General Statement

Ashbourne College recognises that the management of fire safety matters at work is integral to the success and prosperity of its business activities, and that it has a duty to protect and promote the safety of its employees, children in their care, visitors to its premises and any other person who may be affected by the conduct of the Schools’ business. The College’s policy is to minimise the risk to life and to reduce injury by responding calmly and effectively in the event that fire breaks out in one of the College buildings. This policy applies throughout both of the College’s premises.

The Fire Safety Policy is to:

Provide a safe working environment and working practices for its employees and children in their care.

Ensure that its activities are conducted on safe premises.

Identify fire hazards and assess, reduce and control risks.

Provide appropriate information, training and resources to enable employees to carry out their duties in a manner, which prevents harm to themselves or others.

Encourage employee involvement and personal commitment to achieving the fire safety objective of the policy.

Investigate all fire related incidents at work and implement appropriate remedial action with the aim of preventing recurrence.

Record and analyse fire safety incidents. •   Monitor the performance and effectiveness of the policy through regular programmes of relevant audits and review.

Set targets devised the deliver further fire safety improvements.

Ensure activities and procedures are conducted in accordance with all legal obligations.

Manage fire risks in such a way as to prevent injury or ill health to employees, visitors, contractors and others who may be affected by the activities of the organisation.

Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the risk from fire is managed in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and other appropriate regulations.

entrust responsibility for the management of this policy with the Council: day- to-day implementation is delegated through various levels from Senior Management to local managers and individual employees.

The Aims and Objectives:

To ensure compliance with all relevant legislation.

To ensure effective liaison with the local Fire Authority where appropriate.

To undertake suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments of all premises and activities within the premises.

To identify and implement reasonably practicable control measures to control risks from fire.

To conduct regular fire evacuation drills and testing of emergency equipment.

To conduct regular fire safety inspections.

To safeguard all personnel and school property, including visitors, from death or injury in the event of a fire or associated explosion.

To reduce the incidence of fire. •   To minimise the potential of fire to occur and so disrupt the work of the school and cause damage to property and the environment.

To provide all appropriate means of escape in case of fire.                 

To ensure that all means of escape are properly maintained, kept free from obstruction and available for safe and effective use at all times that the premises are occupied.

To provide the means of escape with adequate emergency lighting and maintain this in efficient working order.

To provide and maintain in working order the alarm system or other means of giving warning in case of fire.

To provide and maintain in working order all fire fighting appliances and devices.

To provide appropriate instructions and training, where appropriate, for all persons, including contractors, on the actions to be taken in the event of fire.

To ensure that measures, which are commensurate with risks and the significance of consequential losses, are taken to protect building, installations and equipment from fire.

Specific responsibilities:

The Headmaster ensures that the appropriate policies, procedures and audit protocols are in place and reviewed from time to time.

Senior Management ensures that these policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to on a sustainable basis in their areas of strategic responsibility.

The Bursar, or nominated person, ensures that an appropriate system for carrying fire risk assessments in place.

The Bursar, or nominated person, ensures that suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments are carried out on all premises and activities within the premises.

Senior Management ensures that action plans, fire precautions and evacuation procedures, resulting from fire risk assessments, are implemented and control measures for controlling the risk from fire are maintained.

Senior Management ensures that regular inspections are carried out on control measures to their continued effectiveness.

Employees, visitors, contractors and others ensure they participate as requested in the fire risk assessment process and ensure they comply with the arrangements made to control risk from fire hazards.

Senior Management ensures that employees and pupils recognise that the College does not expect them to fight fire: fire fighting equipment such as extinguishers and blankets and the necessary training are provided only for aiding in the escape from the premises on fire. In extreme circumstances, those members of staff trained in fire extinguisher use and with delegated fire safety responsibilities may choose to tackle small fires to save life or property. All others must act in accordance with the posted fire safety procedures and evacuate the premises immediately.

The fire alarm system is tested weekly (Friday at 11.15am) to verify the system is operational.