It is the overall aim of Lime Hills Academy to minimise the risks of fire to employees, students, visitors, volunteers and contractors. This will be achieved by ensuring precautions are taken to avoid fires occurring and by ensuring that procedures are in place for the prevention of fire.
The Principal or appointed deputy is the ‘Responsible Person’ for fire safety matters at the academy. They will co-ordinate the implementation of fire safety measures, ensure that staff and pupil training take place and monitor the standards of fire precautions and that these are maintained. They also ensure that there are enough competent persons to implement the fire safety management systems (this includes: fire evacuation, training, firefighting equipment maintenance etc..). Further details on persons responsible for fire safety can be found in appendix A and B, A are the detailed responsibilities of the Responsible person and B is a useful checklist to achieve this.
This fire Guidance is for the Nailsea Site, however for WSM site we will utilise the WHA Fire guidance.
All employees shall receive appropriate information and instruction to ensure that they understand the Academy's fire precautions and the action to be taken in the event of fire. Fire training will be included in health and safety induction programmes and fire drills are regularly practiced throughout the academy year. Every 3 years all staff must undertake the Fire Awareness Nimble course.
All staff are responsible for ensuring that any visitors to their departments evacuate safely in the event of a fire. The Senior Leaders will ensure that any contractors working on site are aware of what action to take in the event of fire and evacuate the building when the alarm sounds. This will be done and recorded using the Contractor Log Book.
Fire action notices will be posted in all teaching rooms and in lobbies and adjacent to fire exits.
Gas cylinders are located – No gas cylinders are on the LHA Nailsea site or within the LHA WSM site.
Asbestos containing materials are found in the boiler cupboard only at LHA Nailsea. Information relating to any asbestos can be found in the Asbestos Register
Other highly flammable/ explosive materials are not kept on site. A flammable cupboard will be available for art paint.
The mains gas and electrical isolation points can be found;
Gas is located in the gas box directly behind the office on the outside wall.
Electric is located in the box (beneath the control panel) in the dining room in Mendip
LHA WSM is encompassed within the Winterstoke Hundred Fire Guidance with our own fire procedures.
Every member of staff will receive instructions in fire precaution during induction. The training will be recorded. All members of staff will receive refresher training within a 3-year period via Nimble.
Training will include fire awareness for the Principal and other members of staff who have responsibilities i.e. heads of high-risk departments such as science and design and technology. This training will include a demonstration of the use of fire extinguishers. This training compliments practicing of fire drills throughout the year.
Students and visitors will be instructed at the beginning of their attendance.
The Health and Safety Manager will arrange for the fire risk assessments of academy premises to be undertaken by a competent person. The risk assessment aims to assist the responsible person(s) and person in charge of premises to monitor the fire management systems. Actions from the fire risk assessment should be monitored, prioritised and actioned by the competent person in conjunction with the Premises team, Operations Manager and the Health and Safety team.
A fire risk assessment is undertaken by a Qualified Fire Risk Assessor. A full Fire Risk Assessment is undertaken every 3 years or when a significant change to the building is made. This is reviewed annually (or when changes are made to the building, whichever is first).
Planned evacuation exercises will take place a minimum of 3 times a year and as soon as possible after any new intake of pupils is admitted to the academy. Times of fire drills are varied so all staff are aware of the actions to be taken. In addition, exercises will include actions to be taken if a child is unaccounted for and exits will be taken out of use. When a fire drill is held it will be recorded in the fire logbook. All staff, students, visitors and contractors must cooperate and evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds.
All staff, students and other visitors including contractors must know what action to take in the event of fire:
Shout FIRE and alert others by activating the fire alarm by breaking the nearest 'break glass' call point. Please ensure you also set off the fire call points in the other buildings. If you can, please call the fire brigade. It does not matter if others have also called. In the event of a break glass being pushed, Southern Monitoring will contact the Academy by ringing the main switchboard. If they cannot get a response, they will dispatch the fire brigade.
All persons should evacuate the building by the nearest exit and proceed to the designated fire assembly point. The assembly point for Lime Hills is the MUGA.
When a fire occurs, the saving and preservation of life takes precedence over the salvaging of property. A member of staff’s first duty is to look after the students and this will mean the evacuation of the building to a place of safety. Unless an individual is confident in fighting a small fire i.e. in a waste bin, using the correct type of fire extinguisher, no attempt should be made to fight the fire. They must always ensure that there is an escape route between themselves and the fire.
Persons must remain at the assembly point until they are informed by either the fire brigade or a member of the leadership management team that it is safe to return to the building or be relocated
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) should be formulated by the head of year or SENCO or other designated member of staff for any student or member of staff who has a mobility or sensory impairment (whether temporary or permanent) which may affect their ability to respond to a fire and evacuate the building and communicated to the relevant persons. The aim of the PEEP is to provide people who cannot get themselves out of a building unaided with the necessary information and support to be able to manage their escape to a place of safety and to provide the necessary information to departments to ensure that the correct level of assistance is always available to achieve these aims.
Anyone who is unable to evacuate the building using the stairs should be directed to the nearest fire refuge point. Once in the refuge they should use the telephone located in the area to let the responsible person know where they are. They should wait in the refuge area for further instructions. This is identified in the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. It is the academy’s responsibility to ensure adequate communication is in place and to enable evacuation to a place of safety.
If the building does not have any designated fire refuge points persons unable to use the stairs should wait in a lobby protected by fire doors for assistance. Fire wardens must notify the responsible person at the assembly area if anyone has been directed to a fire refuge point or is waiting for assistance in a protected lobby.
The Academy aims to appoint adequate numbers of fire wardens to have day to day responsibility for fire safety and to assist with any evacuation. Fire wardens will be assigned a specific classroom, area or floor of a building. Staff should be aware of who the fire warden is for the area or floor where they are working.
The fire warden’s role is, when the fire alarm sounds, to check their designated area to ensure that it is clear and report to the Responsible Person at their designated assembly point. Fire wardens are not expected to fight fires or to place themselves at risk! They will receive training to ensure that they can undertake their duties safely.
All staff are asked to report to the responsible person any defects in fire equipment, e.g. a fire door not closing, or a fire extinguisher that has been tampered with and any poor housekeeping identified. Further details on the role of the Fire Warden can be found under Fire within the Health and Safety manual
Fire Warden Roles and responsibilities are detailed in appendix C.
The premises team are responsible for providing and maintaining firefighting equipment, fire detection and fire systems, and structural fire protection, such as fire doors, fire protected escape routes etc. in the Academy. On activation of the fire alarm this building will
Emergency exits are located in each classroom in the demountables and there are two exits in the main bungalow (Mendip)
Hot work permits are issued to outside contractors for certain high-risk work activities involving hot processes
i.e. re-felting of roofs, use of acetylene torches. The permit allows work to be undertaken for the specific activity and duration of the works. You must notify the Head of Estates, at least, 48 hours before commencing any work requiring a Hot Works Permit!
All academy staff are responsible for maintaining a high standard of fire precautions in areas under their control or influence and should ensure that they are fully aware of the fire procedures. They should also ensure that pupils for whom they are responsible are informed of the procedures.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the risk of fire:
It is a criminal offence to misuse or tamper with any fire safety system. Therefore, persons must not:
Report defects in fire equipment and fire doors to the Premises team using Parago. If you have any concerns regarding the fire arrangements in your building you should contact the Principal or Ops Manager
The academy has a no smoking policy. This also includes academy owned vehicles.
Persons must go off site and find a discreet area away from the academy environment. Any person found smoking on the academy site could receive disciplinary action.
Signed (Responsible Person) Lis Jolley
Date: 20/9/24
Review Date: September 2025
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the ‘responsible person’ for a premises to ensure that all fire safety facilities, fire equipment, fire devices and fire management systems are tested, inspected maintained, in effective order and well managed.
The “responsible person” is as follows:
For academies, the responsible person is the Principal. However, for buildings that are owned by third- parties such as BCC or NSC the responsible person has joint responsibility with the third-party owner and their appointed facilities team.
It is down to the responsible person to appoint a deputy to ensure fire safety in their absence.
In short, the ‘responsible person’ must ensure the safety of staff, students, contractors and visitors by managing the:
The management of the items above can be delegated to the Operations Manager, Premises Manager, Premises Staff, Department Heads etc. Clearly day-to-day responsibilities will be delegated; however, the responsible person must ensure suitable and sufficient fire management systems are being undertaken.
The fire risk assessment is a key part in ensuring that:-
Special responsibilities:
You may be asked to assist occupants with special needs – ensure you:
If any member of staff or a student discover a fire they must sound the fire alarm by breaking the nearest red break glass call point. When the fire alarm sounds (DESCRIBE THE SOUND e.g. two-tone siren) leave the academy / academy by the nearest available exit.
Proceed to the designated assembly point, which is in the MUGA (fenced ball games area) in both Academy locations
All staff should:
A nominated person should contact the emergency services on 999 as soon as safely possible. State your name, the academy’s address,
Lime Hills Academy, Pound Lane, Nailsea, BS48 2NN
Or
Winterstoke Hundred Academy, Beaufighter Rd, Weston Super Mare, BS24 8EE
nature of the emergency, numbers of pupils & staff evacuated, contact mobile number and any other relevant information. Do not hang up until all information has been confirmed.
