Fire Safety Policy

Gillingham Imperial Silver Band – Fire Safety Policy

 

Statement of Intent:

Gillingham Imperial Silver Band is committed to compliance with current Fire Safety Law (The Regulatory Reform [Fire Safety] Order 2005) - hereafter referred to as the FSO 2005 - and all other associated Regulations and Guidance to assure the fire safe wellbeing of all relevant persons on its premises and in the immediate vicinity of its premises (who could be affected by fire on the premises).

 

1. Management arrangements for Fire Safety

 

• ‘The Responsible Person’ – In accordance with Articles 3,8-22 of the FSO 2005, the Band will appoint an officer to act as the Responsible Person

• Definition of the Responsible Person is detailed in Article 3 (see Appendix 1)

• Duties and Responsibilities of the Responsible Person are detailed in Articles 8-22 (see Appendix 2).

 

• ‘Fire Safety Manager’ – the Responsible Person may delegate some (or all) of his/her duties to a Fire Safety Manager whom they will appoint subject to committee approval. The Responsible Person may delegate duties but they cannot delegate ‘responsibility’. (For duties that the Responsible Person may delegate to a Fire Safety Manager, see Appendix 3).

 

• Fire Safety Wardens – to assist in the safe and effective evacuation of persons from the premises in an emergency and to assist with other fire safety duties in the absence of both the Responsible Person and the Fire Safety Manager. (For duties of a Fire Warden, see Appendix 4).

 

• All members of the Band should:

• familiarise themselves with the Fire Safety Policy

• partake in any fire safety training and fire evacuation drills

• exercise vigilance to identify fire hazards and report any such hazards immediately to the Responsible Person and/or the Fire Safety Manager and/or take action themselves to reduce or eliminate the hazard.

 

2. Fire Risk Assessment

 

• The Responsible Person’s key duty is to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment which considers the safety in case of fire of ‘relevant persons’.

 

• ‘Relevant persons’ are all persons who may legally be on/in the premises/grounds and those in the immediate vicinity of the premises/grounds who might be affected by a fire on the premises (does not include firefighters carrying out fire and rescue operations).

 

• If the Responsible Person is not competent to carry out fire risk assessments, (s)he should appoint /engage the services of a competent Fire Risk Assessor.

 

• Fire Risk Assessment – the process adopted should be that which mirrors the process contained in PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 79. (For PAS 79 process, see Appendix 5).

 

• The Fire Risk Assessment should be regularly reviewed. Gillingham Band’s Fire Risk Assessment will be reviewed at least annually.

 

• If 5 or more persons work/volunteer on the premises, the Fire Risk Assessment should be a written record. Gillingham Band’s Fire Risk assessment will be a written record.

 

• The Fire Risk Assessment and outcomes requiring controls to eliminate/reduce fire safety hazards must receive specific consideration in respect of young persons under the age of 18 years being on the premises. This will apply to Gillingham Imperial Silver Band in respect of young members playing in the Band who are under the age of 18 years.

 

• The ‘Significant Findings’ of the Fire Risk Assessment should be readily available on the premises (online or in paper form) at all times for the ready reference of a visiting Fire Safety Enforcement Officer. This is a legal requirement.

 

3. Enforcement of the Fire Safety Order 2005

 

• The Fire Safety Order is enforced by the local Fire Authority (Fire and Rescue Service).

 

• The Enforcement Authority may inspect the premises at any time (but unless a complaint or an observation of a serious shortfall in fire safety measures has been received, their visit will be pre-arranged with the Responsible Person.

 

• The Fire Authority has enforcement powers to issue:

• A Cautionary Letter detailing shortfalls in fire safety and dates to remedy and re-inspection by the Fire Authority.

• Alterations Notice - prohibits change to the premises without formal consultations with the Fire Authority (Article 29).

• Enforcement Notice – issued by the Fire Authority when/where they consider there has been a failure to comply with the Fire Safety Order 2005. Specifies the failure and the time allowed to remedy the situation (Article 30).

• Prohibition Notice – used in extreme and urgent cases where the Fire Authority believes the premises are so hazardous to life that there should be restricted access or use or even closure of the building.

 

• Appeals

• The Responsible Person can appeal against enforcement action by the Fire Authority initially to the Magistrates Court and subsequently to the Crown Court, if not satisfied with the outcome from the Magistrates Court.

• Further appeal may be lodged with the Secretary of State in cases where neither the Responsible Person nor the Fire Authority can agree to the measures to be taken to resolve the shortfall(s) of fire safety.

 

4. What does Gillingham Band need to do in order to comply with the Fire Safety Order 2005?

 

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment of their premises, and events and processes which occur on the premises, to uphold effective fire safety for all Relevant Persons and regularly review it

• Significant findings of the Fire Risk Assessment should be acted upon in a timely manner.

 

• Provide a means of raising the alarm in case of fire

 

• Give early warning in case of fire

 

• Provide a suitable means of escape from and out of the building in case of fire

 

• Provide a means of fighting fire

 

• Provide regular fire safety training for all members, supporters and other regular visitors to the Band premises

 

• Maintain all passive and active fire precautions/equipment

 

• Carry out regular Fire Evacuation drills

 

• Ensure that all members of the band, supporters, volunteers and other regular visitors to the Band premises read, understand and support the Fire Safety Policy

 

• Record all tests, checks, training and evacuation drills.

 

5. Property Protection

 

Much of the work carried out to comply with the Fire Safety order 2005 and life safety on/around the premises will transfer over to uphold property protection. To protect the building and contents, Gillingham Band will:

 

• Maintain effective security of the premises to protect against potential criminal action which might include arson attack

 

• Remain vigilant of any anti-social behaviour and/or sign of the same around the premises

 

• Report any evidence of attempted break-in and/or damage to the premises any evidence of arson and anti-social behaviour to the Police Authority and neighbours

 

• Attend immediately to any electrical defects and/or damage to electrical equipment and/or the electrical installation

 

• Ensure at least 10% of Band Members /Supporters/Volunteers are trained in the safe and effective use of portable fire-fighting equipment.

 

 

APPENDIX 1

 

Definition of Responsible Person (Article 3)

 

(a) in relation to a workplace, the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under his control.

 

(b) in relation to any premises not falling within paragraph (a):

(i) the person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by him of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not); or

(ii) the owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking.

 

APPENDIX 2

 

Duties and responsibilities of the Responsible Person (as detailed in Articles 8-22 of the Fire Safety Order 2005).

 

• Take Fire Precautions as necessary for the safety of Relevant Persons on and/or in the vicinity of their premises.

• Undertake a Fire Risk Assessment

• Make arrangements for the planning, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures

• Ensure premises are equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment, fire detection and alarms and suitable signage (in accordance with the Health and Safety, Safety signs and Signals Regulations 1996)

• Ensure that routes to emergency exits and the exits themselves are kept clear and easily accessible

• Establish procedures and fire safety drills

• Ensure no Relevant Person has access to any area, procedure or system unless any necessary fire instruction has been given

• Ensure all fire safety equipment (active) and structural fire precautions (passive) are maintained in an effective condition and working order as appropriate

• Appoint at least one fire safety competent person to assist in undertaking fire safety preventive and protective measures

• Provide information and training to Relevant Persons

• Co-operate and co-ordinate with other Responsible Persons whose premises/events/activities are connected to and/or may impact upon their premises

 

APPENDIX 3

 

Duties that the Responsible Person may delegate to a Fire Safety Manager

 

• Testing of fire safety equipment systems

• Covering both in-house testing and external contractor/engineer testing as necessary

• Ensure that electrical testing is carried out by a qualified electrical contractor ( 5 yearly tests of the electrical installation and portable Appliance Testing in accordance with approved Codes of Practice)

• Ensure that Gas Safety Tests are carried out by an approved Gas Engineer (annually)

• Arrange Fire Evacuation drills (at least annually)

• Arrange fire safety training (all tiers)

• Arrange reviews of the Fire Risk Assessment

• Regular Fire Safety Walks of the premises (at least monthly).

 

 

APPENDIX 4

 

Duties of a Fire Warden

 

• Carry out Fire Safety Walks of their appointed area/zone within the premises (whole premises if the premises are small) (at least monthly)

• Record and address as necessary the outcomes of the Fire Safety Walks

• Be watchful of and report and address any observed fire hazards whilst on/around the premises

• Assist persons to evacuate the premises at times of an emergency and report to the Assembly Point

• Carry out a sweep of the premises during an emergency evacuation to check if the premises are clear of occupants (if safe to do so).

 

 

APPENDIX 5

 

Fire Risk Assessment process – in accordance with Publicly Available Specification 79 (PAS 79)

 

• Obtain information on the building and processes carried out in/around the premises

• Identify fire hazards and any means in place to eliminate or control them

• Assess likelihood of a fire

• Determine fire protection measures in the premises

• Obtain relevant information regarding fire safety management

• Make assessments of the likely consequences to people in the event of fire

• Make an assessment of the fire risk

• Formulate and document an Action Plan

• Define the date by which the Fire Risk Assessment should be reviewed.

 

MEA-FSP-GISB-Version1 31/08/2018