Managers Duties

Full details of health and safety responsibilities of all employees can be found in the Health, Safety & Wellbeing (HSW) Policy. The general responsibilities given in the HSW Policy apply to the management of risks arising from fire. The following specific responsibilities also apply:

Heads of Department / Section / Business Unit

• Ensure sufficient people are designated and trained as evacuation stewards and details included in the Department's Health and Safety Management Statement.
• Ensure that there are arrangements in place for communicating fire safety arrangements and emergency evacuation procedures to staff, students and visitors.
• Where relevant, ensure sufficient people are nominated to operate evacuation chairs and ensure they are trained.
• During an evacuation take charge of an assembly point. Receive reports from evacuation stewards and update security / patrol staff on areas checked and persons not accounted for.

All Managers

Ensure everyone under your control knows:

• The actions to take in the event of a fire.

• Where to assemble in case of an evacuation.

• How to report fire safety hazards.

• During an emergency evacuation, take charge of an assembly point if you are the most senior person there. Receive reports from evacuation stewards and update patrol staff on areas checked and persons not accounted for.
• Encourage staff and students who may have difficulty evacuating to contact the Fire Safety Officer for a PEEP.
• Where relevant to your location, nominate sufficient people to operate evacuation chairs and ensure they are trained.
• Ensure that any premises faults or insufficiently controlled potential causes of fire are reported and dealt with promptly.
• Carry out risk assessments for any activities that may significantly impact on fire safety (e.g. use of highly flammable substances, naked flame, hot works) and ensure the necessary control measure are in place. If necessary seek advice from the Fire Safety Officer.
• Consult the Fire Safety Officer is planning any changes to layout, working practices or staffing which may impact on fire safety.

Those supervising groups of students and visitors                  (e.g. Lecturers, event leaders)

• Ensure everyone under your control know the actions to take and where to assemble in case of an emergency evacuation.
• If someone you are responsible for may have difficulty evacuating (and does not have a PEEP covering the location) seek advice from the Fire Safety Officer, the Information Centre on Square 3 (Colchester Campus), or the Facilities Management Provider (Southend Campus).
• Ensure that everyone under you control evacuates when required to do so. If anyone refuses to evacuate, report to the person in charge of the evacuation point.
• If organising an event ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for fire safety and emergency evacuations. Larger events will require a fire risk assessment which should be carried out, in good time, with the assistance of the Fire Safety Officer.
• Check fire safety arrangements are adequate as part of the planning of offsite activities with groups of students (e.g. fieldtrips or recreational visits) and that emergency evacuation arrangements are communicated to all participants on the trips.