FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE PROTECTION POLICY

1. Introduction.  Fire destroys property and life. It is therefore essential that a policy is laid down so that ISSL properties and personnel are safe from fire hazards. The main objective of this document is to provide guidance on standard of fire safety management and fire protection which are required in all ISSL installations.


2. Risk Assessment.  For all installations a risk assessment is required to be conducted, the results of which should determine the nature and extent of fire prevention measures which should be employed. This is a fundamental principle on which fire safety standards and risk protection should be governed. The assessment will identify all fire risks and fire hazards in the work place and ensure compliance with all of the following:
   1. Risk of fire occurring is reduced to the minimum
   2. Risk of fire spreading is minimized
   3. Every one at the work place is able to reach a place of safety.


3. Risk Assessment.  Risk will be categorised into following:
   1. High Risk. High Risk areas include:
      
      1. Sleeping Accommodation, if any
      2. Materials present which are easily ignited and cause rapid spread of fire, smoke and fumes.
      3. High risk processes such as those involving use of naked flame, excessive heat or highly inflamable liquids.
      4. Presence of unsatisfactory structural features like lack of fire resisting separation or presence of combustible linings.
      5. Presence of member of the public, large number of people in a small area, elderly/disabled persons and individuals/groups located in a isolated part of a building e.g. basement.
   
   
   2. Normal Risk.   The majority of the workplace will fall within this category. These will include buildings of traditional construction with no undesirable structure features, together with workplaces where the use of the building as well as its contents are unlikely to present a serious hazard to the occupants in the event of fire. Following are the circumstances when risk is to be considered as normal:
      
      1. Any outbreak is likely to remain localized or is likely to spread slowly.
      2. There is little risk of any part of the structure or contents of the building take fire so readily, or producing large quantities of smoke or fumes as to be a life safety threat.
   
   
   3. Low Risk.  A workplace or premise is considered to be Low Risk where the risk of fire occurring or of fire, smoke or fumes spreading is negligible. These will involve wet producing processes or areas such as heavy engineering workshop where noncombustible materials predominate and where risk to life is minimum.
4. Protection.   The higher asset values and the more importance an area has to the business, the greater degree of fire protection is required. Asset values can be obtained from the management. For business risk assessment following are the categories:
   1. High Exposure.   Essential to the business. Loss or damage of the facility would result in significant disruption. Alternative arrangement will take some time (more than one week).
   2. Medium Exposure. Necessary for the business. Loss or damage of the facility would disrupt the business but alternative arrangement could be made readily available quickly (less than a week).
   3. Low Exposure.   Peripheral to the business. Loss or damage of the facility would result in some disruption but alternative arrangements could be made quickly (2 days).
5. Extent of Protection Required. Once the correct assessment of the risk to assets and business have been made, it is necessary to decide the extent of fire protection required. Following principles to be adapted:
   1. High Exposure.
      1. Fire resisting construction and fire compartmentation
      2. Automatic fire fighting system (sprinkler)
      3. Automatic fire detection
      4. Fire Hydrants
      5. Fire Extinguisher and hose reels.
   
   
   2. Medium Exposure.
      1. Non combustible construction and fire compartmentation
      2. Automatic fire detection and sprinklers
      3. Fire Extinguisher and hose reels
      4. Fire Hydrants
   
   
   3. Low Exposure.
      1. Non Combustible Construction
      2. Fire Extinguisher
6. Risk Reduction. Typical risk reduction measures are:
   1. Provision of a fire detection system
   2. The installation of sprinklers
   3. Improvement of fire compartmentation
   4. Elimination of highly flammable liquids
   5. Improvement of risk control and house keeping procedures
   6. Enhanced fire protection arrangement
7. Fire Evacuation and Fire Fighting. All personnel working in a office or living in a premise are required to be conversant with the Emergency Evacuation Procedures given in the subsequent paragraphs, so that everyone knows how to deal with an emergency in case of a fire.
   1. Actions to be Taken on Detecting a Fire.
      1. Activate fire alarm (if available) or raise a alarm by other means e.g. whistle, shouting “fire”, “fire”.
      2. Inform security personnel on duty
      3. Move to designated assembly area
      4. Contain the fire using the appropriate fire fighting equipment, if trained. If not seek assistance.
      5. Call fire brigade for help.
      6. Call police for help.
      7. (7) Action on activation of fire alarm/fire bell.
         1. Do not panic
         2. Inform security Personnel
         3. Investigate the cause. On confirmation of a fire, take action as given above.
   2. Evacuation. As soon as the occupants are notified that evacuation drill has been initiated, following actions to be taken:
      1. Work in all departments will cease immediately and following will be switched off:
         1. Machines
         2. All motors
         3. Fans and Lights
         4. Computer, electrical type writers
         5. A/C units
         6. All other electrical appliances
      2. All windows and doors except the fire exit doors, will be closed
      3. Security Manager/Shift Incharge will immediately take charge of the situation
      4. All employees and visitors excepting fire warden/fire teams will proceed to respective assembly area in an orderly manner and await further instructions.
      5. Carry very important official documents which evacuating
      6. All visitors in the gate will be advised to leave the premises immediately, those inside will be advised to move to the assembly area for the employees
      7. Fire warden and fire teams will stand by at their respective fire points and carryout their tasks.
8. Fire Warden/Fire Fighting Team. Each location must have designated Fire Warden and Fire Teams to ensure orderly evacuation and fight fire. Duties are as under:
   1. Fire Warden. On hearing a fire alarm or detecting any fire, fire warden will:
      1. Facilitate the occupants of the floor/building to evacuate through Fire exit or Normal Door, whichever is not engulfed with fire, safely in the quickest possible time to assemble in the designated fire assembly point.
      2. Ensure that everyone has left the floor/office, check toilets, conference/meeting rooms, enclosures and strong room systematically if somebody is entrapped there.
      3. Switch off the electric mains for the floor.
      4. Close the door behind you, as you will be last person to vacate the place.
      5. Call for internal fire fighting team and fire brigade.
      6. Count heads in the assembly point to account for all personnel.
   2. Fire Fighting Teams.
      1. On hearing fire alarm rush to the fire points and collect the fire fighting equipment.
      2. Under the instruction of the fire warden, rush to the place of fire and start extinguishing the fire.
      3. Evacuate anyone who is trapped inside.
      4. On arrival of the fire brigade guide the fire brigade personnel
      5. Report to fire warden as and when the fire is under control.
      6. Return to the fire point and replace equipments at the respective fire points.
9. Documentation. Following record will be made in the fire register by the Fire Warden:
   1. Time of discovering the fire
   2. Person who first noticed the fire
   3. Time when fire brigade was informed
   4. Time when fire brigade arrived
   5. Time when fire was extinguished
   6. Extent of damage
   7. Any other information felt necessary
10. Investigation. An immediate investigation is to be launched to ascertain the following:
    1. How the fire originated.
    2. Extent of damage including total fatalities and injuries.
    3. Steps necessary to prevent a repetition.
11. Fire Points. All ISSL Installations will have required number of fire points, each having the following:
    1. Sand filled Bucket (2)
    2. Water Bucket (2)
    3. Fire Pick (1)
    4. Beater (1)
    5. Hook (1)
    6. Hose Pipe (1)
12. Fire Extinguishers. Required Fire extinguishers will be placed and should be easily visible.


13. Inspection. Fire warden is responsible to carryout weekly inspection of fire points and extinguishers to ensure that all equipment are in working condition and maintain a register.


14. Fire Drill. Fire drill is to be conducted on a regular basis to include evacuation and fighting of mock fire. GM and Branch Managers are responsible to organize fire drills to ensure that all personnel are conversant with the actions to be taken in case of fire.


15. Conclusion. It is important that all security personnel are clear about their role in preventing fire and to fight it, if required. During training due emphasis must be given to this aspect.