Key points plan and execute your emergency procedures

Essential Points that will help you to Plan and Execute Your Fire Emergency Procedures
The level of danger to people if fire does break out depends on many different factors. It is not possible to construct a model procedure for action in the event of fire that would be suitable for all premises. However, the following list shows the points that should normally be covered. This emergency plan can be adapted accordingly to suit different premises or risks.

• Action on discovering a fire. All employees should be familiar with the procedures to be followed if they discover a fire. The emergency plan should cover how the alarm is raised and the subsequent actions, e.g. leaving the building, reporting the fire to another person, etc. Minimise any delays in responding.

• Calling the fire service. The duty of informing the fire and rescue service immediately an alarm is sounded must be specifically allocated to a designated person or people. This is the case even if the automatic alarm system is linked to an alarm receiving centre.

• Detecting fires and warning occupiers. The plan should detail the means of detecting fires where installed (e.g. the use of automatic fire detection systems). The plan should identify how occupiers are to be warned of a fire in the premises. This can range from staff members simply shouting “fire” to fully automated systems using sounders, voice alarms and visual signals.

• Stopping of machinery, isolation of power supplies. These tasks should be carried out by previously designated people to ensure the safety of all those concerned.

• Evacuating premises. Everyone must be able to escape from danger. Employees who do not have specific designated duties should start to leave the building as soon as the alarm sounds, unless instructions have been given to the contrary (e.g. as may be the case if phased evacuation is employed). Everyone should leave in a calm, orderly manner, by the most direct route avoiding the use of lifts. Their evacuation should not be delayed by stopping to collect belongings. Depending on the circumstances of the building, fire marshals may have been nominated to ensure each area is evacuated.

• Means of escape. The plan should identify the means of escape that are to be utilised, for example horizontal/vertical evacuation, evacuation lifts and equipment and procedures to be used to assist vulnerable occupiers. All escape routes should be clearly marked.

• Assembly points. An assembly point should be pre-determined and everyone made aware of its location. These points should be in a safe place, preferably under cover. They should be a sufficient distance from the premises but should not create unreasonable risks (e.g. crossing of main road).

• Roll call. One person in each department or area of the building should have the duty of maintaining a roll call so that a quick check of employees in that area can be made. The fire service should be informed on arrival if anyone is not accounted for. However, in circumstances where it is not possible to clarify the whereabouts of staff during the working day (e.g. if staff are constantly exiting and returning to the premises), a roll-call system may be ineffective. Any emergency arrangements should take this fact into account.

• Liaison with fire and rescue service. The emergency plan should detail who will be responsible for liaising with the fire and rescue service. It may be necessary to provide the fire service with additional information about the premises. This could include the location of hazardous substances, utilities shut-offs, location of fireman switches, etc.

• Fire-fighting. The plan should identify what means of fire-fighting are utilised including any portable and fixed systems. The risk assessment should be identifying whether staff members are to be trained in the use of fire-fighting equipment and how many. It must be stressed that if there is any doubt about their ability to extinguish the fire safely, it should not be tackled but left for the fire service to deal with.

• Responsibilities in the event of fire. In workplaces employing large numbers of employees, it may be appropriate to nominate certain employees to carry out specific tasks in the event of fire. For example, these tasks might include:
– acting as floor marshals, ensuring that the floor is completely evacuated during a fire evacuation and reporting this fact to a previously established control point
– ensuring that security of the building is maintained
– ensuring that disabled people receive any assistance required.

• Those requiring assistance. Depending on the type of building and its occupancy profile there could be occasions when occupiers require assistance i.e a physical disability or other vulnerability. The plan should detail how such persons are to be identified and what actions are to be taken to assist such persons in the event of the need to evacuate the building.

• Information and training. For an efficient fire routine, it is essential that every person has received adequate instructions and fully understands them. Instruction must leave no room for doubt as to the action to be taken. It should be as brief as practicable and expressed clearly in simple language. Those with specific roles and responsibilities should also be provided with adequate information, instruction and training.

• False alarms. Where the evacuation has been caused by a false alarm the occupier should ensure there are procedures for re-setting any systems such as automatic fire detection and alarm systems. They should also investigate the cause of the false alarm and take the necessary remedial action to prevent recurrence.