will be called by mobile phone at this point. If there is no fire, normal fire drill procedures will be followed. As for Zone 1 except when there are no people on the premises. In the latter instance on hearing the wailing fire siren, the duty staff will go to the main fire panel to ascertain the location of the fire and then investigate the reality of the situation. Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 3

4 If they discover a fire they must raise the alarm, then if it safe to do so attempt to extinguish the fire. If the fire is beyond control then the Fire Brigade must be called. The Headmistress and the Bursar or their deputy must be informed of the situation. In the event of a real fire, the fire panel can only be reset once the Brigade officer confirms it is safe to do so. At other times it may be reset as soon as no fire is confirmed beyond doubt. Zone 3 As for Zone 2 when there are no people on the premises. Responsibilities of Staff Teaching staff are responsible for escorting their pupils safely out of the building in silence and in an orderly fashion. They are responsible for conducting a head count on arrival at the assembly point, and for ensuring that the name of anyone who cannot be accounted for (and, if possible, their likely location) is passed immediately to the Headmistress. Heads of Support Staff Departments should likewise ensure that their staff are accounted for after an evacuation. It is the responsibility of the Headmistress or her Deputy to ensure that this information is passed to the Fire and Emergency service as soon as they arrive. On no account should anyone return to a burning building. Visitors and Contractors All visitors and contractors are required to sign in at Reception, where they are issued with a visitor s badge, which should be worn at all times that they are on the school premises. It is the responsibility of staff hosting visitors to ensure they are aware of the schools emergency evacuation procedures, and escort them to the appropriate fire assembly point. It is a condition of the schools notice to contractors that contractors are aware of the emergency evacuation alarms and procedures. When large numbers of visitors are at the school for open days, plays, concerts, exhibitions etc a brief announcement is made advising them of the location of the emergency exits that they should use in the event of the alarms sounding. Fire Practice, Alarm Equipment and Testing It is the School's policy to hold regular termly fire practices at unspecified times. The timing is recorded and details of fire practices are kept by the Assistant Bursar (Operations). Where evacuation of the building is considered to be slower than is considered a reasonable time given the inherent problems of the site, a further practice is to be held until a satisfactory result is achieved. The School will take all reasonable steps to ensure that all corridors forming exit routes, fire doors and stairwells are kept clear of any obstruction. Arrangements will be made for all appliances using gas and electricity to be switched off as far as is consistent with speedy evacuation of the building which is of paramount importance at all times. Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 4

5 Fire Prevention Procedures The following fire prevention measures are in place: a. Escape Routes and Emergency Exits There are at least two escape routes from every part of all buildings. Fire notices and evacuation signs displayed prominently in each building Fires extinguishers (of the appropriate type), smoke detectors, and fire hoses are located in accordance with the recommendations of our professional advisors. The alarm can be manually activated by breaking a glass panel on the fire alarm, and automatically activated when smoke/heat builds up. Automatic door closures that are activated by the fire alarms are fitted on doors in or leading onto escape routes. Keeping fire routes and exits clear at all times. The duty Caretaker is responsible for unlocking the buildings in the morning, when he removes bolts, padlocks and security devices from all emergency exits, checks that escape routes are not obstructed and that the emergency lights work, and for reporting defects. All fire alarms are tested weekly by the duty caretaker. A specialist contractor is responsible for the regular maintenance of all fire protection systems and firefighting appliances. Records of all tests are kept in the Premises Manager s office. b. Fire Safety Equipment Fire appliances and emergency lighting are checked on an annual basis. c. Electrical Safety The School has current electrical test certificates for all its buildings; a period electrical inspection is carried out every five years and was last carried out in June The school uses NICEIC qualified Electrical Engineers to inspect and maintain its electrical installations. Regular portable appliance testing (PAT) takes place under the management of a specialist contractor. Registers of all equipment and testing are maintained. d. Lightning Protection In accordance with the last fire risk assessment report, the school is updating its fire protection to all buildings. It is tested annually by a specialist contractor. Records of all tests are kept in the Premises Manager s office. Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 5

6 e. Gas Safety Installation and Servicing All major work to the main gas pipework and installations within the school grounds and buildings is carried out under the supervision of a consulting engineer and where necessary after liaison with bodies such as the national grid. Minor modifications and replacements, e.g. gas taps in laboratories, will be undertaken by a Gas Safe registered gas installer. All servicing of the School s boilers and associated plant is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers who are competent to deal with major gas plant. Servicing of kitchen equipment is carried out by an approved engineer under a contract with a catering supply company. Hot working equipment in the Design & Technology department is regularly serviced by the installers. Safety Controls Control valves to the site as a whole are marked on a drawing which forms part of the School s Emergency Plan. The positions of these valves are also clearly marked in the grounds. Gas pipework is painted yellow where it is open to access. Solenoid valves are fitted in all laboratories and their position is known to staff and technicians. The latter have the responsibility for shutting down the gas at the end of the working day. Heads of other departments supplied with gas are made aware of the siting of the gas valves within their departments and are responsible for ensuring other staff under their management know the positions and keep them clear of obstruction. f. Safe Storage We ensure that flammable materials used in teaching or maintenance are locked in purpose-made, flameproof containers at the end of every day. Specific arrangements are made for high risk areas where significant volumes of flammable and hazardous substances are used or stored. g. Rubbish and Combustible Materials Flammable rubbish is stored away from buildings in the secured rubbish compound. Combustible materials used in teaching, catering, maintenance, grounds and caretaking are stored in flame proof cupboards Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 6

7 3. Fire Risk Assessment The School s Fire Risk Assessment meets the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the FSO). Specifically it identifies: The Hazard The people at risk The measures to evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from the risk The measures needed to record, plan, inform, instruct and train people in risk reduction or removal The arrangements for reviewing the assessment The school has a professional fire risk assessment which is updated every year, and is the basis for the management action plan. Copies of the school s fire risk assessment can be obtained from the Bursar. Fire Safety, Procedures and Risk Assessment Policy 7