This COMAH Awareness training course provides learners with a thorough introduction to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 so that they can understand more about how they apply to the workplace, what needs to be done to keep workers and the environment protected from harm and how a Major Accident Prevention Policy (MAPP) should be prepared. The course is aimed at operators of establishments who have a responsibility to ensure that their site is following legal guidance, controlling major hazard risks and keeping up to date with the changes brought about by the most recent Seveso III Directive.
Who should attend
Managers, supervisors and safety professionals who have responsibilities within companies for managing or implementing major accident controls at existing establishments who want to refresh their understanding of COMAH. This COMAH Awareness training course is also suitable for managers/supervisors of establishments newly brought within scope of COMAH 2015 who may be involved in dealing with the COMAH Competent Authority during inspections.
Course content
Module One: What is COMAH?
This module looks at what is meant by COMAH, providing definitions for each of the key areas involved and outlining why having knowledge of the Regulations is essential for all site operators.
• What is COMAH?
• Who is affected?
• What is a major accident?
• What is a dangerous substance?
• Upper and lower tier establishments
• Non-COMAH establishments
• Why is COMAH training necessary?
Module Two: The Competent Authority
This module explains who the Competent Authority are and outlines the responsibility for submitting a notification about your establishment. The module also looks at the role of the Competent Authority in regards to inspecting your site and enforcing the law where necessary.
• Who is the Competent Authority?
• Notifying the Competent Authority
• Inspections
• Enforcement of the law
Module Three: The Seveso Directive
This module explains what your responsibilities are under the new Seveso III Directive so you can ensure that your establishment is complying with the most recent changes to the law.
• What is the Seveso Directive?
• What are the changes?
• The CLP Regulation
• The Globally Harmonised System
• Hazard labelling and packaging
• Provision of information to the public
• The domino effect
Module Four: Safety Management Systems This module provides details on what should be included in your Major Accident Prevention Policy document, explaining each of the essential areas and highlighting the importance of having emergency procedures in place.
• Risk assessment
• HAZOP
• ALARP
• What is a MAPP?
• What is contained in a MAPP?
• Safety management systems
• Emergency plans
• Actions to take following a major accident
Certification
Successful candidates will be awarded with an Ardent Safety Certificate of Training.
Contact Ardent Safety to find out more or book this training course. You can read more about COMAH awareness here on the HSE website.
Overview of our Emergency First Aid at Work course
This Emergency First Aid at Work course from Ardent Safety is ideal for smaller workplaces that present few health and safety risks, where a nominated or appointed person is required to take charge in the event of an illness or accident. It provides essential training for handling emergencies swiftly and effectively, ensuring that minor injuries and incidents are managed appropriately until professional medical help arrives. The course covers key topics such as basic life support, dealing with unconscious casualties, and managing common workplace injuries, equipping participants with the confidence and skills to act decisively in critical situations. Whether you are a small business owner, a team leader, or an employee designated as the first aider, this course offers invaluable knowledge to maintain a safe working environment.
Who should attend
This course is ideal for ‘nominated’ persons or for people who provide support to qualified first aiders in a low risk working environment with less than 50 people.
Course Content
Health & Safety introduction
Aims of First Aid
Roles and responsibilities as a first aider
Management of a first aid incident
Primary survey (initial care of conscious and unconscious casualty)
Recovery position
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Secondary survey
Monitoring the casualty
Shock
Bleeding
Common workplace injuries
Course review
Certification
Successful candidates on this Emergency First Aid at Work course provided by Ardent Safety here in Cumbria are presented with a three year Emergency Aid in the Workplace certificate. This certificate is accredited by NUCO (an Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisation)
You can book this course by clicking here. While you’re here, why not take a look at some of the other First Aid courses on offer from Ardent Safety including First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid.
Fire safety is one of the most important parts of Health & Safety that workplaces need to consider. Workplace fire is a risk that we can’t ignore. Because workplaces often house highly flammable materials such as paper documents and chemicals, these fires can have devastating effects. Not only this, but workplaces usually have a high amount of traffic coming and going too, meaning many people’s safety is at risk. This is why it is so crucial for workplaces to have correct fire safety measures in place. This includes fire doors, extinguishers, risk assessments, and fire alarms. But, the question is, who is responsible for making sure these safety measures are in place? Let’s discuss this in detail below.
Why Is Fire Safety So Important In The Workplace?
The regulations surrounding fire safety can often change. This means workplaces may be breaking the law without realising it, putting staff and customers at risk. Workplace fires can be catastrophic if not controlled. Throughout one year in the UK, 22,200 fires were reported within non-dwelling properties; 3,700 of these fires were recorded in properties where fire alarms failed to sound! Working fire alarms can reduce the damage caused by fire significantly.
Workplaces have a high footfall. This large amount of traffic means many lives are at risk from workplace fires; employees need to ensure their staff and customers are safe at all times. Not only this, but fires can destroy property. If no fire safety measures are in place, a fire could quickly become out of hand and ruin a business premise. Insurance companies often don’t cover the cost of damage if these safety solutions aren’t in place. So, who’s responsible for this? Let’s find out.
Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety In The Workplace?
Historically the responsibility use to lie with Fire Service, but now as laid out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,the responsibility lies with whoever is in charge of the building. This can be any of the following;
Landlords
Owners
Occupiers
Employers
Anyone who has control of the premises
These people are known as the responsible person/people; because that’s what they are! These people need to ensure all appropriate fire safety solutions are in place and kept well maintained. Their duties to those under their provision include:
carrying out fire risk assessments of the premises with regular reviews
telling staff about the risks they’ve identified
putting in place appropriate fire safety measures
planning for emergencies
providing staff with fire safety information, instruction, and training
Fire Safety Solutions Required In The Workplace
Risk Assessments
This is the perfect first fire safety step for the responsible person to put in place. Completing a risk assessment makes you aware of vulnerable areas, allowing fire extinguishers and alarms to be located. Any hazards will become known, meaning the responsible person can then put measures in place to remove hazards where possible.
Regular fire risk assessments will highlight any threats to the safety of the building and its occupants. It is a legal requirement for workplaces with over five employees to have a risk assessment, and it must be written down. Trained professionals can help carry out risk assessments, ensuring nothing is missed, and regulations are met.
Fire Alarms
It is down to the responsible person to ensure the correct number of fire alarms are installed throughout the workplace. Rooms containing a fire risk, such as a kitchen with an oven, must have a fire alarm. All alarms should be marked with a BSI kitemark or a European safety mark. For ultimate safety, fire alarms should be installed and serviced by trained professionals. They’ll also check the correct number of fire alarms are situated throughout the premises.
Fire Doors
The responsible person must ensure all fire doors are always kept free from obstructions and remain in working condition. It is crucial for workplace premises to have the correct number of fire doors for the size of the property. Regular inspections also need to be carried out by a qualified professional. It is a legal requirement for fire doors to be installed correctly and maintained to a high standard.
Fire Drills
Fire drills are a crucial part of fire safety, required alongside physical forms! The purpose of a fire drill is to recreate the process that would take place should a fire break out. The fire alarm is manually set off, and then the building is evacuated following the already planned evacuation procedure. The process is monitored, and any findings are recorded. If risks or hazards are found, these need to be solved to ensure the process can run smoothly in the future.
The responsible person needs to make sure fire drills are carried out regularly; the process ensures the building can be evacuated safely in an emergency.
Fire Extinguishers
These are a crucial part of fire safety in the workplace! Fire extinguishers slow down the spread of fire, potentially saving lives and preventing properties from being destroyed. The liability for ensuring fire extinguishers are available lies with the responsible person. All fire extinguishers must be serviced by a qualified person (BAFE qualification or equivalent). All extinguishers should also be inspected regularly by the responsible person to check for any apparent damage.
Seek Out Professional Help
If the responsible person is unsure about the fire safety measures in their workplace, the best advice is to get in touch with a qualified, fully-trained professional! Experienced engineers ensure your fire safety solutions are kept up to scratch and that they meet safety regulations.
If you are the responsible person and want help keeping your employees and property safe, contact Ardent Safety. With years of experience in Fire Safety, including all the fire safety measures mentioned above, Ardent Safety will work with you to ensure your workplace is compliant and safe.
Depending on the size and nature of the business in question, employers will often assign a member of staff in the role of fire marshal/ warden to oversee all fire strategies. This could include conducting fire risk assessments and establishing evacuation procedure. These wardens usually report directly to the employer to ensure company-wide fire safety practise is being implemented.
What should fire safety training at work cover?
The Fire Safety Act 2005 states that all workers should have ‘training on the appropriate precautions and actions… to safeguard themselves and other relevant persons on the premises.’ Simply put, it’s the employer’s legal duty to ensure that workers receive fire safety training relevant to their working environment when they first start working there.
Workers will need further training if they are transferred to a new place of work, if they have a change of responsibilities, or if they are introduced to new equipment that may pose a fire risk. This training should inform learners as to potential fire risks, steps they can take to reduce the chances of fire, and how they should act in the event of fire.
Fire extinguishers are crucial in the workplace, not least because every business is required to be compliant with legislation. All employees and visitors to the building must have adequate means to protect themselves in the event of a fire. Fire safety in the workplace should be a top priority for any business owner.
The true value of fire extinguishers shouldn’t be underestimated. Here, we look at the vital role they play in a workplace setting.
What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
Employers and property owners must take responsibility for and adopt the correct behaviours and procedures as outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which covers general fire safety in England and Wales (Scotland’s equivalent is Fire (Scotland) Act 2005). They must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the necessary equipment is to hand to aid a safe escape. Local fire and rescue authorities are usually responsible for enforcing this safety legislation (although the Health and Safety Executive has enforcement responsibility on construction sites). Under the order, the person who has control of the premises must carry out a fire-risk assessment, get rid of or reduce the risk of fire as far as is possible and provide general fire precautions and other measures to ensure protection. The order requires that the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment (as well as fire detectors and alarms).
Understanding the value of fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishers provide a first-aid response and help prevent devastating damage to property and even loss of life. However, this isn’t simply a one-size-fits-all approach. A fire can start in various scenarios and ignite from several sources, necessitating unique extinguishers to tackle each type of fire.
Fire-extinguisher type is specified according to fire risk (or ‘class’) in that environment. Water extinguishers are used on Class A fires (those with a solid source of wood, paper or textiles, for example), while foam extinguishers are suitable for Class A and B fires (flammable liquids). Though carrying a B classification, a CO2 unit is ideal for an electrical fire risk, leaving no residue nor carrying a risk of damage to associated equipment. Dry powder extinguishers can be used on Class A, B and C fires – so burning solids, liquids and gases.
The workplace should feature fire extinguishers according to the materials found there. Hospitals, schools and offices, for example, should feature CO2 extinguishers because of all the electrical equipment used. Construction sites and warehouses, however, are high risk for a number of types of fire as fuel sources are everywhere. Each year, there are a number of serious fires on construction sites and buildings undergoing refurbishment. From site workers’ cigarettes to waste materials and flammable gases and liquids, there are many risks on a construction site so it’s likely several types of extinguishers will be required. And with the project constantly evolving and hazards changing rapidly, it’s not always a simple task deciphering which extinguisher is required where. A fire-risk assessment is the starting point here.
Prioritising Fire Extinguisher protection
Whatever their setting, fire extinguishers can be vulnerable to vandalism, accidental damage and corrosion. In construction sites, there’s been a worrying rise in arson attacks (thanks to their being deserted in the evening). In any workplace, measures should be taken to protect vital firefighting equipment from these threats. And for extinguishers stored outdoors, BS 5306 requires them to be protected to withstand the elements. Cabinets and stands are recommended to protect fire extinguishers from damage and discourage misuse. Lockable or otherwise, cabinets protect against vandalism, dust, dirt and accidental discharge.
Easily located and identifiable fire extinguishers are a vital component of any workplace and are required to be legally compliant. When it comes to fire safety, overlooking them is a huge risk that no business should take.
Ardent Safety supplies and maintains renowned brands of fire extinguishers, as well as supporting fire-safety equipment including fire blankets and signage to both the commercial and domestic market.
