Occupational Health & Safety Directorate Duties and Responsibilities of Fire Marshals (QM_OHSD_FS022)
Contents 1. As a Fire Marshal you must:... 3 2. As a Fire Marshal you should carry out the following checks:... 3 3. Checks to be carried out on a weekly basis:... 4 4. Actions to take on discovering a fire:... 4 5. Actions to take on hearing the fire alarm:... 5 6. Actions once outside the building:... 5 Author: Keith Vagg 2
Duties 1. As a Fire Marshal you must: Know the fire evacuation procedure. Currently all buildings other than the Peoples Palace when in Show Mode, or where local arrangements have been made in consultation with the College Fire Safety Advisers, have a single stage alarm. On activation of the fire alarm all persons should evacuate the building as quickly as possible. Know the fire assembly point for your building. The assembly point for your building can be found on the emergency action notices adjacent to the fire alarm manual call points or on the Assembly Point documents available on the Occupational Health and Safety Website. Know the location of portable fire extinguishers. These are generally found adjacent to the storey or final exits or where a particular risk is found. Details of the locations and types of extinguisher can be requested from the College Fire Safety Advisers. Know which type of extinguisher to use on the appropriate class of fire. 2. As a Fire Marshal you should carry out the following checks: Daily: Ensure all escape routes are clear of obstruction, trip hazards and combustible materials. If any fire escape routes in your work area are blocked as per above then please immediately notify the Estates and Facilities Help Desk and ask for the items to be removed as soon as possible. Estates and Facilities Help Desk Contact Details Telephone Extension 2580 Email estates-helpdesk@qmul.ac.uk Weekly: Ensure all fire extinguishers are present and correct Ensure all fire doors are not damaged and fully self-close Ensure all escape routes are clear and indicated by signs Any fire safety defects identified that do not require immediate action can be reported directly to Fire Safety Advisers. Our contact details are as follows: Mr Dennis Browne, Fire Safety Manager Mr Keith Vagg, Senior Fire Safety Adviser Mr David Scott, Fire Safety Adviser Author: Keith Vagg 3 Tel: 8380 d.browne@qmul.ac.uk Tel: 8384 k.vagg@qmul.ac.uk Tel: 7197 d.scott@qmul.ac.uk
Duties 3. Checks to be carried out on a weekly basis: Extinguishers Fire Doors Escape Routes Are the pins secured in place? Pressure readings satisfactory? Are they fully selfclosing? Are intumescent strips and cold smoke seals in place? Are the escape routes clear of obstructions? Are the escape routes clear of combustible materials? Are extinguishers mounted on brackets or stands? Are doors marked on both sides with appropriate signage? Are the escape routes clearly indicated by escape signage? Is there signage indicating the location of the extinguishers in place? Is there any visible damage to the extinguishers? Are the extinguishers within their annual test date? Is there any visible damage to the doors? 4. Actions to take on discovering a fire: Immediately raise the alarm by activating the fire alarm system by way of a manual call point. These are located at every storey or final exit within the building. If the fire is small and you are trained and confident - and it is safe to do so,, you may attempt to extinguish the fire using the appropriate type of fire extinguisher if available. You must make sure that someone knows what you are doing, that it is safe to tackle the fire and remember to ensure that the fire is never between you and your exit route. If you do use an extinguisher to tackle the fire make sure that you remember to Pull the Pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep the fire extinguisher nozzle from side to side. Always fully discharge the extinguisher. If the fire does not go out do not attempt to get another extinguisher but evacuate the building. Where possible close windows and doors to prevent fire spread. Do not lock the doors. Report to the Security Officer at the fire alarm panel. Report which areas of the building are clear and any additional actions taken. Author: Keith Vagg 4
Duties 5. Actions to take on hearing the fire alarm: Respond immediately to the fire alarm. Put on your reflective jerkin. Instruct persons in your area to evacuate the building by the nearest available escape route. Advise them to use the designated escape routes indicated by the green running man symbol and to not use their normal way into or out of the building (unless this is the most direct route to their nearest exit). You should be assertive in your instruction. You should make a 60 second search of your area ensuring that you end up at a protected route such as a staircase or protected corridor. Where possible close windows and doors to prevent fire spread. Do not lock the doors. If persons refuse to leave the building do not put yourself at risk. Make a note of their location and details if known and report this to the Security Officer. Report which areas of the building are clear and any additional actions taken. Report to the Security Officer at the fire alarm panel. Report which areas of the building are clear and any additional actions taken. Once started the evacuation of the building should be completed so as to avoid confusion 6. Actions once outside the building: Once you have reported to the Security Officer ask if they would like you to take up position at the entry points of the building to prevent persons entering whilst the alarm is being investigated. When taking up position it is recommended that you do not stand adjacent to the building as should a fire break out of the windows there is a danger of falling debris. By standing back you should still be able to inform persons not to enter the building and also maintain a clear view should a fire be developing. This will also prevent unauthorised access to the building and help prevent thefts. Author: Keith Vagg 5
Initial Data Author: Position: Mr David Scott Fire Safety Adviser Document Control Checked by: Position: Keith Vagg Senior Fire Safety Adviser Approved by: Position: Mrs Marion Richards Director of Occupational Health and Safety Status: Version 2 Date of Issue: May 2013 Version number Date of alteration and re-issue Details of Changes Changes made by 1 May 2012 Review and changes made to whole document 1 May 2012 Filename Path changed from QM/H&S/0031 Review and changes 2 October 2013 made to whole document Keith Vagg Darren Ford Keith Vagg Author: Keith Vagg 6