The management of fire risks is a fundamental responsibility for every employer.

For many
employers it is possibly their primary occupational safety and health requirement. A serious fire could
destroy a business, but it could also result in the deaths of many innocent people. Effective fire
management is a staged process. The stages are logical and small steps can effectively reduce the risks.
Close cooperation between workers, employers and the government is essential for successful prevention
and control of fire at the workplace.
Some preventive measures were identified in cases of fire with the following steps, namely:
Step 1 Identify any fire hazards in the workplace
-identify all areas which have the potential to contribute to a fire.
 Ignition sources – electrical, cooking, smoking, hot surfaces, arson, naked flames,
or any combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, trash & other ordinary
materials.
 Fuel sources – flammable solids, liquids & gases
 Oxygen sources – Present in the air, but also from oxidizing agents/chemical
products, etc.
Step 2 Identify who could be harmed in cases of fire
Consider: Workers, Customers, Visitors, Contractors
Pay attention to people at risk such as:
1. Disabled
2. Elderly
3. Lone workers
4. Working out of normal hours
5. People in isolated areas.

Step 3 evaluate, remove, and protect from fire (mitigation plan)

Considering the measures needed to prevent fire such as:
 Evaluating the likelihood of a fire occurring
 Evaluating the risk to people from a fire starting somewhere in the building
 Removing or reducing the hazards that may cause a fire
 Removing or reducing the risk to people from a fire

Measures within the premises to protect the workplace from fire.

 Fire detection and warning systems
 Means of escape (escape routes, fire resistance, fire doors, etc)
 Fire fighting equipment
 Signs and notices
 Lighting (normal and emergency)
 Staff training
 Maintenance
 Step 4 record, plan, instruct, inform & train (contingency plan)
“Action to be taken in an emergency”
The information and instruction includes the following:
 Significant findings of the risk assessment
 Measures in place to reduce fire
 Action to take in the event of a fire
 Identity of people nominated with fire safety responsibilities (fire department)
 Any special arrangements for serious imminent danger
Staff Training:
 Action on discovering a fire
 How to raise the alarm
 Action on hearing fire alarm
 Procedure for alerting members of the public/visitors
 Evacuation procedure to reach the assembly point
 Location and, when appropriate, use of fire fighting equipment
 Importance of closing fire doors
 Isolation of machinery
 Information on specific hazards in your premises
 training in the use of fire extinguishers

Step 5 review and revise assessment (monitoring plan)

Review and apply all possible measures/techniques to manage the risks of fire in the workplace.

Management of the fire risk

The numbers of employees and visitors within the building must be known to the Fire Department
or their appointed Fire Marshal. The employees, contractors and visitors must be instructed in the
evacuation procedure. This procedure must include the requirement to avoid the use of elevators and to
close the fire doors on exit. When the persons have evacuated the building, the Fire Manager must be
confident that all persons can be accounted for. The evacuated persons must remain in a safe location
until the Fire Manager has accounted for them and under no circumstances must they be allowed to re-
enter the building. Any vehicles with flammable liquids, or gas bottles, must be moved to a safe distance
from the building. Approach routes must be cleared to allow the Emergency Services easy access to the
site.