Principles of prevention to be applied

10. Where the responsible person implements any preventive and protective measures he must do so on the basis of the principles specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1.

 

Part 3 Schedule 1

PART 3 PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION

The principles are—

(a)avoiding risks;

(b)evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided;

(c)combating the risks at source;

(d)adapting to technical progress;

(e)replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or less dangerous;

(f)developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work and the influence of factors relating to the working environment;

(g)giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures; and

(h)giving appropriate instructions to employees.

What the Enforcement Guidance says:

Where the responsible person implements any preventive and protective measures by
way of taking general fire precautions they must do so on the basis of the principles
specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Order. These principles express the ethos of the
Order as a prevention- and mitigation-based regime where actually preventing fire and mitigating its effects when it happens are as important as means of escape and allied traditional fire precautions.
Enforcing authorities should ensure that risk assessments have adequately taken these principles into account. It should be noted that mitigation of the effects of fire and prevention of spread of fire are specifically cited in the definition of general fire precautions under article 4.
Enforcing authorities must consider whether the responsible person has done everything
reasonably practicable to reduce the risk of fire and of fire developing if it breaks out.
In following some of these measures the responsible person will need to consider
health and safety regulations and measures regarding work processes and dangerous
substances. Close liaison by enforcing authorities with general health and safety
enforcing authorities is advisable.