St Augustine’s Church, Westbury
Fire Safety Procedure
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to describe the arrangements for fire risk management at St Augustine’s Church Westbury to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
2. Scope
This policy describes the arrangements for fire risk management at St Augustine’s Church Westbury and identifies responsibilities for its implementation. It also identifies the protective and preventative control measures used to control risks associated with fire.
This policy applies to anyone using the church facilities or any other part of the site for whatever reason and particularly those with specific responsibilities for fire safety. The actions to be taken in the event of a fire are contained in Appendix ‘A’.
3. Responsibilities
3.1 The Rector and PCC Members are responsible for:
Compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to:
- Take fire precautions as far as reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of members
- Take fire precautions as far as reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of non-members including tradesman
- Implement the fire policy
- Review the policy annually
3.2 ‘Sidespersons” and attending PCC Members (the “Leadership”) are responsible at services for:
Assisting the church leadership to ensure fire safety by:
- Taking the responsibility of Duty Fire Warden for that activity or nominating a suitable representative
- Carrying out regular inspections to ensure the rear vestry door is not obstructed
- Mitigating any additional risks as far as possible
3.3 The PCC are responsible for:
Assisting the church leadership to ensure fire safety by:
- Ensuring contractors and tradesman are familiar with the contents of the fire risk assessment
- Ensuring annual inspection of portable fire extinguishers
- Mitigating any additional risks as far as possible
4. Procedure
Fire at St Augustine’s Church Westbury and attendant risks to health and safety are an important factor in the organisation of the church. It is therefore recognised that the hazards that could affect fire safety be identified, addressed and the appropriate control measures devised and implemented, in compliance with current legislation, to reduce the likelihood of fire and its effects so far as is reasonably practicable.
4.1 Legislation
The church must comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. Any changes to the legislation will be assessed to determine the implications of the changes and to prepare proposals to implement new requirements.
4.2 Fire Prevention
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 identifies the requirement for the church to complete Fire Safety Risk Assessments for ensuring that the fire risk to persons is acceptable. Any changes to the buildings, equipment or systems that may affect the assessments will be managed appropriately.
4.3 Fire Safety Risk Assessment
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that that the ‘Responsible Person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions.
The Fire Risk Assessment being conducted follows the HSE ‘Five Steps’ to Risk Assessment:
Step 1 - Identify the Hazard
Step 2 – Identify the people at risk
Step 3 – Evaluate the risk
Step 4 – Record the finding and actions required
Step 5 – Keep the assessment under review.
5 Review and Approval
The Fire Risk Assessment will be reviewed annually by the Leadership unless significant changes occur within the review period in which case a review will be conducted at the conclusion of the changes to ensure the assessments remain current.
6 Control of Fire Risk
The risks to persons and buildings shall be controlled as follows:
6.1 The removal of sources of ignition where practicable.
6.2 The prevention of combustible waste accumulation and its disposal.
6.3 Promote awareness of the hazards and risks that may be encountered and control measures to be used.
6.4 The provision of portable fire extinguishers of the correct type and capacity
6.5 Receipt of a written risk assessment where an activity causes a significant increase to the fire risk.
6.6 In view of the low use of the building outside Services, it is recognised that regular practice of the fire evacuation procedure during Sunday services would result in a greater risk to persons than the benefit received from the practice and therefore will be avoided.
6.7 Where an escape route is not suitable for wheelchairs it will be the fire warden’s responsibility to appoint assistance.
7 Duties of Fire Wardens:
7.1 It shall be the responsibility of the duty Warden to ensure the safe evacuation of all the assembled persons, to contact the emergency services and to ensure the remaining site is clear of persons. The following are specified:
7.1.1 Area 1- Assembly Point – This will act as prompt for the various tasks either to be assigned or undertaken directly. This is by the notice board at the front wall
7.1.2 Area 2 – Emergency Services – This is the parking bay in front of the church
7.1.3 Area 3 – The Church premises (including a vestry and bell tower area)
7.2 At the assembly point the fire warden will ensure that the emergency services are called.
It is advised that unless the duty fire warden has access to a mobile phone he/she remains at the assembly point to co-ordinate activities and keep control.
7.3 The fire warden will conduct a roll call or try to determine if anyone is missing. Should person/persons be missing having conducted a head count and cleared the site it may be necessary to re-search the areas. However at no time should anyone re-enter an area where a fire is known to be.
7.4 On arrival of the emergency services the fire warden will act as liaison and provide details as required.
7.5 The fire warden may wish to consider attempting to extinguish a fire using available help, BUT unless there is clear evidence that the fire is localised and easily extinguishable no attempt must be made to tackle it.
Appendix A
Evacuation Procedure – St Augustine’s Church Westbury
On discovering a fire:
All persons
1. Raise alarm – by shouting ‘Fire’
2. Evacuate Site – All persons will evacuate the site using the nearest exit and assemble on the grass by the notice board at the front of the church
Duty Fire Warden:
On the alarm being raised the duty warden will:
- Make his/her way promptly to the lectern and request that the congregation make their way to the assembly point via the nearest exit and stay there. He/she will then assess whether specific individuals require assistance and request that nearby able bodied persons escort them to the assembly point
- Direct that the rear vestry door should be used if required if the front door is not a safe exit
- ‘Round up’ as many of the group as possible before making their way to the assembly point
- On arrival at the assembly point carry out a head count to determine if persons are missing
- Contact Emergency Services or nominate an alternate to make that call if necessary
- Await arrival of Emergency Services and direct to fire or carry out tasks as directed
PCC Westbury 12th September 2024