Firex North - And the winner is!

Robert Kearney of UBM was delighted to provide IFEDA with some independent adjudication for the 'win a fire extinguisher training course' draw at our exhibition stand.

Robert (on the left) picked out the business card of Communications Maintenance Services from Adlington, Chorley, Lancs.

Congratulations CMS - we hope you enjoy the course.

Win a BAFE recognised fire extinguisher training course

IFEDA will be at FIREX North exhibition on 27th & 28th October, Stand A33.

Do make sure you come along and say hello. Not only will you find out what IFEDA can do for your business but if you leave your business card with us you will have the chance of winning one of our industry recognised initial 3 day training courses for fire extinguisher technicians at either of our Stockport or Fareham training centres - worth £640.

For course information please see www.ifeda.org/training.htm

London Fire Brigade : Industrial action imminent

Following isa letter to London based trade associations, businesses and service providers.
Dear Sir/Madam,

DISRUPTION OF SERVICE DUE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION

I refer to my letter dated 28 September 2010 that advised of potential disruption to the Authority’s services. This letter is to confirm that industrial action will go ahead and the Fire Brigade’s Union has advised that the first proposed dates for action are 23 October and 1 November 2010. Any further proposed dates for industrial action will be reported in the press.
We will put in place alternative arrangements to ensure an emergency attendance in response to 999 calls although there may be a delayed attendance. We will not however be able to take calls from alarm receiving centres on the normal numbers and in the event of a fire alarm, you are advised to contact the Brigade on the 999 emergency number so that an attendance may be mobilised to the premises concerned.
During the period of industrial action there are a number of things you can do to reduce calls to the fire service and the risk of fire occurring which are outlined below. Taking these measures will also ensure you are protecting your business and staff.
If your fire alarm operates during any period of industrial action please react as follows:
Immediately the fire alarm sounds, put into action your normal evacuation routine.
Unless it is obvious that there is a fire, investigate the source of the alarm to establish if it is a fire or a false alarm.
If you are certain that there is no fire and no suspicion of a fire then the building should be reoccupied. Under these circumstances, do not call the fire brigade. If, during the investigation, a fire is discovered or there is a smell of burning or smoke that cannot be accounted for then dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade.
To prevent any unnecessary disruption, please ensure that any known problems resulting in false fire alarms are corrected so that there is a high degree of confidence that fire alarms that do occur are genuine.

If you have lifts in your building you should ensure that, in the event of a lift becoming stuck, clear advice is available on how to contact the responsible maintenance company. Details should be made available in the lift and where alarm calls are received in the building.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal requirement upon employers and persons with responsibility for premises. These responsibilities and safety measures are designed to protect life regardless of fire service intervention. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that all existing fire safety provisions are in place and effective. Directors, Senior Managers and Health & Safety Managers will want to ensure the following are being considered:
Check business continuity plans;
Check the effectiveness of existing fire precautions;
Check staff are fully aware of fire and evacuation procedures;
Take appropriate steps to enhance staff vigilance;
Review arrangements for calling the emergency services;
The need for additional staffing or patrols.

During the period of industrial action it should be noted that we may not be able to respond to any fire safety enquiries within our normal time-scales. I would, however, highlight the fact that it remains the responsibility of employers and other premises occupiers to comply with fire safety law; information on how to achieve this, and more general fire safety advice, is available on our website at:
www.london-fire.gov.uk
I apologise for any inconvenience this temporary disruption may cause and can assure you that we will be taking all necessary action to minimise its effects.

Yours faithfully,

STEVE TUREK
Assistant Commissioner
Fire Safety Regulation

RRO Breach :

Liverpool launderette owner ordered to pay £9,000 over fire safety breaches

Liverpool Echo 19th October 2010

A LAUNDERETTE owner has been ordered to pay £9,000 after failing to comply with fire safety laws.
Christine Doyle, who owns Wash and Press Centre on Aigburth Road, had no fire prevention or detection measures when she was visited by fire safety inspectors.
The launderette was issued with a stop notice and closed after the visit last November, but she continued to trade.

RRO breaches: Indian restaurant bosses fined £8,000 for 'horrific' safety failings

Ignorance of the RRO is no excuse.

TWO bosses at a well-known Indian restaurant have each been fined £4,000 for breaching fire regulations after a blaze at the premises.
Plymouth magistrates told Taklus Hussain and Faizul Hoque they were ‘horrified’ at safety breaches at Mutley Spice.
They heard that smoke alarms at Mutley Spice were inadequate and stairwells leading to flats above were blocked.
The court was told that the fire was only spotted when a passer-by saw smoke.
Presiding magistrate Diana Greene said: “We were horrified at the extent of your non-compliance. If a random passer-by had not seen the smoke the outcome could have been extremely different. It hardly bears thinking about.”
Magistrates fined them both a total of £4,000 and ordered that they pay £2,300 each in prosecution costs.
Part of the basement restaurant was seriously damaged but nobody was hurt in the fire last November.
Hussain, aged 57, and Hoque, aged 48, admitted four breaches of fire regulations which put people at risk of death or serious injury on or before November 23 last year.
Hussain and Hoque, both of Mutley, admitted not carrying out a proper fire risk assessment and not giving staff proper training.
They also admitted not having suitable detectors and alarms and not keeping exits clear from the domestic premises at the three-storey building.
Kingsley Keat, prosecuting for the Devon and Fire Rescue Authority, said that a fire started when a member of staff left a heater on at about 5pm on November 23.
He added that the risk was not to any customers who may have been in the restaurant but to members of staff who stayed in the flats above the restaurant in Mutley Plain.
The court heard that the fire brigade were called by a passer-by.
Mr Keat said that the stairwells to the upper floors were cluttered with boxes, pots and other items.
He added that the building was not fitted with adequate commercial standard smoke detectors and fire alarms.
Anthony Dyke, for both men, said that the offences happened through ignorance and were not a deliberate breach of the law.
He added that the restaurant itself was largely compliant with fire regulations but the mistake the directors made was allowing staff to stay overnight in the accommodation upstairs.

RRO Breaches: Cheshire Hotel Fined £75,000

Hoteliers are being warned to check fire safety equipment and procedures at their premises after The Belfry Hotel in Cheshire was fined £75k for breaching fire safety codes.
A routine visit (in April 2008) by the fire service to the 160-bedroom Hallmark Hotel revealed such severe safety issues that Fire Safety Officers closed the hotel immediately.
They found numerous faulty smoke detectors and substandard fire exits, while the hotel’s third floor failed to contain a single working fire alarm. Staff were also found to have not been properly trained in fire safety.
Lee Shears, manager for Community Fire Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Fire safety is a key part of good business management and the Hallmark Hotel Group showed little or no regard for the safety of their guests or employees and the result was a prosecution.”
The Belfry Hotel pleaded guilty to three counts of serious breaches of the regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order at Chester Crown Court on Monday (4 October), paying £25k for each offence and £53k in costs.
Judge Elgin Edwards told the court that the legislation is there to ensure the protection of the public.
“For people who run hotels, fire security is particularly important,” he said. “This company carried on trading and taking guests when quite clearly these guests were put at substantial risk.”
The Belfry Hotel was given permission to reopen four days later after fixing fire safety problems and installing the required equipment.

IFEDA comment: If anyone is unsure of their responsibilities with regards to the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order IFEDA members are only to happy to help and advise especially with regards to Fire Risk Assessments BUT as the above case shows just don't ignore the problem, your local authorities will close buildings and prosecute when they deem it necessary. http://www.ifeda.org/regions.htm

The dangers of candles

A HOUSE blaze, where a mother and her young son narrowly escaped injury, has prompted fire chiefs to issue a warning about the dangers of candles. Cleveland Fire Brigade crews were called to Hastings Way in Billingham last Friday night (1st ) after a candle is thought to have set fire to curtains in a living room. The occupants, a mother and her two-year-old son, both attended hospital for checks after the incident but were later released. Ian Harrington, District Manager for Stockton, said the incident highlighted the dangers of naked flames in the home and called for people to be extra careful. He said: “Candles can be a very quick way of seriously putting your life in danger if you don’t pay attention. Never leave them unattended. On this occasion this family was very lucky but on another occasion they might not have been so fortunate.”

Press release October 2010

IFEDA set the standards

As champions for standards within the fire industry, the fire association IFEDA have passed their ISO 9001: 2008 inspection. Adherence to ISO is a public commitment to IFEDA’s belief in quality standards, enabling it to provide the best service to members. As an independent audit, ISO demonstrates that IFEDA are achieving their goals.
Graham Ferris, General Manager says: “Passing this inspection demonstrates that as a trade association IFEDA are practising what we ask members to commit to. It is 3rd party recognition of the continuing standards we strive for in the industry.”
As an independent trade association that champions quality and service within the fire industry, IFEDA ask members to demonstrate their commitment to raising standards by passing ISO 9001: 2008 themselves. For members that fail to work towards this standard, membership is terminated. Eight members have had their membership terminated this year for failing to fulfil this commitment.
Graham Ferris continues “It’s unfortunate that a small proportion of memberships have been terminated, however when all members commit to raising standards within the industry and work hard towards this, non-compliance reflects badly on everyone.”
Details on the benefits of IFEDA membership can be found at: www.ifeda.org.