Fire risk assessment is a process that measures the vulnerability of a building or other structure to a fire. It is used to identify any potential hazards and the likelihood of them occurring. The aim of fire risk assessment is to identify and assess all the risks that may lead to fires, such as faulty wiring, gas leaks, or faulty appliances. A fire risk assessment should be conducted by an expert in this field who has knowledge about different types of buildings and their vulnerabilities.
Fire risk assessment in London helps to identify potential fire hazards and evaluate their risk levels.
The key steps in fire risk assessment are:
- Identify hazards and their level of severity.
- Estimate the consequences of a fire.
- Assess the likelihood of a fire occurring.
- Evaluate the vulnerability of buildings to fire.
- Evaluate the ability to control fires should they occur.
- Assess what can be done to reduce risks and vulnerabilities from fires, such as evacuation plans or building modifications.
Fire risk assessment is an important tool in fire prevention. It helps to identify potential fire hazards and to measure the effectiveness of existing fire protection systems.
How to conduct a fire risk assessment
1.Start with a fire audit
An existing structure is subject to fire safety audits. It could be an office building or a manufacturing facility, or even a warehouse. Safety inspectors inspect the current standards of fire safety in the building. They review all documentation. This audit identifies all areas of non-compliance and imposes reformatory measures.
An audit of a fire can be done in many circumstances, including:
- In the event of a fire,
- If safety standards are being violated,
- Regular follow-up audit
2. Identify potential fire-causes
Unpredictability is the worst part of a fire hazard. To avoid fire-related disasters, it is essential to first identify the source of the fire and then to extinguish them.
Fire hazards at work are caused by the following:
- Smoking - Unwanted cigarette bits can lead to a fire hazard. To prevent accidental fires, it is important to designate smoking and no-smoking zones around your premises.
- Combustible materials: Improperly stored material that is combustible by nature could pose a fire hazard. You must ensure that such materials are kept away from fire sources.
- Material to be thrown away - This includes cardboard, wooden pallets and oil-soaked rags that can quickly spread fire. It is important to seperate the waste storage area from any potential sources of flame.
- Faulty wiring and electrical equipment can set off a fire. An extinguisher with carbon dioxide is required for electrical fires.
- Arson - Although it may sound absurd, arson can be a serious offense. This possibility should be considered when assessing the fire risk.
This step is important because it can have huge repercussions.
43 people died in the fire that engulfed a Delhi luggage factory on December 8, 2019. According to eyewitnesses and initial investigations, the cause of the fire was an electric short circuit. The building did not have a valid fire license, and it was not allowed to house a factory. According to reports, the facility stored combustible material. This story is detailed.
3. Identify the fuel sources
After you have identified potential ignition points, the next area to be assessed is the source of the fuel. Fire spreads quickly depending on what fuel it is fed.
There may be flammable gases or fluids in a chemical plant that could catch fire if they come into contact with an ignition. Some gases can catch fire when they reach a certain temperature. Regular maintenance will keep pipelines in good condition and help detect any potential leaks.
Safety in the event of fire is a top priority for any manufacturing plant where heat and fire are integral parts of their operations. One example is welding. It is important to ensure no clean cloths or rags around, as sparks from welding could ignite them.
Heat-emitting machines should have adequate ventilation to allow heat dissipation. Also, flammable materials such as wood, paper, rubber, plastic, rubber and plastic should be kept away from possible sources.
Oils and lubricants must be kept out of reach from machines and in sealed drums. It is important to keep electrical grids away from any facility that could cause a fire.
4. Identify the oxygen sources
Three main contributors are required for any fire to erupt.
- Source of ignition
- Combustible elements
- Source of oxygen
The risk of fire spreading can be significantly reduced if we remove even one of these three. In some cases, it can even be eliminated.
Carbon Dioxide extinguishers can be used to stop fires from spreading due to oxygen. These extinguishers remove oxygen from the area, so that the fire does not have fuel to burn.
To ensure that oxygen cylinders do not cause fire hazards, they must be kept far away. A blast occurred at an oxygen refilling station in Lucknow, resulting in 2 deaths. Five people sustained injuries from the blast-caused fire. These incidents serve as reminders to take safety SOPs and fire guidelines very seriously.
Need some help with WHS training to support your remote and isolated workers?
There are some factors to consider when assessing the risks to health and safety of working alone.
Some solutions will be for the hazards and risks of the job and others will be related to working alone.
Read here for more details - https://www.sentrient.com.au/blog/working-alone-risk-assessment-checklist
