Situation Vacant

General Administrator/Book-keeper


(Part-time)



IFEDA, an independent fire trade association,

seeks a General Administrator/Book-keeper for its

Buckingham, (North Bucks, UK) office



Must be capable of using Sage Accounts Package and Microsoft Office, the person will be adept at working on their own initiative, with high attention to detail, in a small office environment. Good telephone manner, literacy, numeracy, customer service and organisational skills in liaising with members and suppliers alike, a necessity.



27.5 hours per week (Monday – Friday)



For an application form please contact



grahamferris@ifeda.org

HSE - income from Business NOT taxpayer

Did you know that the Government has declared that the cost of the Health & Safety Executive must no longer be supported/funded by the government/tax payer, but that the costs of running it must ultimately lie with businesses.


They have already piloted this fee income generation programme, and it has seen costs to businesses of circa £16,000. The new 'scheme' includes £124.00 per hour i.e. the fee for any written intervention by the HSE.
Businesses include anyone in the 'supply' chain of products i.e. fire alarms, extinguishers etc

To meet concerns of IFEDA members IFEDA has joined forces with HR Specialists Fitzpatrick Wilkes & Co to deliver a H&S  seminar.

IFEDA looking after members interests

Extra dry riser training course

Re Dry Riser Maintenance – Stockport



Please be advised that the next course on 13/14th November is FULL. Therefore there will be an extra course the following week i.e. 20/21st November.

Other training dates before Christmas

We still have places available on:-

Fire extinguisher initial training course & Examination 3 days

Course number 3.088.1 16/17/18th October, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire

Course number 3.089.1 20/21/22nd November, 2012 at Fareham, Hampshire

Course number 3.090.1 4/5/6th December, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire



Fire Extinguisher One Day Refresher (as required by BS5306-3)

Course number R091.1 15th October, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire

Course number R092.1 19th November, 2012 at Fareham, Hampshire

Course number R093.1 3th December, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire



Fire Hose Reel maintenance

Course number HR.023.1 19th October, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire


Course number HR.024.1 7th December, 2012 at Stockport, Cheshire


To book any of the above courses please contact Pam via info@ifeda.org


Costs and course info can be found via www.ifeda.org/training


n.b. all of the above courses carry CPD accreditation please let us know if your candidate requires a CPD certificate in addition to the IFEDA one.

IFEDA: Latest breach of FSO

You may find the latest breach of the FSO interesting from the point of view that the prosecution is more about the failure to provide information rather than the usual specific breach:  ignorance or hoping the F&RSS will go away just doesn’t work.

Hove couple fined for obstructing Fire Officers

On 20th September 2012 a couple from Hove were convicted for breaches of fire safety legislation relating to their premises, (a mix of business and residential occupancies within the one building).

Following the trial at Brighton Magistrates Court, local business persons Mr Gamal Khalil Ibrahim Khalil and Mrs Fulorina Fuad Sayidhum were fined £500 each and ordered to pay costs totalling £2,890 by Brighton Magistrates’ Court, despite pleading not guilty to a breach of Fire Safety legislation relating to their premises.

Following a serious fire at the premises on 9th July 2011, a Fire Safety Inspector from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) visited the premises and identified a number of possible breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Further investigations resulted in a notice being served on both Mr Khalil and Mrs Sayidhum. This notice required the provision of information to enable East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Fire Safety Inspectors to ascertain whether the provisions of The Order had been complied with within the premises. Mr Khalil and Mrs Sayidhum failed to comply with this notice, which is an offence under The Order.

Business owners across the City of Brighton & Hove and East Sussex are advised to pay attention to their legal obligations to ensure that their premises are safe from fire. Richard Fowler, Head of Protection for ESFRS, said:


“East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service would like to take this opportunity to remind all persons responsible for buildings of their legal responsibility to protect their occupiers and any staff against the risk of fire. The public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of Fire Safety very seriously, including the duty to provide information when requested, as this is fundamental to enabling Inspectors to carry out their statutory functions.

"It is disappointing that Mr Khalil and Mrs Sayidhum chose to ignore their statutory duty to provide information as requested, as this failure has resulted in our investigation into their premises being hindered."


IFEDA would like to remind all business owners that it is the duty of the Responsible Person* to undertake and ultimately have available a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment.

IFEDA members are third party accredited or working towards this goal. If you would like to find a fire protection comnpany in your area please see www.ifeda.org/members

*Duty Holder in Scotland and Appropriate Person in N.I.

Extinguisher Refresher Courses - Glasgow & Great Yarmouth

As you know BS5306-3 : 2009 requires that fire extinguisher technicians renew their certificate every three years*.

To this end there will be a one day extinguisher refresher course at the Holiday Inn Express, West Nile Street, Glasgow on 23rd May and at the Caldecott hotel, Fritton, Great Yarmouth on 17th May. 

Please note the IFEDA extinguisher training courses are recognised by BAFE as per BS5306-3 : 2009 annex A – and carry CPD accreditation.

*As previously highlighted, if you are in the BAFE scheme SP101/ST104 or are working towards the scheme – BAFE assessors are now looking for ‘large gaps’ between certificates and if appropriate recommending that the initial course may need to be retaken.

IFEDA : Fire Extinguisher Technicians Training

1 Day Refresher Course – Glasgow & Great Yarmouth

 

REFRESHER TRAINING & TESTING OF EXTINGUISHER SERVICE TECHNICIANS

BS5306-3 recommends the competent person; having passed the described examination should attend a refresher course at least every three years. 

a)      Minimum duration one day.

b)     Covers new requirements, new classes of fire and new products in the market place, such as:

bi)      British Standards

bii)     Relevant UK statutory regulations

biii)    Commissioning and Basic services

biv)    Extended services

bv)     Recharging

bvi)    Overhauling

c)          Concludes with a written test of understanding for the competent person, as prescribed by BS5306-3: 2009 Annex A.

The cost of this course to non IFEDA members is £160 + vat per candidate.

The cost includes a comprehensive training manual, examination/certificate and refreshments but not accommodation or travelling.

         

Because IFEDA is a non-profit making organisation the following TERMS & CONDITIONS must be applied to all course bookings:

• Payment must be made at the time of booking and all fees are subject to VAT.
• Cancellation of bookings must be made in writing.
• Cancellations received after booking, but up to 14 days prior to course start date will be subject to 50% cancellation fee.
• If cancellations are received later than 14 days prior to course start date or, in the event of failure to arrive for a course, the full fee is payable.
• Duplicate certificates are available within 3 years of issue date upon application in writing at a fee of £15.00 per certificate.
• Courses are offered subject to sufficient bookings being received.

   

Course manuals will be sent with the course acknowledgement and instructions by post.

            Certificates will be issued to successful candidates within 21 days

To book for this course or for more details please call our National Office on 0844 225 1800 or send an email to info@ifeda.org with the candidates name and a postal address to send the manual/paperwork to.

Our website training page is at www.ifeda.org/training

This course carries CPD accreditation.

IFEDA Image Library

IFEDA launches a 'non-branded' image library to assist members with their promotional material (also available to non-members).

please see http://www.ifeda.org/ifeda-image-library for details.

FSO Breach : Milton Keynes Landlord Jailed

29^th March

The landlord and registered owner of a house in Milton Keynes where a mother and her young daughter died in a fire in 2010 has been sent to prison for four months and ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

Lookman Adeyemi, aged 38, of Buckfast Avenue, Bletchley, appeared for sentencing this afternoon before His Honour Justice Lord Parmoor at Amersham Law Courts.

Mr Adeyemi pleaded guilty at the same court on 8 March to three counts of breaching fire safety regulations. The counts were that he placed people at risk of death or serious injury in case of fire because:

· He failed to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk.

· He failed to ensure that, in the event of danger, it was possible for people to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible.

· There were insufficient fire detectors and alarms at the premises.

The case against Mr Adeyemi was brought by Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, following a fire at 200 Fishermead Boulevard, Fishermead, Milton Keynes, on 5 September 2010.

Sentencing him, His Honour Justice Lord Parmoor said: "Although your failings did not cause the fire, the fact that one of your tenants and a child died is some indication of the risk run by your tenants, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"You were not dealing with rich people. These were people, some of whom did not have a job. You were dealing with a very vulnerable clientele."

Senior fire safety officer Chris Bailey from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, speaking outside the court afterwards, said: "Mr Adeyemi provided accommodation and received rent on the basis that the residence was a house in multiple occupation. The residents paid not only for the provision of accommodation, but also for the peace of mind that they were renting a place to live that was safe from fire. Mr Adeyemi failed in his legal duty to provide adequate fire safety arrangements at this address.

"The sentence should act as a reminder to all landlords who provide rented accommodation as part of a house in multiple occupation. They must give proper consideration to the provision of fire safety arrangements, and to the suitable management of these measures once the premises is occupied.”

Ends

Training updates from IFEDA

Following is the latest training information from IFEDA.

The details of all the following courses can be found here

Extinguisher Service Technician (BAFE recognized) Refresher Course (1 day)

Venue Date

Stockport 16^th April

Glasgow 10^th May Special price of £160 to non-members

Fareham 14^th May

Stockport 18^th June

It is a requirement of BS5306-3; 2009 that extinguisher certificates are renewed every three years – with an out of date certificate there is the possibility that your insurances will be invalid and by consequence the insurance of your customer should there be an incident.

Also, BAFE are now requiring that their assessors should look for long gaps between certificates and take appropriate action.

Members £157+ vat Non members £182+ vat*

Extinguisher Service Technician (BAFE Recognized) Initial training course & examination (3 days)

Venue Date

Stockport 17 – 19 April

Fareham 15 – 17 May

Stockport 19 – 21 June

Members £540+ vat Non-members £640+ vat*

Fire Awareness/Train the Trainer (3 day)

Venue Date

Stockport 12 – 14 June

Members £540+vat Non-members £640+vat*

Successful candidates receive a comprehensive manual and a certificate of attendance

Fire Hose Reel Maintenance Course & Examination (1 Day)

Venue Date

Stockport 22 June

19 October

Members £255+ vat Non-members £285+ vat*

Successful candidates receive a comprehensive manual and a certificate of competence thus satisfying the Responsible Person’s requirement to prove competence of the servicing company.

Dry Riser Maintenance Course & Examination (2 Days)

Venue Date

Stockport 22 – 23 May

24 – 25 July

Members £305+vat Non-members £355+ vat*

Successful candidates receive a comprehensive manual and a certificate of competence thus satisfying the Responsible Person’s requirement to prove competence of the servicing company.

*Why not save money on training courses and become a member of IFEDA.

IFEDA prides itself on our support to members – help is only ever a phone call or email away.

At IFEDA is a non-profit making organisation with everyone paying the same membership fee** irrespective of company size or amount of turnover: everyone is equal – one person one vote.

Did you know, IFEDA members now enjoy a FREE (no obligation) HR audit of their personnel and business policies as well as a number of free HR support phone-calls– one member commented “with only some out-date and inappropriate polices in place the process has saved me a lot of money”.

Members and their technicians also have FREE on-line access to The IFEDA Guide to Contract Maintenance which includes the maintenance instructions for many brands of fire extinguisher used across the market-place as well as access to a library of technical and business memos, method statements plus much more.

Other benefits of membership including assistance with achieving ISO 9001 can be found here

To book any of the above courses please contact Karen on info@ifeda.org

**Membeship costs just £325+ vat per annum and this amount may be paid by direct debit over 10 months.

Regards

Graham

IFEDA: an ISO 9001 Association and the voice of the independent fire trade

New IFEDA discussion group

For those of you with an account on Linkedin there is now new discussion group 'IFEDA' which is open to anyone with an interest in the fire industry http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4315456 presently we have a discussion on the non-attendance of fire alarms - any thoughts?

IFEDA website update

I have re-instated the IFEDA web-page that will allow you to purchase British Standards direct. On the IFEDA home page is a tab called products, when you hover above it with your mouse another tab will appear called BSI. Clicking on BSI will take you to our updated webpage and a list of the most used/requested standards for the fire industry.
Any problems please let me know –all appeared fine when I checked it.

IFEDA - Extinguisher Technician Refresher Course - Glasgow

BS5306-3 : 2009 requires that fire extinguisher technicians renew their certificate every three years. To this end there will be a one day extinguisher refresher course at the Holiday Inn Express, West Nile Street, Glasgow on Thursday 10th May 2012. The cost of the course for Non- IFEDA members £160 + vat. Please note the IFEDA extinguisher training courses are recognised by BAFE as per BS5306-3 : 2009 annex A.

The cost of the course includes; comprehensive training manual, certificate and refreshments.To check any details re the syllabus please click here.

If you are interested in this course, in the first instance, please reply by email to grahamferris@ifeda.org