PAPERmaking! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY Volume 7, Number 2, 2021
Placement Signs should be placed frequently and visibly. If a visitor is wandering around any part of your site they should never be too far from a sign pointing them towards the nearest emergency exit, alarm and/or extinguisher, making sure that any junctions or changes of direction are clearly marked. Don’t put your sign in an obscure place like behind a piece of machinery, make sure they are clearly and easily visible (not too high, not too low) and ideally can be read in low or no light environments (dark corridors, power cuts etc) — so look for luminous signs or models with independent emergency lighting. Emergency and safety signs should be kept separate from other signs and notices — placing them on a notice board that is full of other posters, pictures and information can cause them to be significantly harder to see as they are lost in the crowd. As a guide, signs placed on walls should be 1.7 metres from the floor so that they are both conspicuous and easy to read. You’ll also want to make sure that your signs are of a good quality. Signs that fade, curl or fall down are going to need replacing to ensure that they are still both useful and compliant with the law. Make sure to conduct regular maintenance as well, ensuring that the sign is clean and legible. Lastly, make sure that any changes to the site, whether temporary or permanent, are reflected in your use of signs — arrows pointing to a door that is jammed or blocked could prove to be disastrous. Legal responsibilities The laws regarding fire safety are far ranging and can seem quite daunting. At the core of them all, though, is good health and safety practice — both in reducing the likelihood of a fire and how to deal with one if it breaks out. ● Evacuation routes must be readily available to anyone on site, and must be easy to understand. ● Fire response equipment like alarms and extinguishers must be easy to find, access and use. ● First aid equipment must be similarly easy to find, access and use. ● Fire safety instructions also have to be displayed and understood by anyone on site. ● Behavioural signs like ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ must be used to reduce risks and possible escalations in the event of an emergency. The key law to be familiar with is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, 2005 (available on the UK Government website). Non-compliance can result in criminal proceedings against directors, safety managers and proprietors. Punishments include fines and up to two years’ imprisonment. In the e vent of a fatality, charges can include manslaughter or murder. No Smoking signs are mandated under the Health Act 2006 Part 1 and Smoke Free Signs Regulation 2012. Regulations covering the quality, design and content of the signs themselves are now grouped under BS ISO EN 7010:2011 — Graphical symbols, safety colours and safety signs, registered safety signs. This regulation supersedes and incorporates the previous standard BS 5499, relating to safety signage. Make sure that you have reviewed these general laws as well as any site, location, industry or equipment- related specific laws before you conduct your fire safety review. Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk
Article 10 – Fire Safety
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