Don’t get caught, get safe….

Fire Warden/Fire Marshal Training 16th May 2013

Weekly Fire Extinguisher Checks – What’s Needed.

A recurring theme across many of the assessments that we carry out is the lack of understanding concerning what weekly, monthly, quarterly, six monthly and annual checks need to be carried out.

Apart from the regular maintenance required to meet legal or British Standards, weekly checks are also needed.  We usually advise that these can be carried out by the Fire Wardens, and the checks recorded in the site fire log by whomever carried them out.

The blog refers particularly to the checks needed for Fire Extinguishers.  The British Standard relating to fire extinguishers is BS5306, and the various sections refer to the standards required for the maintenance and upkeep of fire fighting equipment (such as annual servicing).  As far as the weekly checks are concerned, the following should be implemented:

1. Firstly make sure the extinguishers are located wehere they are supposed to be.
2. Are the extinguishers on hooks on the wall or purpose made plinths?
3. Are there fire extinguisher ID signs with the extinguishers?
4. Check for any signs of tampering such as broken or missing tamper seals.
5. Check for any signs of agent discharge on the hose or horn of the extinguisher.
6. Check to make sure gauge pressure is correct, if not the pointer will be in the red.
7. Look for any damage such as missing parts, dents or rust.
8. Extra attention should be given to workplaces with a high risk of damage such as fire extinguisher that are on haulage vehicles.
9. If there is damage to the extinguisher, this must be repaired by a competent individual or company or replaced straight away.

These are not exhaustive checks, but are essential in ensuring a safe working environment.

If you need and fire safety help or advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Chris on 01246 434 314 or chris.maher@fire-safety-specialists.co.uk.

Working with Safelincs

Vin and Chris had a great meeting with SAFELINCS last week.  Meeting with Stuart Baxter, an online shop was discussed, as well as Fire Risk Assessments and other fire safety projects.   This was a very positive meeting, and we are looking forward to seeing how the relationship will develop over 2013.

For any fire safety advice, consultancy or services, call Chris on 01246 434 314.

Fire Safety Guides

Fire Safety Law & Free Guidance Documents

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) came into effect in October 2006 and replaced over 70 pieces of fire safety law. The RRO applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales, including the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The law applies to you if you are:

• Responsible for business premises
• An employer or self-employed with business premises
• Responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
• A charity or voluntary organisation
• A contractor with a degree of control over any premises
• Providing accommodation for paying guests

Under the RRO, the responsible person must carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, ensure an emergency plan is in place, maintain up to date fire safety records, ensure staff training is carried out, implement fire evacuation drills and a fire management plan.

Guides on what needs to be done are available on the Local Government Website, by clicking on this link

Risk Assessment Guidance Documents

 Who is responsible?

 Fire Risk Assessment.

 Fire Safety Advice Documents.

 Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans.

 Equipment, Drills and Training.

 Enforcement and Penalties.

Penalties

You can be prosecuted for not following fire safety regulations. If you’re convicted you could get a fine or go to prison.

Minor penalties can be up to £5,000. Major penalties can have unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison.

DON’T GET CAUGHT, GET SAFE – CALL 01246 434 314 FOR ADVICE OR A SITE VISIT.

Fire Service Facing More Cuts

More Bleak news for the Emergency Services

“Fire authorities will have £600 million less to spend on keeping the public safe from harm in five years compared to 2011/12, according to a new report published today.

The stark warning comes from the Local Government Association (LGA) which says that the fire service will have to undergo major reforms if the service is to be sustained.

In the ‘Fire future funding report’, the LGA, which represents the 46 fire authorities in England, warns that funding for community prevention schemes is likely to suffer the most from budget cuts.

Funding reductions mean that less money will be available to the fire service for work such as testing smoke alarms as well as advising residents on safety measures and how to prevent fires.

However, research shows that over the past decade, as the amount of money spent on prevention work has increased, the number of fires and fatalities has fallen significantly.

Youth education programmes, for example, are estimated to achieve savings of £1.85 for every £1 spent by helping to reduce the number of fires set deliberately.

The warning comes as the fire industry meets for its annual conference in Brighton. Nearly 300 fire industry experts are coming together to debate the future of the service in the face of significant budget cuts….cont.”

5 top tips

5 Tips for a Safer Workplace. 
                                    
Whether  an employer or an employee, we all have a responsibility to look after fire safety  in the workplace.  It does not need to be a daunting task, it’s simply a matter of common sense, an efficient fire safety record system and education.

1. Don’t let fire start - Prevention is better than cure.  More business collapse following a serious fire than recover.  So to guarantee you can pay the mortgage next month or book the family holiday, make sure that systems, processes and policies are put in place to prevent fire.

2. Appoint Responsible Staff -  Fire Wardens, Fire Coordinators and a Person responsible for fire safety should be appointed. The Fire Wardens and Responsible Person (as required by law) can share the day to day duties such as checking extinguishers, means of escape and carrying out weekly fire alarm checks.  Trained Fire Wardens and Fire Coordinators ensure that an evacuation happens quickly and efficiently. 

3. Write it down - Prepare an Emergency Plan and Fire Procedures.  Make sure they are available for staff to read and understand.  Ensure that the Fire Risk Assessment has been carried out, the details made available to employees and other occupiers, and that any actions taken to rectify issues are recorded.

4. Repetition, repetition, repetition – repetition is the mother of all learning.  Train staff when they start with the business as part of their induction, and repeat the training on a regular basis. Carry out evacuation drills every 6 months so that staff, Fire Wardens and Fire Coordinators get to practice the drills and procedures.

5. If in doubt, ask - Don’t sit in blissful ignorance.  Free advice is available from the local Fire Service, online…….and by calling 01246 434 314 for thorough and sensible fire safety help.

For further advice please give us a call on 01246 434 314.

Privatisation of the Fire Service – the future or just another austerity measure?

Is this the future of the Emergency Services in the UK?

“A NORTH-East fire service will be “privatised” next year, under Government plans – after ministers decided to fast-track the controversial move. The shake-up of Cleveland Fire Authority (CFA) – to allow private firms to bid to run its services – would be carried out by 2014, under a fresh proposal to be rushed through parliament. The fast-track comes as a letter by a Government minister has laid bare, for the first time, the full impact of creating a public service mutual (PSM), in Cleveland. Long-standing legislation to prevent the creation of privately-run fire brigades would be repealed – allowing firms to answer emergencies, enter premises and make a profit” ….cont

Fire Warden Training 13th Feb 2013

London Fire Stations to Close

FIRE chiefs’ rejection of plans to close Downham, New Cross and Woolwich fire stations may be “unacceptably” ignored by the Mayor of London.

Proposals to close 12 fire stations and axe 520 jobs were thrown out by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) at a meeting – picketed by hundreds of firefighters – on Monday.

But Mayor of London Boris Johnson – who has final say over plans aimed at saving £45m over the next two years – says the authority’s decision offers “nothing positive” and he will press on with the consultation anyway…cont