Fire Risk Assessments for Food Processing and Manufacturing Sites in Cork

Food processing and manufacturing plants carry fire risks that offices and shops do not: heat processes, combustible dust, refrigeration plant and insulated wall panels that can spread a fire out of sight. A fire risk assessment for a production site has to cover the process as well as the building.

Your duties

Section 18(2) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 places a duty on anyone having control of a premises other than a dwelling house to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire, and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of people on the premises. Employers must also identify hazards and hold a written risk assessment under section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Fire risks specific to production sites

• Insulated sandwich panels: common in chill rooms and food-grade areas. Some core materials burn readily, and fire can travel inside the panel.
• Ovens, fryers and dryers: heat and oil residues in ducts and extraction.
• Combustible dust: flour, sugar, milk powder and similar products can ignite when suspended in air.
• Refrigeration plant: ammonia and other refrigerants need their own emergency arrangements.
• Packaging stores: cardboard, film and pallets held in bulk.
• Maintenance work: welding and cutting near panels, dust or packaging.
• Flammable liquids and gases: cleaning chemicals, solvents and LPG.

People and shifts

Production sites run nights and weekends, often with agency staff and contractors. The assessment checks that every shift has trained people, that the alarm can be heard over machinery and through hearing protection, and that there is a reliable roll call.

What the assessor reviews

1. Process hazards and how they are controlled.
2. Construction, including wall and ceiling panels and openings between areas.
3. Detection, alarm and any suppression systems.
4. Escape routes from production floors, cold stores and plant rooms.
5. Hot work permits and contractor control.
6. Housekeeping, dust control and waste.
7. Training, drills and records.

Combine it with water safety

Processing sites usually need a legionella risk assessment for wash-down systems and cooling plant as well. Both can be done in one visit. See legionella risk assessments for food processing sites in Cork.

Safer Solutions provides fire safety services in Cork for food, drink and manufacturing sites across the city and county. Call 086 275 9728, email info@safersolutions.ie or request a quote.