APPENDIX B
HSE AND WORKPLACE
FIRE SAFETY
In most workplaces the local Fire Authority
is responsible for general fire precautions (including for example,
means of detecting and giving warning in case of fire, escape
routes, fire-fighting equipment, and training of staff in fire
safety). HSE's main responsibility in relation to fire safety
in the workplace is for process fire precautions.
Process fire precautions are the special fire
precautions required in any workplace in connection with the work
process that is being carried out there (including the storage
of articles, substances and materials relating to that work process).
They are to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire breaking
out and if a fire does occur, to reduce its spread and intensity.
Some examples of process fire precautions are:
— Suitable storage containers for flammable
substances;
— Ventilation systems to dilute or
remove flammable gas or vapour;
— Selecting equipment that will not
be a source of ignition;
— Extraction systems to remove combustible
materials such as wood dust.
Process fire precautions are enforced by HSE
or the local authority, under the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999 and more specific health and safety legislation such as the
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.
In workplaces covered by the Fire Certificate
(Special Premises) Regulations 1976 (FC(SP)R), HSE is responsible
for issuing the fire certificate for the premises and for enforcement
of all fire precautions including general fire precautions. However,
when the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) comes
into force in 2006, it will revoke the FC(SP)R and apply a risk
assessment based regime to all workplaces. Responsibility for
enforcement of general fire precautions at most workplaces currently
covered by the FC(SP)R will then fall to the local fire authority.
There are certain sectors where, because of
the nature of the work, HSE has enforcement responsibility for
all fire precautions (including general fire precautions) such
as offshore installations, underground mines, nuclear sites, ships
under construction and repair and some construction sites. HSE
will retain responsibility for general fire precautions in these
sectors after the RRO comes into force. HSE has arrangements for
quickly informing Fire Authorities where HSE inspectors encounter
fire prevention issues which are the responsibility of the fire
authorities to enforce (and vice versa).
LIAISON BETWEEN
HSE AND ODPM
HSE worked with ODPM during the development
of the new fire safety legislation by providing comment on an
ongoing basis, as and when requested. We are also providing comment
on the suite of guidance documents and the enforcers' guide, which
ODPM is currently developing to support the Regulatory Reform
Order.
HSE is currently developing an internal operational
guidance document addressing liaison between HSE/LA inspectors
and fire and rescue authorities, which will be agreed with ODPM.
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