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Page 1: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 2: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Wes Boulstridge

University Fire Safety Adviser

Fire safety challenges in a university environment

Page 3: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Fires happen and when they do, some of them can be destructive and have a devastating effect on

the organisation.

Page 4: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

York University 2012

Page 5: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Nottingham University 2015

Page 6: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Southampton University 2005 & 2014

Page 7: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Glasgow School of Art 2014 & 2018

Page 8: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Bristol University 2018

Page 9: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

University of St Andrews 2019

Page 10: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

The Cube – Bolton 2019

Page 11: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

University of Strathclyde 2012

Page 12: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

University of Strathclyde

• 27 academic buildings

• Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students

• 10 large student residences

• Approx. 1,500 residents

• 8 off campus sites

Page 13: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

My top 10 Challenges

Page 14: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

1. Occupancy of buildings

• A large multi sited organisation with many large multi occupied buildings.

• A number of different faculties made up of a number of different departments.

e.g. the Faculty of Science has Chemistry, Physics, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences etc. ……………. each of which effectively operates as a separate business.

• All departments will use a number of different buildings at different times.

Page 15: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

2. ResponsibilityIn multi sited organisations, there is a need to establish responsibility for fire safety within the organisation as a whole, which will require the occupiers to collaborate and not work in silos.

• The University Principal will be the designated Duty Holder for ensuring that the organisation is suitably resourced to manage fire safety.

• Director of Estates will be a designated joint Duty Holder for all of the buildings.

• Heads of Department will also be designated joint Duty Holders in relation to their areas of responsibility.

Page 16: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Resistance

• Not my responsibility

• The Security Wardens will do it

• The Fire Service will do it

• I don’t usually work in this building

• The last fire officer said it was okay

• I’ve seen it in another building

• Building Control have passed it

• It’s been like this for years

• We don’t have the resources

Page 17: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Our solution

• Clear ‘Fire Safety Policy’

• Define who the duty holder(s) is/are

• Define delegated responsibilities e.g.

• Dept. fire safety coordinator

• Fire marshals

• Persons to use fire extinguishers

• Persons to assist with the disabled occupants

• In-house ‘monthly fire safety checks’

Page 18: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

3. People

Different cultures and attitudes towards fire safety

Challenges

• Different cultures and attitudes towards fire safety

• Apathy, reluctance for change and a reluctance to accept responsibility

• Young, vulnerable and maybe immature regarding life skills and independence in general

Solutions

• Acknowledge

• Culture change needed

• Information and guidance -welcome packs, handbooks, induction training, building familiarisation, lead by example

Page 19: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

People (cont’d)

Challenges Solutions

• Issues involving unauthorised access –multiple points of entry, tailgating, city centre location

• Differing staff resources available to assist in different locations

• Reduced resources in common areas (libraries, canteens etc.)

• Reduced resources when the building is occupied after normal working hours

• ID cards, access control devices, CCTV, security warden patrols

• Training and reminders of responsibility to manage their areas of responsibility

• Consider utilising and resourcing a small number of buildings for ‘out of hours access’

• Ensure suitable and sufficient resources are available

Page 20: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Emergency fire action plans

• Different buildings

• Where to get them

• Guests and visitors

• Make them as generic as possible

• Delivered during staff induction training, available for all staff on website and reflected on the fire action notices; displayed on the escape routes

• Delivered during ‘safety briefs’

Page 21: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

4. Fire drills

• Lectures

• Weather

• VIP visits

• Examinations

• That’s the whole point!

• Don’t carry them out in the rain

• Liaise with all departments to confirm that there are no VIP visits or important events

• Obtain the examination time tables and plan around them

PROVIDE FEEDBACK / REPORT

Page 22: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

5. Training attendances

• Why – can’t somebody else do it?

• Too busy

• Waiting lists

• Mandatory – roles and responsibilities

• Schedule between semesters or Wednesday afternoons

• Offer depts’ their own training courses – arrange in their facilities.

• On-line training

Page 23: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

Relevant Training

• Fire awareness training for all

• Fire marshal training

• Fire extinguisher training

• Evacuation lift training

• Evacuation chair training

• Investigation of fire alerts training

• Refresher training requirements

Page 24: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

6. Fireloading

• Contractors

• Departments

• Robust arrangements with contractors

• Regular site checks

• Raise issues and concerns

• Provide guidance on removal and collection of waste

• Challenge issues and concerns

• Take photographs – build up a record to identify trends

• Communicate via email

Page 25: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 26: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 27: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 28: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 29: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 30: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 31: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 32: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 33: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

7. Security or Fire Safety?

• Security is an automatic thought

• Installation of electric door locking devices are not adequately controlled

Page 34: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

8.Issues identified in the FRAs

• 102 FRAs with about 1500 ‘ish actions

• All with multiple duty holders

• Shared areas

• Checking that remedial actions have been acknowledged and addressed – although all significant issues are managed to conclusion directly by myself

Page 35: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

9. Unwanted Fire Alert Signals (UFAS)

Too many false alarms. In order to address these issues, it is important to acknowledge and understand the possible consequences;

Consideration should be given to the following;

• Procedure of carrying out an investigation of the fire alert

• Upgrade or adapt the existing fire alarm system

Page 36: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

10. Adapting to changes

• Cladding

• Change of approach to construction sites and asset protection

• Updates to the sector specific guides

• Updates to the Technical Handbook – Non-Domestic

Continual work required with the addition of new staff and obviously ……………

A new batch of students every year!

Page 37: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

My Top TipsFire safety is a hard sell at times. To assist with this, I would suggest the following:

• Communication is vital and don’t expect overnight action;

• Be realistic and set achievable targets;

• Consider working groups;

• Adopt a positive ‘can do attitude’ – or at least explore all possible avenues before saying no.

• Get out and be seen;

• Back up your meetings and advice with confirmatory emails;

• Consider meeting with your counterparts;

• Be consistent;

• Be available to listen to concerns, provide clarity and when necessary, take on board other suggestions and recommendations;

• Be reasonable – recommendations should be proportionate to the costs and resources required to achieve it;

• Fire risk assessments and fire drill reports - highlight good practice and don’t simply identify failings.

Page 38: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences

My Top Tips

• Work on your people skills to win friends and influence people and enhance your credibility;

• Be persistent;

• Be approachable;

• Have thick skin;

• Ensure that you are seen to be part of the solution.

Page 39: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 40: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences
Page 41: The University of Strathclyde - IOSH · 2020. 1. 14. · University of Strathclyde • 27 academic buildings • Approx. 3,500 staff and 21,500 students • 10 large student residences