Fire Safety Advisor

Fire Safety Advisor

The Fire Safety Advisorwill be part of a small team, reporting to the Fire Safety Manager, at the forefront of ensuring our client meeting its statutory obligations, future construction projects are completed fit for purpose and fire safety culture continuously developed. In essence a fire safety champion. Carrying out fire based risk assessments, ensuring statutory compliance with the current fire safety legislation.

Key Responsibilities for theFire Safety Advisor -

• Planning, conducting, documenting and reviewing fire risk assessments. Auditing fire risk assessments for other members of the team and partner organisations and making recommendations for improvement where necessary;

• Providing legislative, specialist, technical fire safety advice, information and support to senior managers and their appointed persons regarding the management of fire safety and risks;

• Providing technical and legislative advice for projects (new builds, refurbishments and alterations). Liaising with project managers, architects, design engineers and building control bodies regarding the same, devising and negotiating solutions to any issues. Monitoring construction, participating in witness testing and hand-overs;

• Planning and carrying out fire safety audits and inspections of buildings to ensure that statutory fire precautions are being maintained. Conducting similar inspections of other buildings occupied by staff, such as Healthcare Trusts, and liaison with their senior managers and appointed persons to address any concerns;

• Formulate, develop, revise, and implement individual fire safety policies and codes of practice.

• Facilitating and hosting Enforcing Authority Inspecting Officers during formal inspections / audits, collating all relevant documentation and addressing any concerns. Accompanying fire and rescue service personnel during familiarisation visits, advising on access, facilities and potential firefighting strategies;

• Devise, document and review emergency plans for buildings. Evaluating and revising those plans where necessary, such as when construction work affects means of escape strategies and other fire protection measures, or to accommodate major events;

• Consulting with key stakeholders, plan, communicate and implement annual fire drill programmes.

• Investigate fires and fire alarm activations (responding immediately when on site), establishing causes and making recommendations to mitigate against future occurrence;

• Providing specialist technical advice to inform the compilation of personal emergency egress plans where required, such as determining building features and engineering services that support such plans;

• Supervising the scrutiny of applications for hot works permits ensuring contractors risk assessments and method statements adequately address fire risks. Observing contractors at work and intervening where required;

• Plan the delivery of in-house fire training and instruction. By self or with other fire office staff, devise, design and implement bespoke fire training to address specific risks.

• Collation of information and statistics to identify trends in fire safety provision, incidents and causes of alarm activations. Compilation of associated reports;

• Liaison and negotiation with event planners on the suitability, setup and management of conferences and events being held on premises;

• Production of comprehensive risk assessment documents, including prioritised action plans.

• Attending a range of groups as a subject matter expert.

• Maintaining the relevant electronic folders on the IT system.

• To provide fire safety guidance to both internal and external stakeholders.

• Assess the risk assessments and method statements supplied by both internal and external stakeholders, to ensure proposed works are managed in line with protocols.

• To deputise for the Fire Safety Manager when required.

• Comply with relevant policies including Financial Regulations, Equal Opportunities Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Information Systems Security Policy and Intellectual Property Rights and Register of Interests Policies.

Key Experience for theFire Safety Advisor -

• Substantial and recent experience as a full-time fire safety specialist, consultant or authority inspecting officer practicing across a wide range of major premises.

• Significant experience of fire risk assessment, utilising PAS 79 health, in a variety of large and complex premises accommodating a range of risk scenarios

• Practical experience of applying fire safety legislation, fire safety management, and the principles of fire engineering.

Education and Knowledge for theFire Safety Advisor -

• Demonstrable understanding of fire safety legislation, associated technical standards, guidance documents, codes of practice and applied management of fire safety

• Good understanding of passive and active fire protection measures and their associated design, installation, and maintenance requirements.

• A recognised professional qualification at Level 3 or equivalent, such as NEBOSH National General Certificate, together with relevant experience in a similar role