Sources of Fuel: Anything that burns can be considered to be a source of fuel. Sources could include the storage or use of flammable liquids and chemicals, combustible materials such as wood or paper. Sources of Oxygen: This can be found in natural and forced ventilation and also in oxidising agents which can be found in cylinders and piped systems.
Step 2: identification of people at risk and how they can be harmed If there is a fire, the main priority is to ensure that everyone reaches a place of safety quickly. Putting the fire out is secondary to this because the greatest danger from fire in a workplace is the spread of the fire, heat, and smoke. If a workplace does not have adequate means of detecting and giving warning or means of escape, a fire can trap people and they may be overcome by the heat, smoke, and other toxic fumes before they can evacuate. As part of your assessment, you need to identify who may be at risk if there is a fire, where they are, how well they know the building or area, how they will be warned and how they will escape. Depending on the workplace, be it a shop, office or factory, there will be several different types of occupant groups all of whom exposed to the same hazard, but because of their different roles may present differing levels of risk or combination of risk. Employees can be found in several different places performing different tasks. They should be considered along with their working methods that may put them at a greater risk than others. Maintenance staff may be working on their own in positions not near the 'normal' work area and be some distance away from the final points of exit. Contractors and visitors or members of the public bring the added risk of perhaps not fully knowing the exit routes or recognising escape notifications. Arrangements for escorting should help alleviate such problems. Contractors may also increase the risk of fire by bringing or working with flammable materials and substances. In this type of circumstance, permits to work should be issued as part of fire procedural or risk assessment controls. Careful thought should also be given to cleaning staff as they operate out of normal office hours & usually at night or early morning. If doors or exits are locked to prevent illegal entry it should be ensured that cleaners have sufficient options available to them should they need to escape. Young people must be taken into particular account in a risk assessment.
©SHEilds – All rights reserved FCV 3 JUN 2021
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