Fire Safety

Fire prevention

Fire is one of the greatest risks which security operatives need to be aware of and you should watch out for fire risks and report them to the management. The following are common fire risks:

• loose wiring
• build up of litter at fire escapes
• overloaded extension cables
• combustible materials left near heat sources.

Fires can be prevented by ensuring these situations do not occur. PAT testing (portable appliance testing) all electrical equipment will help to keep it safe and minimise the risk of an electrical fire. Making sure that combustible materials, such as paper, wood and textiles, are not stored near to a direct heat source will also help prevent fires.

Another way to prevent fire from spreading is by using fire doors. The purpose of a fire door is to make sure that if there is a fire in a building, it is contained behind the door while customer’s and staff escape.

Fire doors also stop smoke from spreading into escape routes. Fire doors must therefore be kept closed so that smoke and flames do not spread to other parts of the building. Usually fire doors are self-closing. If, for any reason, a fire door has to be kept open during operations, devices can be used to close it if there is a fire. In every case where there is such a device, the local authority must agree to it. If you are responsible for checking fire doors in your premises, you must find out from the manager whether any open door has this local authority permission.

The triangle of fire

There are three components of the triangle of fire:

Fuel

Without any one of these components, a fire cannot start. In theory, a fire can be extinguished by removing one of these components; for example, completely covering flames with a blanket removes the oxygen and so puts out the fire

Fire classification

Fires are classified by the type(s) of fuel involved, and therefore the most appropriate extinguishing agent to use:

Electrical fires are not considered to constitute a fire class on their own, as electricity is a source of ignition that will feed the fire until removed. When the electrical supply has been isolated, the fire can be treated (generally) as Class A for extinguishing purposes. However, you should use a non-conducting agent on all possible occasions.

Fire extinguishers

All fire extinguishers are red and have optional zones of colour, which will cover up to 5% of the total surface area of the extinguisher. These colour zones identify the content of the

extinguisher and the types of materials that the extinguisher should be used on.

Fire extinguishers and hose reels must be in the positions stated by the fire authority and must be ready to use. They must be placed on their brackets and should never be used to prop open doors.

The grid below shows the different types of extinguisher, how they can be used to put out fires, the class of fires they should be used on and the colour that is used to identify them. This grid is only intended to be used for reference and is not a replacement for full and proper training in the use of extinguishers.

In a multi-storey building, there can be ‘dry-risers’. These allow the fire brigade to transport large amounts of water to any part of the building without using hoses.

Remember – Only use fire extinguishers if you have received such training, as using an extinguisher incorrectly, delaying use and/or attempting to use them unsuccessfully may put your life and the lives of others at risk.

What to do if there is a fire

If you discover a fire the first and most important thing to do is to raise the alarm immediately.

You must find out how the alarm system works in your area in case you are the first to find a fire. Some alarms can be raised by breaking the glass on an alarm call point. In larger areas, it may be through the use of a fire telephone.

A security operative must never shout ‘fire’ or indicate to the public that a fire has occurred. This could lead to mass panic and loss of control.

Every area has its own type of fire alarm and method of raising the alarm. For each area you work in, make sure you know:

• where the fire alarm is located
• how the alarm works
• how to raise the alarm
• what the alarm sounds like.

There are guidelines to follow in the event of a fire occurring:

Know the correct procedure for calling the emergency services

You need to know who is responsible for calling the emergency services and the procedures to call the emergency services yourself if the responsible person is unavailable.

Avoid tackling a fire yourself

Unless you are a trained fire warden or fire-fighter, you should not tackle even small fi res. You could put yourself at risk and/or cause the fire to spread more quickly.

Calling and meeting the fire service

After the fire alarm has been raised the fire service should be called immediately.

A designated person should be sent to meet and brief the senior fire officer when they arrive. The senior fire officer will need to be informed of the location of the fire, any missing

persons and special risks they should be aware of.

Alerting staff to a fire emergency

In most places where SIA licensed security staff work, a code word or phrase is used to alert staff to a fire emergency. You must know what this is at all locations at which you work.

Know the evacuation procedure

It is very important that you know the evacuation procedure and what you are expected to do if there is a fire and evacuation has to take place.

Practise the fire evacuation procedure

The evacuation procedure should be practised regularly.

When to evacuate the premises

Unless it is clear that it is a false alarm, the area will have to be evacuated. The primary role of the security operative, in the event of a fire, is to help with the evacuation of the area.

Starting the evacuation procedure

There should be a signal for all staff to take up their evacuation positions. If there is entertainment or music, wherever possible this should be reduced gradually by increasing the house lights (if applicable) and lowering the volume.

Know your role in the evacuation procedure

You may be given a precise role to perform in the event of an evacuation. You must make sure that you fully understand what is expected of you and where you should position yourself. The public should know who you are and that your instructions should be followed.

Avoid panic

To avoid panic, a calm but firm announcement should be made. For example, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is necessary to evacuate the area. Please leave immediately by walking to the nearest exit’.

Assisting in an evacuation

The public should be directed outside to places of safety. You should assist members of the public with disabilities if it is safe to do so, or you should inform the emergency services of their location.

Check the building is empty

The toilets and other secluded areas should be checked to make sure they have been evacuated and that the area is completely empty.

Report to the fire steward

When the area has been evacuated, all staff should report to the nominated fire steward. You should give precise details of which areas have been evacuated. You should also alert the steward about anyone who may still be on the premises.

Vulnerable people

In an emergency, if you can, you should quickly identify anyone who might be at special risk, for example:

• customers with disabilities, sight or hearing problems may be at special risk if evacuation takes place. In some cases they could also put others at risk. There should be special arrangements made for the evacuation of customers with disabilities, sight or hearing problems
• customers who do not understand English may need to have exits pointed out to them
• young persons (those under the age of 18) are likely to be more at risk and on premises where entertainment is provided for young person’s extra staff will be needed to supervise them. If a building has to be evacuated when young persons are present you must:
  • supervise the evacuation of the young persons and, if they are present, their parents
  • if the parents are present, but have been separated from their children, you should not allow the parents go off to search for their children

• elderly people sometimes need more time to react and move, and may be more prone to panic. They may need to be escorted
• people with prams, pushchairs or very young children may also need assistance in evacuating the area swiftly and safely.

Human behaviour in an emergency situation

Health and safety regulations are there to keep people safe. Unfortunately, in an emergency situation, injury or death can occur because of human error. Inappropriate action by staff can make an emergency situation worse. For this reason, your manager has a duty to make sure that all staff are trained and know what to do in an emergency.

Security operatives need to make sure they respond quickly enough to evacuate the public in a fire incident. Research shows that these situations can become more serious if the public are not informed of the need to evacuate quickly and effectively enough.

People’s reactions differ depending on the individual, their previous experience of emergency situations, the perceived threat, their surroundings and whether an alarm is sounded or an announcement is made.

The addition of alcohol also needs to be considered. It is a depressant which greatly increases the time it takes a person to react. Anyone who is under the influence of alcohol will be slow to recognise and respond to a dangerous situation.

The use of other ‘recreational substances’ may have a similarly slowing effect. You may have to repeat your instructions to ensure rapid evacuation.

How people respond to an emergency situation

• People tend to panic. Panic is described as irrational behaviour in the event of an emergency, and is often caused by delays in communication between staff and the public
• People respond to authority. The security operative is an authority figure. The public will respond to you when you give information or directions in an emergency. Indecision and poor communication cause delays. Delays can lead to casualties
• People tend to ignore the early signs of fire. Breaking glass and extra activity by others could be ignored if people do not see flames or smoke. Research shows that people are slow and unwilling to evacuate if danger signals are not clear. Customers must be given clear and firm instructions
• Uncertainty, misinterpretation, indecisiveness and asking questions are all typical at the beginning of an emergency. People tend not to move towards exits when they hear alarms. Instead they move around trying to find out what is happening or to finish what they are doing. Again, clear communication and leadership will avoid dangerous delays and panic
• When people hear fire alarms they are uncertain about whether it is a drill or a real emergency. In some premises, clear, authoritative announcements are made in preference to alarms
• People do not use escape routes that are unfamiliar to them. Fire escapes and fire exit notices are not effective unless staff direct people to them. Tests show that people instinctively move in one direction looking for exits.

Remember – In an emergency, clear communication and leadership at the start will ensure that customers and staff evacuate the area with minimum delay and panic.

Note that the text above is taken from BIIAB’s Level 2 Award in Door Supervision (Second Edition September 2012). For more information on this qualification either visit www.biiab.org or contact BIIAB’s qualification team at qualifications@bii.org.

What is an emergency?

An emergency can be defined as an unforeseen or sudden event sufficiently dangerous as to demand immediate action.

Types of workplace emergency

Emergencies can be natural or man-made, and, in addition to fire, those that security operatives are most likely to have to deal with are:

• bomb alert or threat (including suspicious packages)
• gas explosions and leaks
• CS gas, pepper and similar sprays
• lighting and/or power failure
• flooding.

Bomb alerts or threats and suspicious packages

Terrorists and bomb hoaxers sometimes telephone their threats. If ever you are in the situation where you answer one of these calls it is important to gather as much information as possible, you should try to find out:

• where the bomb is
• when it is going to explode
• what it looks like
• what sort of bomb it is
• what will make it explode
• who placed the bomb and why
• the name, address and phone number of caller.

You should then record the time the call was completed, and report the incident to the police immediately using 999. If the phone has an automatic number reveal, you should note down the number. If it does not, you may get the number by dialling 1471. Even if the call is proven to be a hoax this is a serious criminal offence that will need to be investigated. If there is no imminent danger, or if you receive information about possible terrorist

activity, you should contact the police Anti-Terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. If the area has to be evacuated following a bomb threat, the fire evacuation procedures should be followed unless the location of the suspect device means customers must be evacuated via a particular exit.

People should be asked to take their belongings with them if they are close by and doing so will not delay evacuation. This makes it easier to search the area later for bombs.

It should be noted that in the event of a bomb threat, evacuation is not always automatic. The police often advised against evacuation as this can play into the hands of terrorists by evacuating people towards a more destructive and dangerous device planted outside a building.

Remember – A security operative should always remain alert and on the lookout for suspicious activity that might be connected with arson or terrorism. Pre-entry checks and regular, ongoing checks can identify potential problems before they become emergencies.

Gas explosions

If there is a gas explosion, the building will normally be evacuated using the fire evacuation procedure. It is highly likely that customers will hear the explosion and, as a result, they may panic. You need to keep them calm and take firm, immediate action to evacuate the building once the evacuation order has been given. Any gas flames should be left to burn. If you put them out, gas will be released into the air. This could cause a further explosion.

Once the gas has been turned off at the mains, the flames will put themselves out.

Gas leaks

If gas can be smelt, there is the possibility that there could be a gas leak. Gas leaks are potentially very dangerous because they can lead to explosions, so great care is needed. If you suspect a gas leak you should:

• inform the management immediately
• call the emergency line at Transco (0800 111 999) (management or any responsible person available should call) for specific advice relating to the area that the leak is in, which may include evacuation
• not operate any electric switches or mechanical equipment: sparks inside can ignite gas
• not light matches or any other flames
• open any windows and doors in the area gas can be smelt to maximise ventilation
• shut off the gas supply at the emergency switch if possible.

If liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is supplied to the premises or area, then the supplier should be called so that they can switch off the supply.

Irritants

CS gas, pepper sprays and similar irritants are painful and unpleasant. People will panic as they try to escape the effects. If someone releases CS gas or discharges similar items, evacuation of the premises will be ordered. You should:

• open all available windows
• advise any affected person to seek immediate medical attention.

Do not look for the offender until everyone is safely in the fresh air. A CS gas release or other similar discharge might take place in a theatre during a performance, for example. The management will decide whether the customers who have paid can be re-admitted.

If they can, you need to know what to do – customers may have to be searched as they come back in.

Power or lighting failure

Premises may have to be evacuated if there is a power failure as the general lighting may go out. Usually the premises will have to be evacuated once the emergency lighting has come on. The emergency lighting (which is battery operated) should come on automatically.

You should know what your role is if there is a power failure. Although some premises do have emergency generators, this is by no means always the case. Therefore, unless you have been told otherwise, assume that there are no such generators and rely on the emergency lighting to come on before evacuating the building.

Flooding

In the event of a flood you will be responsible for assisting in the evacuation of the site or premises. There are numerous risks that must be considered and these include:

• tripping over submerged objects
• slipping
• currents – moving water could knock you off your feet
• electrocution – electricity passes quickly through water.

Ensure that you use any appropriate personal protective equipment provided by your employer and remain calm at all times. Others are likely to panic and it is your responsibility to ensure that everyone follows the correct evacuation procedure and leaves the site safely.

First aid

As a security operative you may also come across first aid emergencies and you will need to know the appropriate action to take. First aid is initial treatment that is usually given to an ill or injured person before a doctor or ambulance crew arrives. Employers must provide

suitable first aid facilities for employees. This includes equipment and trained staff.

All workplaces should have a first aid box equipped with suitable items. Members of staff must be trained to provide first aid, and the number of first aiders will depend on the number of employees.

As well as providing facilities for employees, the management accepts first aid responsibility for members of the public.

• You need to know your workplace’s policy for providing first aid to the public
• You also need to know what you are expected to do in a medical emergency
• Your employer may want you to undergo training in first aid techniques accredited by the Health and Safety Executive.

You should only give first aid to staff or the public if you have been trained to do so and hold a current first aid certificate. If you are not trained in first aid, then you need to know:

• who the trained first aiders are when you are on duty
• where they are based and how to contact them
• how to get them to the scene of an emergency.

You will also need to know your workplace’s procedures for calling the emergency medical services.

Various organisations provide first aid training, accredited by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and details of approved training providers and awarding bodies can be obtained from the HSE’s information line on 0845 345 0055. BIIAB offer the Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, for more information visit www.biiab.org.

When you have received the appropriate training you will receive a certificate which is valid for three years. If your certificate is over three years old, you must not give first aid until you have retrained. Common first aid emergencies you may have to deal with include:

• heat exhaustion
• fainting and unconsciousness
• alcohol abuse
• dehydration
• drug abuse
• glass wounds
• cut and stab wounds
• crush injuries
• head injuries
• broken limbs
• burns.

Illnesses that first aiders may have to deal with are:

• strokes
• heart attacks
• epilepsy
• diabetes

Note that the text above is taken from BIIAB’s Level 2 Award in Door Supervision (Second Edition September 2012). For more information on this qualification either visit www.biiab.orgor contact BIIAB’s qualification team at qualifications@bii.org.