Fire alarm checks

[holly123]

Hi
How often should fire alarm checks be done and register taken and also what's the procedure on suspicious substance, thanks

[Mobey]

Hi
How often should fire alarm checks be done and register taken and also what's the procedure on suspicious substance, thanks

Surely the procedure for suspicious items, step back a good distance and tell a manager. If one can't be found, phone the fire service and police making sure not to phone near the device.

[fatboypaul]

I've had one evacuation practice and heard the alarm twice in 20 years

[yellowbelly]

Hi
How often should fire alarm checks be done and register taken and also what's the procedure on suspicious substance, thanks

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, para 17 just states "....any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect
of the premises under this Order........are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient
working order and in good repair. "

and doesn't give a particular time scale. However, if in the event of a fire inspection or a live incident and the fire alarm was found
to be not faulty/not working and the DOM's idea of a regular check was once a year, I wouldn't want to be in his/her shoes. In a previous job
the fire alarm checks were done monthly and we had a practice evacuation twice a year.

[Celgar]

We seem to do the fire drill regularly although I don't keep a check of when precisely and time goes so fast. I would guess we do one once every two or three months . It might be more regular than that though .March outside to the other side of the road and do the register.
.

[yubin282]

we had one last week, the DOM locked the fire door though

[Lounge Lizard]

We don't have a fire alarm but there is a fire extinguisher.

[ninja]

It's a weekly task and emergency lighting once a month. These test should be recorded in the fire folder. The dom confirms each month that these activities are bring completed and forms part of the SHE tasks.

[ninja]

It's a weekly task and emergency lighting once a month. These test should be recorded in the fire folder. The dom confirms each month that these activities are bring completed and forms part of the SHE tasks.

[holly123]

Cheers for reply, just shows tho that there's no cross the board regulation being done, another management flaw

[toomuchcoke]

Hi
How often should fire alarm checks be done and register taken and also what's the procedure on suspicious substance, thanks

https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safet ... d-training" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"You need to train new staff when they start work and tell all employees about any new fire risks. You should carry out at least one fire drill per year and record the results. You must keep the results as part of your fire safety and evacuation plan."

... however in the past 7 or so years, I think I could count in the thumbs of both hands how many fire drills we've had! Of course it might just be that they've always managed to hold fire drills either on my days off, when I was away on annual leave or ill? One of the sets of managers we've had (there's been so many, I've lost count!) whilst I've been there made some people fire wardens who would have the responsibility for checking that the building was evacuated ... However there was no provision made for them being on their days off, on annual leave or ill so if you're in the toilets when the alarm goes off there might not be anyone coming to check!

[POSTMAN]

Managers and all ‘persons in charge’ (PICs) are asked to carry out daily fire checks of buildings, paying particular attention to ensure:
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... =1&t=64008" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dee Plish]

Managers and all ‘persons in charge’ (PICs) are asked to carry out daily fire checks of buildings, paying particular attention to ensure:
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... =1&t=64008" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All good stuff. Back in the real world......

I recall a situation where a faulty fire alarm set off ringing during a night shift i was on as a CSS operator (no manager or trained supervisor on the premises). Had to get on to ROMEC to see what to do. They gave instructions as to how to turn the alarms off. This I did and the shift continued. 4 people + occasionally visiting drivers were there. The amusingly named "operations manager" turned up for the early shift. I informed said manager as to events and made it very clear the building was now operating with nigh on 200 people inside , a lot of paper and NO fire protection system in place. "Your call mate" says I - "What are you going to do to ensure your staff are safe ? "
The early shift carried on, with the union H&S rep being appraised of the situation, without incident.
They played the percentages and won.

[CPTNemoUK]

We actually had a fire drill last year. That's the only one I've seen in the 4 half years I've been here.

[fishtank]

A fire alarm test and a fire evacuation drill are two separate things, the fire alarm system should be tested at least once a week but it makes no sense setting the thing off when we're in the building so it's usually done after we've gone which is why we don't think it's getting done.

Fire evacuation drills don't have a specific interval but I think the business policy is once a year.