You can reduce the potential source of oxygen supply to a fire by:

closing all doors, windows and other openings not required for ventilation, particularly out of working hours;

shutting down ventilation systems which are not essential to the function of the workplace;

not storing oxidising materials near or with any heat source or flammable materials; and

controlling the use and storage of oxygen cylinders, ensuring that they are not leaking, are not used to 'sweeten' the atmosphere, and that where they are located is adequately ventilated.

You need to have an effective means of detecting any outbreak of fire and for warning people in your workplace quickly enough so that they can escape to a safe place before the fire is likely to make escape routes unusable.

In small workplaces where a fire is unlikely to cut off the means of escape, eg open-air areas and single-storey buildings where all exits are visible and the distances to be travelled are small, it is likely that any fire will be quickly detected by the people present and a shout of 'Fire!' may be all that is needed.

In larger premises, particularly multi-storey premises, an electrical fire warning system with manually operated call points is likely to be the minimum needed. In unoccupied areas, where a fire could start and develop to the extent that escape routes may become affected before it is discovered, it is likely that a form of automatic fire detection will also be necessary.

In some cases where a fire certificate or licence is in force, the existing arrangements may be satisfactory (see 'Before you start your risk assessment' in Part 1).

Checklist

Can the existing means of detection discover a fire quickly enough to raise an alarm in time for all the occupants to escape to a safe place?

Can the means for giving warning be clearly heard and understood throughout the whole premises when initiated from any single point?

If the fire detection and warning system is electrically powered, does it have a back-up power supply?

Have you told your employees about your fire warning system, will they know how to operate it and respond to it?

Are there instructions for your employees on how to operate the fire warning system and what action they should take on hearing a warning?

Have you included the fire detection and fire warning arrangements in your emergency plan? (See Step 4.)

If you are not sure about your current arrangements you should refer to the further guidance in 'Fire detection and warning' in Part 3.

Once a fire has been detected and a warning given, everyone in your workplace should be able to evacuate without being placed at undue risk.

In buildings, most deaths from fire are due to the inhalation of smoke. Also, where smoke is present, people are often unwilling to travel more than a few metres through it to make their escape. It is therefore important to make sure that, in the event of a fire in one part, people in other parts of the building can use escape routes to get out safely without being exposed to the smoke or gases from the fire.

When assessing the means of escape from your workplace, you should ask yourself whether people could escape to a place of safety before being cut off and exposed to risk of injury.

In small, single-storey premises, where travel distances are short, the time taken for people to escape once they are aware of the fire can often be measured in seconds rather than minutes. So it is likely that the normal exits will be sufficient in an emergency. In larger premises, where travel distances are greater and where it is possible for a single route to be affected, an alternative means of escape will normally be necessary.

In most cases where the means of escape has recently been approved under building legislation, a fire certificate or a licence, the existing arrangements will probably be satisfactory. If your risk assessment suggests that change may be necessary, you should check what you propose with the fire authority.

Checklist

How long will it take for all the occupants to escape to a place of safety once a fire has been detected?

Is that a reasonable length of time or will it take too long?

Are there enough exits and are they in the right place?

Are the type and size of exits suitable and sufficient for the number of people likely to need to use them (eg wide enough for wheelchair users)?

In the event of fire, could all available exits be affected or will at least one route from any part of the premises remain available?

Are all escape routes easily identifiable, free from any obstructions and adequately illuminated?

Have you trained your staff in using the means of escape?

Are there instructions about the means of escape for your employees?

Have you included your means of escape arrangements in your emergency plan? (See Step 4.)

If you are not sure about your current arrangements, you should refer to the further guidance in 'Means of escape in case of fire' in Part 3.

Keep both sides of emergency exits free from obstruction

You need to have enough fire-fighting equipment in place for your employees to use, without exposing themselves to danger, to extinguish a fire in its early stages. The equipment must be suitable to the risks and appropriate staff will need training and instruction in its proper use. In small premises, having one or two portable extinguishers in an obvious location may be all that is required.

In larger or more complex premises, a greater number of portable extinguishers, strategically sited throughout the premises, are likely to be the minimum required. Other means of fighting fire may need to be considered and details of these are given in 'Fire-fighting equipment' in Part 3.

In premises where a fire certificate or a licence is in force, it is likely that the existing arrangements will be satisfactory.

Checklist

Are the extinguishers suitable for the purpose and of sufficient capacity?

Are there sufficient extinguishers sited throughout the workplace?

Are the right types of extinguishers located close to the fire hazards and can users gain access to them without exposing themselves to risk?

Are the locations of the extinguishers obvious or does their position need indicating?

Have the people likely to use the fire extinguishers been given adequate instruction and training?

Have you included use of fire-fighting equipment in your emergency plan? (See Step 4.)

If you are not sure about your current arrangements, see the further guidance in 'Fire-fighting equipment' in Part 3.

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