Fire Safety Audits

Statistics

In Australia, fire is a significant hazard to people, property and the environment. Each year, fire is the cause of approximately 100 fatalities and approximately 3,000 injuries.

A fire at work can result in catastrophic human and financial loss. The total cost of fire in Australia has been estimated at a staggering AUD$8,500 million per annum. Indeed statistics show that approximately 25% of businesses that suffer a serious fire go out of business as a result.

Legislation

The Occupational Health & Safety Act 2000 (NSW) places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other persons. These duties include protecting employees and other persons from the risk of fire.

The Occupational Health & Safety Regulation 2001 (NSW) addresses particular risk control measures for fire and explosion. Under the regulation an employer must ensure that risks associated with fire or explosion at a place of work are controlled.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 sets the fire safety regulatory framework for buildings in New South Wales. This legislation details building fire safety requirements together with routine maintenance and certification duties of building fire safety systems and equipment.

Fire Safety Audit

HBI’s Fire Safety Audit has been produced in conjunction with duties of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulation, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and Regulations, the Building Code of Australia 2005 and various Australian Standards, including AS 4655 Fire Safety Audits. The aim of the audit is to minimise risk to life and covers a broad spectrum of fire safety issues including:

· Identification of combustible loading
· Identification of ignition sources
· Identification of oxygen sources
· Means of escape
· Fire detection and communication
· Fire fighting equipment
· Structural precautions
· Fire prevention and management
· Fire brigade access

In summary organisations have a duty to conduct suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments on their property. This should be conducted by a competent individual and be reviewed on a regular basis or when change occurs.

Effective management of fire safety will minimise the risk to life as well avoiding huge financial costs through loss of the premises and litigation.