The University of Cambridge’s new Fire Safety Policy has been approved by the General Board and University Council.
The new policy sets out clearly the fire safety duties and responsibilities for key groups of staff to keep people safe and to ensure that the University is compliant with relevant Government legislation.
All staff, students and members of the public whilst on University property have a duty for the health and safety of themselves and others, including keeping themselves, other people and University property safe from fire.
You can read more about staff responsibilities and see the new policy in full here. There will be a refreshed suite of mandatory fire safety training in due course to ensure that all staff are clear about their role in fire safety.
The new policy replaces a short Policy from 2018 and provides a far greater level of detail and clarity about the role that all staff must play in fire safety, as well as the specific duties and responsibilities that apply to staff in specific roles, including Heads of Departments and Institutions and Departmental Fire Safety Managers.
The University’s new Fire Safety Policy and approach is endorsed by the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Wayne Pringle, MIFireE, Fire Protection Officer and former Station Commander for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “As a senior inspecting officer my role is to inspect building and their operations. I was asked by the University of Cambridge Fire Safety Team to review the new Fire Safety Policy and provide feedback. In my opinion, if buildings are managed in line with this policy, then compliance with fire safety legislation should be achieved.”