What Does
Fire Safety Manager Mean?
A fire safety manager is a safety professional who is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of fire safety systems, and associated practices, within a given building, facility, or worksite. Their regular duties include monitoring all fire safety related works that take place on premises (e.g., equipment maintenance), preparing evacuation plans, and conducting fire drills. They must also ensure that their worksite remains compliant with all fire regulations, and in the event of an emergency, are responsible for coordinating the safe evacuation of workers from the premises.
The specific tasks associated with being a fire safety manager vary depending on the jurisdiction.
Safeopedia Explains Fire Safety Manager
In some jurisdictions the “fire safety manager” job is a government-regulated job title that includes a full list of specific duties and qualifications. For example, in Singapore the title may not be used without a certification provided by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Fire safety managers in Singapore have an extensive list of duties, such as a requirement to provide various forms of training to the inhabitants of the site for which they are responsible.
In other jurisdictions, the fire safety manager is formally responsible for maintaining compliance with fire regulations at higher-risk facilities, such as construction sites and high-rises. One such jurisdiction is New York City, where certification is provided through private schooling and an exam provided by the Fire Department of New York. The specific duties of an NYC fire safety manager are less rigid than those in Singapore, so long as the manager ensures regulatory compliance.
In the UK, "fire safety manager" is an informal title that can be used to describe any person who holds overall responsibility for managing fire safety in the workplace. Such jobs typically require membership in a recognized professional association, such as the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Most occupational health and safety authorities, such as OSHA, do not require workplaces to have a fire safety manager; however, in jurisdictions where they are used, their duties include maintaining compliance with any relevant OHS fire regulations.