Fire Orders

FIRE ORDERS, MANOR ROAD BUILDING  

INTRODUCTION

  1. Fire destroys property, kills, maims and burns people, so it is the duty of all staff to be conversant wand comply with these orders.

 

GENERAL

Good housekeeping, cleanliness and tidiness are the essence of fire prevention.  It is every individual’s responsibility to maintain the highest standards.

Fire orders and “ACTION ON DISCOVERY OF A FIRE” must be displayed at all fire points and offices/stores.

RESPONSIBITIES

The Building Facilities Manager is the Building Fire Officer and is responsible to the Chairman of The Manor Road building management Panel for all aspects concerning fire prevention.

Each Department Head is to nominate Department Fire Marshals who are responsible for:

    1. Ensuring department fire points are correctly maintained.
    2. Ensuring fire hazard checks are carried out in departments at the end of the working day.
    3. Assisting the Building Fire Officer during emergency calls and alarm drills.
    4. Accounting for personnel during emergency alerts.
    5. Ensuring all possible fire prevention measures are taken within their department area.
    6. Evacuating their department during alerts.

All Department staff must know the whereabouts of any disabled person who is using their facilities and the department plan for their safe evacuation.

 

SMOKING DISCIPLINE

Smoking and the careless disposal of cigarette ends are the most common causes of fires, therefore, smoking and naked flames are prohibited in ALL areas of the Manor Road Building.

Work areas are to have a place set aside for smokers.  This area is outside the main entrance to the Manor Road Building.  A cigarette disposal bin has been provided for the safe disposal of cigarettes.

 

FIRE HAZARD CHECK

The fire Marshals, deputies or nominated persons are to ensure that all accommodation, stores, and offices are checked for the following at the end of the working day:

  1. All appliances are switched off (less computer or photocopying equipment) and unplugged.
  2. All waste bins are checked.
  3. All doors and windows are closed to prevent the spread of a fire.

 

ELECTRICAL

  1. All electrical appliances are to have UK, nationally accepted; and recognised plugs fitted when in use.
  2. No radiation type heaters are to be used.
  3. University Staff are to be discouraged from bringing personal electrical items into the work place.
  4. All electrical items are to be checked and tested before being plugged into the University Electrical System.  Users are to check cables and wires for faults on a regular basis.
  5. Power sockets are not to be overloaded.  The use of extension leads are to be discouraged and the use of multi plug adaptors banned.

 

FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES

The following is a list of general, commonsense measures, which will aid in the prevention of fire:

  1. Keep fire points and escape routes free from obstructions.
  2. Read and understand the “Action in the event of a Fire”.
  3. Keep offices, stores, work places clean and tidy.
  4. Ensure cigarettes are extinguished fully and disposed of safely in the bins provided at the designated smoking areas.
  5. DO NOT SMOKE anywhere in the building.
  6. Put waste flammable rags in bins with lids.
  7. Do not use heaters.
  8. Keep lids on flammable liquids.
  9. SWITCH OFF electrical appliances, especially fans and desk lights, when not in use.
  10. Carry out user checks on electrical equipment.  Report faults.

Read Orders for Action in the Event of a Fire at Appendix 1.

Heads of Departments should ensure that these orders are made known to all staff within the Manor Road Building.

The general risk assessment for Fire is at appendix 2.

Due to a change in the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service operating policy, there will be no automatic attendance to fire alarm calls made by the University Monitoring System.  See Safety Office memo M39/02 for details.  Therefore, departments must try to make sure that during the hours of 9am to 6pm (normal opening and closing hours) at least one responsible person is in the department to respond to emergencies and that they are conversant with the Building and Department Fire Instructions.  The instructions for responding to an alarm occurring during out of hours is at appendix 3.