HEALTH MATTERS/Legislation: Fire is a significant threat to workplaces, with most fires in the Republic caused by malicious ignition, chimney/hot ash, or electrical wiring/ equipment.

Legislation about fire safety is complex, making legislative compliance difficult. The employer is required to read and grasp numerous documents from a variety of sources, such as statutory instruments, Irish standards, international standards, codes of practice and technical guidance. These documents direct the employer to other sources, which should be studied before the employer can fully understand what he or she must do.

With newly built premises, employers need to know how to maintain the workplace and what procedures to have in place to comply with the legislation. In older workplaces, the employer must be confident that the workplace is structurally safe, to ensure fire safety.

Michael McMahon's recent book Fire Safety: A Guide to Implementing Legislation, published by Round Hall, includes all relevant standards, codes of practice, guidance, statutory instruments and articles, which are synopsised in enough detail to facilitate statutory compliance.

It sets out to answer questions such as: "Do I need to carry out a fire drill twice a year?"; "What is the difference between a fire safety notice and a fire safety certificate?"; "I want to build a small extension to the office: do I need to obtain a fire safety certificate?"; "I want to convert my warehouse into office space for 150 people. Do I need to have approval for this from the local fire authority?"

Other questions explored include: "Do I need to install emergency lighting for my premises?"; "I have an office area occupied by 10 people at any one time, which has only one means of escape. Is this adequate?"; "Who looks after fire safety - the local council or corporation or the Health and Safety Authority?"

The book is also intended to act as a useful reference book for engineers and architects engaged in construction, and for safety practitioners and the legal profession, and includes all places of work, except for places used to store or transport flammable or explosive materials.

An introductory chapter looks at fire safety law, codes of practice, guidance, and enforcement authorities.

While employees and visitors have responsibilities, health and safety legislation regards the employer as the responsible person. The book examines the complexities of who is responsible where there are several tenants or leaseholders.

A chapter explains and summarises fire legislation in force from the Fire Services Act 1981 to the Children Act 2001. It includes legislation on nursing homes, pre-school services and building regulations.

There are chapters on fire risk-assessment, prevention, structural protection, extinguishing equipment, alarms, emergency lighting, means of escape, emergency safety signage and registration/record-keeping.

A chapter on fire registration/ record-keeping gives the precise information that should be recorded in the fire-safety register, which, while no longer an explicit legal requirement, remains a de facto requirement, without which it could be difficult to prove compliance with statutes.

McMahon says that 33 per cent of fires in the Republic are caused by malicious ignition, 30 per cent by chimney/hot ash and 20 per cent by electrical wiring or equipment. He suggests preventive policies or procedures for these potential sources of ignition.

All electrical wiring should conform to the relevant standards. Fittings and equipment should be regularly maintained. Equipment not in use should be isolated. Contractors should be properly supervised. Permit-to-work systems should be used for arc-welding operations. Static electricity must be controlled, while heating equipment should be properly supervised.

He encourages the adoption of a no-smoking policy on premises or the restriction of smoking to designated areas, with disciplinary procedures for breaches of policy.

Given the high risk posed by people with malicious intent, he proposes that employers hire additional security personnel, install CCTV and security fencing, and hire guard dogs.

A colour section at the back of the book presents fire-safety signage, including mandatory signs and the fire extinguisher colour codes. Sample plans are given for a site layout of fire hydrants and sample emergency escape plans for ground floor and upper storeys of premises.