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THE REQUIREMENTS OF APPOINTING A FIRE SAFETY ADVISER (FSA) IN QUEENSLAND

In 2008 the Queensland Building Fire Safety Regulations came into effect, which included the requirement in certain situations, for buildings/business to appoint a Fire Safety Adviser either on staff or have an external Fire Safety Consultant representing them as their Fire Safety Adviser. 

Buildings and Business that are prescribed High Occupancy Buildings require a Fire Safety Adviser being appointed. A High Occupancy building means: 

  • A class 2 or 3 building more than 25m high. (8 story or higher Residential) 
  • A class 2, 3, 5, 6, 7b, 8, 9a, or 9b building that is a workplace where 30 or more employees are normally employed. 
  • A class 6 or 9b building that the commissioner has decided is an at risk licensed building under section 104KD of the Fire Services Act.

Initially, a lot of Health and Safety officers or other staff members of business were sent away to complete a 3 day course which includes 8 National Units of Competency in Workplace Emergency Response to become an FSA. This qualification also requires re-certification every 3 years.

The underlying issues with Health and Safety Officers or other Staff members completing the course includes: 

  • The time lost in sending staff to complete the course. (and subsequent 3 yearly re-certification) 
  • More responsibility for Staff or H & S officers completing the course to ensure the requirements of the QBFSR 2008 are being met and maintained. 
  • Some business will typically still have to outsource a Fire Safety Consultant to develop their Fire, Emergency and Evacuation Plan and Evacuation diagrams to ensure compliance. 
  • The fact that when a trained Staff member leaves, someone else has to complete the course to take up the appointment as FSA. 

A lot of business’s these days engage an external Fire Safety Consultant to act as their FSA to ensure the relevant legislation is met and maintained.

The advantages of an external FSA includes: 

  • Assists already very busy Health and Safety staff with ensuring compliance under the QBFSR 2008 and AS3745 2010. 
  • Expert knowledge and understanding of the relevant fire safety Regulations and Standards ensuring that all obligations are met within the business. 
  • They have the capacity to expertly develop the Fire, Emergency and Evacuation Plan and Evacuation diagrams in compliance to QBFSR 2008 and AS3745 2010. (taking into consideration other legislation that may be relevant, dependent on the business). 
  • On first visit to a new site an external Fire Safety Consultant can quickly identify gaps in compliance by conducting (what I call) a ‘FSA Review’ of the installations maintenance including reviewing the log-books, maintenance providers Annual Certificate of Compliance and Occupiers Statement, Alternate Solutions, (if applicable) Fire and Evacuation Plan, Evacuation Diagrams, Staff and Warden Training records, Evacuation practice records and other records (depending on the type of building and installations). 

A Fire Safety Advisers role includes liaising with the Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) (see AS3745 2010 Section 2) to ensure that all compliance requirements of both QBFSR 2008 and AS3745 2010 are met. The Fire Safety Adviser should ensure that a Staff and Warden training program is implemented and is required to implement the Fire and Evacuation Plan and Evacuation diagrams and reviewing them at least annually to ensure compliance, as required by the QBFSR 2008 and AS3745 2010.

An external Fire Safety Adviser Consultant must have and be able to provide proof of: 

  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (if conducting accredited Fire Safety training). 
  • Current Fire Safety Adviser certificate. 
  • QBCC Emergency Procedures Fire Occupational licence. 
  • If a Sole Trader Fire Safety Adviser Consultant, they must also have a QBCC Emergency Procedures Contractors licence.