Co-op Academy Walkden

Fire Risk Policy

Fire Risk Policy

The Academy’s Fire Risk Policy is as follows:

• To reduce the risk of fire as far as is reasonably practical.

• To implement a system of early warning of the outbreak of fire.

• To eliminate or reduce risks from dangerous substances

• To develop fire procedures and provide staff training, repeated periodically where                         appropriate

• To ensure the safety of staff or anyone else legally on the Academy’s premises

• To carry out fire drills and contact emergency services when necessary

• To appoint one or more competent persons (with sufficient training, experience and/or                         knowledge) to assist in taking preventative and protective measures (including firefighting                 and evacuation)

• To have a suitable system for the maintenance of: clear emergency routes and exits (with                 doors opening in the direction of escape), signs, notices, emergency lighting where                         required, fire detectors, alarms and extinguishers, and to work with the FM to ensure a                         competent contractor is employed to carry out regular and routine maintenance of all                         associated equipment.

The procedures apply to all staff and students of the Academy, all visitors, guests, lettings and contractors – there are no exceptions.

The procedures are the same for ALL evacuations, whether a fire drill, real incident or a false alarm.

Pupils will register at the same muster point throughout their time at the Academy.  The Policy will be amended annually to reflect the changes in Appendix A and any amendments to the fire marshals or named staff.

Fire Alarm System

The FM (Spie) has implemented a fully comprehensive system of fire detection and audible warning.

Smoke and/or heat detectors are installed throughout the premises.

Break glasses are provided to enable an alarm to be raised manually should the need arise.

Audible warnings are provided in the form of a continuous siren throughout the premises.

Fire Evacuation

The academy runs a double knock system, which means that once the fire alarm sounds, this will be silenced for the fire officer (MHA/CCO) along with Spie to investigate. If it is a false alarm there will be no further sounds, the alarm will be switched off and do not take any further action. The signal for a full evacuation is a continued Fire Alarm Bell.

Class teachers should immediately guide their class to the Fire Assembly Point by the route indicated on the map provided for their respective Zone and as shown on the evacuation route.

The teacher /staff support should assist pupils with restricted mobility to the zone refuge point.

Under no circumstances:

• Should there be any running or shouting
• Should pupils retrieve bags, coats etc.
• Should anyone return to the building without the permission of the Incident Controller.

Please Note:

• Most staff finish at 4pm during term time, and to ensure Spie are aware who is still on the premises in case of a fire, please advise the Operation Manager if you plan to stay later than 4pm on site.
• If you are in the academy between 4pm - 6pm with any students/visitors please walk them out to the building to prevent re-entry of unauthorised visitors or students.
• Outside of term dates, any staff entering the building must sign in and out of the Academy Inventry System and Spie signing in/out sheets.

Instruction Sheet 1 - This Instruction Sheet Applies To Everyone

Action To Be Taken On Discovering A Fire

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TACKLE THE FIRE UNLESS YOU CAN DO SO WITHOUT ENDANGERING YOURSELF

• Activate the alarm by means of the nearest alarm call point
• Leave the building following the procedure below

Action To Be Taken On Hearing The Fire Alarm

If you are a Fire Marshal, follow the procedures in Instruction Sheet 2.

If you are teaching or otherwise supervising a group of students, ensure that all students in your care have responded to the evacuation alarm and escort the group by the nearest designated exit route to their designated Assembly Point.

Leave the building by the nearest designated exit

• Assist disabled persons
• Do not delay in leaving the building
• Take only personal belongings readily to hand
• Do not switch off computer equipment
• Do not lock any doors
• Do not return to check for missing persons
• Walk, don’t run

Report To The Muster Point

• Report directly to the Muster Points (Basketball court or Netball court)
• Do not return to your vehicle and attempt to drive off unless authorised to do so.
• Await further instructions
• Do not re-enter the building until authorised to do so by the incident controller.

Instruction Sheet 2 - Fire Marshal Instructions

The purpose of the Fire Marshal role is to “sweep” the designated area as part of their own evacuation of the building and report to the Fire Officer via radio or in person at the muster area, as to whether they have checked their area and found anyone who is unaware of, or ignoring, the alarms.

The Fire Marshal role is an important one, particularly in the complex buildings structure which the Academy has.

The first question the Fire Service will ask on arrival is whether we believe the building is occupied or empty. If we cannot say that we believe the building is empty, then the Fire Brigade will assume someone may still be inside and potentially put their own lives at risk rather than containing the fire from outside. If a Marshal does not report, we have to tell the Fire Service that we have no information.

The Fire Marshal is not expected to put himself or herself at risk, but it is important that he or she reports the outcome of the sweep. If the answer is that the Marshal has not been able to check, that is the answer which should be given.

In the event of an emergency evacuation, Fire Marshals should act as follows:

• In conducting your duties as a Fire Marshal, health and safety is the priority of all concerned, so do not put yourself or others at risk.

• Ensure that the area you are in is swept clear and that all staff and students leave the building.

• Tell staff and students that they must leave the building – do not enter into an argument with anyone who refuses, but note their location and, where possible, their name and report the matter to the Fire Officer.

• Go directly to the Assembly Point and report to the Incident Controller.

• Notify the Incident Controller of any injured person or person with mobility problems, giving their location and, where possible, the nature of their injuries.

Fire Drill Evacuation Procedures

Please read the enclosed procedures document before the next drill to familiarise yourself with your role.

Rationale

As part of a general Health and Safety Policy for the Academy it is necessary for all staff and pupils to be aware of matters related to both fire prevention and the safe evacuation of Academy premises in case of fire. Emphasis is on the safety of life rather than the preservation of buildings.

Purposes

• To ensure that pupils, staff (teaching and non-teaching) and visitors are aware of procedures to be followed in the event of a fire alarm being activated (bomb scares will be treated in the same way)
• To reduce the risk of fire breaking out by minimising possible fire risks.
• To ensure safe passage of pupils and staff if the Academy buildings need to be evacuated.

Guidelines

• Fire drills will be held termly.
• No smoking is permitted on Academy premises or within the Academy grounds.
• Electric power points should not be overloaded.
• Electrical extension leads should not be used.
• Personal phones may be charged on site via a USB connection only.
• No supplementary heating should be used.
• Fire doors will respond to deployment of the alarm, internal doors will close, external doors will open.
• Do not use the lift in the event of the alarm sounding
• Staircase enclosures and corridors must be clear of obstructions and combustible materials or furnishings.
• All doors from classrooms should be kept unlocked and unobstructed whilst rooms are occupied.

Procedures

• Anyone discovering a fire should raise the alarm by activating the nearest fire alarm point.
• On hearing the alarm, all pupils will leave the classroom or other working area in an orderly manner.

Evacuation Of Disabled Persons

If on the ground floor the student/staff member or visitor can be assisted to the evacuation point by a peer.

If on an upper level: a member of staff should move with the person to the nearest refuge point and await a Fire Marshal. As the Fire Marshal arrives the member of staff should leave the building by the nearest available fire escape route, unless required to assist in the evacuation of the disabled individual (e.g Assigned TA).  

Should an injured/disabled person require assistance, use the call button at the refuge point and speak to a member of SPIE staff giving details of your whereabouts and injuries/disabilities/support needed to leave the building.  SPIE will then relay this back to the fire brigade.

Conclusion

Health and Safety guidelines lay upon all staff a responsibility to maintain a safe working environment and to be informed regarding action to be taken in an emergency to secure the safety of pupils under their control.

Procedures:

Full evacuation will take place on hearing a long bell

Roles and responsibilities

Before the evacuation

All Staff

It is your responsibility to read and make yourself familiar with the evacuation process.

All registers must be marked and sent no later than 5 minutes after the start of AM or PM (P5) Academy.

Reception staff will bring the staff and visitor registers, the attendance team will bring the student registers to the muster point and distribute.

During the evacuation

Allocated Muster Point Location

Basketball Muster Point & Netball Muster Point

(3G Astro Turf must be used should a full evacuation be required - see appendix A)

Visitors

All visitors, supply teachers and contractors will be issued with fire procedural information on arrival.

They will leave the building by the nearest exit in case of a fire alarm sounding and report to a member of staff who will ensure that they report to the receptionist who will then inform the Fire Officer.

Telephoning the Fire Service

Direct Alarm sends to the Emergency Services.

The Fire Officer will ask receptionist to inform Emergency Services in the event of a false alarm

All staff

Leave the premises quickly and quietly (with your teaching group if you are teaching) via the nearest exit and walk to the assembly area: Astro Turf Area. Please see the route plan for exit. Appendix B

SLT

Support year groups as per the plan and report your Head of Year and PD tutors to the receptionists at your muster point. See appendix A.

Personal Development (PD)Tutors

• Line up the PD group in alphabetical order
• Register your PD group promptly, once registered – report to the Head of Year and confirm any absence immediately.
• Keep the PD group in line and as quiet as possible

Head of Year

Keep in a central position to your Year group

• Receive all registers from your PD Tutors as soon as possible.
• Confirm attendance of PD Tutors to Receptionists and Report pupil attendance to the Fire Officer immediately.

Non Personal Development Teachers

• Register with a Receptionist
• Assist PD Tutors to keep their PD groups in line and quiet.

Receptionists

• Take daily staff register and visitors register to the Assembly Points (Basketball court & Netball Court)
• Register all support staff, non-PD staff, and visitors, then PD Form Staff when notified by Head of Year

Support Staff

• Register with a receptionist at the assembly point. Help PD staff to keep PD groups in line and quiet.

• Staff should not congregate in groups and especially not along the top of the muster lines.

• First aid staff member to take a grab bag of first aid kit/blanket/inhaler if available and close by the first aid office

Kitchen Staff & SPIE Staff

• Assemble on the Netball Court Muster Point and report attendance to SPIE staff.  Report any absences to the Fire Officer.

Visitors

Assemble on the Netball Court Muster Point and report attendance to the school receptionist.

See Appendix A for communication reporting.

Sweep areas:

Fire Marshal/Officer        Matt Hacker / Chris Corbett

Fire Marshals                Paula Bradley, Nathan Green, Victoria Haye, Don Logie

Stephen Mills (technician), Emily Rogers, Emily Stones

It is anticipated that you will sweep the floor you are working on at the time of the alarm. Do not make your way to a specific area.

After sweep, report any findings to the Fire Officer at the main assembly point

Refuge Points: Persons with mobility difficulties who cannot make their way out via the stairways will wait in the designated disabled refuge points. These are located at each level on the stairways. There is a button which should be pressed to alert staff of their location. There will be evacuation chairs in refuge areas which will be used to evacuate anyone with mobility difficulties. Trained staff will assist with evacuation of any person with difficulty exiting the building via the stairs.

Do not attempt to return to the building until advised it is safe to do so

Fire Officer/MHA/CCO

Receive confirmation from all Heads of Year of attendance/anomalies

Liaise with the Receptionist for staff/visitor attendance report.

Liaise with Fire Marshals’ for report.

Liaise with Fire service & SPIE

Make decision about the re-entry back to Academy – speak to SLT

C CORBETT TO RADIO ALL HEADS OF YEAR IN ORDER TO INFORM THEM TO RETURN PUPILS BACK TO ACADEMY IN SINGLE FILE.

(SLT RESERVE FOR ABSENCE)

Appendix A

Appendix B