Ensure your construction site is fire-safe

Construction sites are a dangerous environment to be in for a magnitude of reasons, which is why everything needs to be done to limit the chances of anyone coming to harm.

A fire could break out on any construction site. There are a huge wealth of combustible materials lying around, and just as many possible sources of ignition.

And just because it’s a small construction site doesn’t mean the risks are in any way reduced.

In reality, construction fires account for a small proportion of fires in the UK. But they are often disproportionately large, cause an extensive amount of damage, and present a real risk to life.

In many cases, a few simple measures are all it would take to prevent a fire from starting and spreading. By being aware of the hazards, you can reduce the risk of a catastrophic site fire, protecting lives and jobs.

A fire risk assessment is likely to be one of many the site manager must complete and keep on top of. It is a requirement of legislation for the responsible person (employer or persons in charge) to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is complete.

Spot the Hazards

A fire needs three elements to burn: oxygen, heat and fuel.

Removing one or more of those elements stops a fire from starting, and will also mean a fire cannot continue to burn.

The first job of a fire risk assessment is to identify these potential sources of ignition and fuel to then reduce their potential to cause harm.

Equipment, machinery, electrical installations, hot work, bonfires, smoking and arson are all potential ways in which a fire could start. Precautions need to be put in place, with rules strictly followed and any equipment correctly maintained.

They then need to be kept away from combustible materials. This may include rubbish, coverings and sheeting, LPG, flammable liquids, and storage areas. Even building materials, such as timber, insulation, adhesives, and furnishings, need to be considered throughout the project.

The list of hazards will be unique to every site, and should all be considered when choosing building supplies, planning the project schedule, and controlling work activities.

Who’s at Risk?

It’s important to then consider everyone who could be on site, at any time of the day. It will include your workers, contractors, subcontractors, visitors, and even overnight security staff.

Even those in adjacent properties, or people passing by, would be affected by a fire on your site.

You’ll need to put in place provisions for those who are likely to need help escaping a fire. Those with a disability or with mobility impairment are going to need extra help getting to safety quickly.

Evaluate and Act

Now you know in detail what you’re dealing with, you’re able to take the relevant action in limiting the risks and providing the appropriate precautions.

For instance, you may want to restrict on-site hot work as much as possible by replacing it with other means of construction, or carrying it out offsite unless it’s unavoidable. However, you can control the risks by using hot work permits to ensure it’s carried out in line with site procedures.

You can reduce the risk of arson by preventing easy access, ensuring skips are located well away from buildings, and securely storing equipment and materials which are not in use.

And when you have flammable liquids, make sure they’re kept in appropriate canisters and containers, and even consider locking them in specifically-designed cabinets.

Make Sure You’re Prepared

As well as preventing fires, you also need to prepare in case a fire starts on site.

It’s important to have a method of raising the alarm quickly when a fire’s discovered. The type of alarm needed can range from someone simply shouting ‘FIRE!’ to an automatic series of alarms.

In a very small site, it’s likely that a shouted warning will suffice, with manual bells, klaxons, and air horns also sufficient in a small- to medium-sized construction site.

However, for a larger site, then it may be worth investing in a series of interconnected site alarms with call points.

It is vital to have fire extinguishers on site too, although what you specifically need will vary.

On a small, low-risk site, then a single multi-purpose extinguisher may be all you need, whereas on a larger, high-risk site, you will need extinguishers to accompany specific risks, such as hot works. You then need to locate these strategically around the site so anyone can quickly and easily grab one. You may even find that for complex risks you’ll also need some form of fixed fire extinguishing equipment.

Carrying out a fire risk assessment is the best way of knowing which fire extinguishers are appropriate for your site. Once you’ve identified the hazards which exist you can then match them with the correct fire extinguisher.

It’s vitally important that you choose the right one. An inappropriate extinguisher could result in someone making the situation worse and putting their own life at risk.

Record, Plan and Train

Creating a fire action plan is the next step. This would include where the assembly point is, who calls the fire service, and who the trained fire wardens are. It’s then important to make sure everyone on site is aware of the plan so they know exactly what to do in an emergency.

To help you keep on top of fire safety on site, and to assist with evacuations, fire wardens are workers whom you trust to remain calm in an emergency situation. Having received additional fire safety training, they will help an evacuation to run as smoothly as possible.

With a plan in place, it is also helpful to carry out fire drills. This gives you the opportunity to safely see how your emergency plan works in action.

That then gives you the chance to make any necessary alterations to the plan before you, and everyone on the site, depends on it to work flawlessly.

However, it also helps workers to familiarise themselves with the plan, so that they can act appropriately and calmly should they need to use it for real.

Review

A fire risk assessment is not a one-time activity, and must be reviewed regularly, and when required.

Any change to the site or operating procedures could affect the level of risk. Even though small changes may not have an impact, a number of changes together can have a cumulative and significant effect.

Therefore, it is good practice to review fire risk assessments at least once a year. Many fire services also recommend this.

No two sites are going to be the same, so it’s impossible to provide a straightforward list of what you need to do.

Construction sites are some of the most dangerous working environments around. However, when a site is correctly managed, there is nothing to worry about.

 

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