If your alarm battery dies, so could you

 

All residents are being urged not to push their luck when it comes to smoke alarms.

Recent statistics reveal there were 23 accidental property fires in Bishop's Stortford and a further 34 in East Herts over the past year.

However although 80 per cent of the population own smoke alarms at least one in eight fail to work, mainly because of flat or missing batteries.

Paul Coughlan said: "I cannot stress enough that it only takes seconds to push the button to check your smoke alarm and by forgetting to do this you're putting your family at risk.

continued...

"Smoke alarms provide vital early warning signs when a fire breaks out, which is often during the night."

In a drive to raise awareness of the importance of smoke alarms, PSC has joined the national Push the Button, Not Your Luck' campaign which was launched this week (August 28).

During the campaign you can download a free guide from our website it  will be provided you with a set of tips on home fire safety.

For more about smoke alarm maintenance and fire safety advice visit www.firekills.gov.uk or www.pscfiresafety.com

“So remember push the button not your luck”

 

Paul Coughlan PSC

 

Arson in School

A SCHOOL devastated in a suspected arson attack had did not have sprinklers, it was revealed today.

The staff room and office area of Copleston High School was gutted when a blaze tore through the building overnight on Sunday, causing damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Automatic fire alarms did sound but were not connected to the fire service control room and crews today revealed that the fire had been burning for at least half an hour before they arrived on scene.

Paul Seager, assistant divisional officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said the alarm system was up to date and typical of a public building where alarm systems were put in place to protect life.

He added: “There is no obligation on people who have fire alarm systems to have them linked through to our control room and there might even be technical difficulties with that.

“Nationally there are pressures being applied by the Chief Fire Officers' Association for a drive to install sprinklers in school buildings. That is as a result of national arson figures.

“However, it has been some while since we had a significant fire in a school in Suffolk.”

Moira Bryan, spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said the schools and fire service would be working together and, if lessons were to be learned from the blaze they would be taken on board.

Mr Seager said fire officers were not certain of the cause of the fire but said it started on the first floor level of the building.

He added: “We have been looking at the possibility that someone could have got on the roof and think a reasonably fit and agile person could find their way on the roof without too much trouble.

“We know which floor and which building the fire started in but that is it at the moment. We have some indicators to help us but appealing for anyone to come forward with video which could confirm some things.”

Mr Seager said there was some risk of collapse to the building as the fire had been fought and cracks had appeared in the brickwork.

The roof was completely destroyed in the blaze but the building remained standing.

He said he wanted to thank the caretaker and his assistant who had helped them gain access to the building and informed them of the lay-out and any potential dangers.

Police were linking the fire in the main building to another blaze in the gymnasium which they believe broke out later than the first.

Three points here

 

1 Sprinklers in school why we should have them

2 fire information boxes holding the information the fire brigade require on arrival

3 connecting fire alarm systems

 

We would like any comments on the above please email paul@pscfiresafety.com

FIRE SAFETY LAW AND GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS

FIRE SAFETY LAW AND GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS

New fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales will come into force on 1^st October 2006. If you are:

§   responsible for business premises

§   an employer

§   self-employed with business premises

§   a charity or voluntary organisation

§   a contractor with a degree of control over any premises

...then you will need to act by October 2006.  If you require further information please email paul@pscfiresafety.com or go to our web site www.pscfiresafety.com

 

The Minister for the FRS Angela Smith, said:

“Prevention has always been better than cure and these important reforms reflect the Government’s continued focus on risk assessment and fire prevention to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire. It is also a flagship example of the drive to cut red tape by making it quicker and easier to tackle over-complicated regulation.”

Paul Coughlan of PSC, said:

“The new rules will apply to most places except private houses and will make fire safety law easier to understand by doing away with the existing 70 separate pieces of legislation and replacing them with a new regime focused on preventing fires happening in the first place.

“Anyone responsible for premises must carry out a fire safety risk assessment by 1st October 2006.  The fire and rescue service will carry out inspections and failure to comply could lead to enforcement action or even prosecution

“If you meet your obligations under the current law, the new regime should not cost you anything more and may save you money.”

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) health and safety spokesperson, Mary Boughton, said:

"It is vital that all businesses protect the Health and Safety of their staff.  As part of their duty to do that they must be aware of the new rules about fire safety that come in to force in October.  We urge all small firms to check that they have the necessary steps in place to protect their staff and premises from the risk of fire for the sake of both their workers and the viability of their business."

The Department for Communities and Local Government is working with stakeholders to raise awareness of the new laws amongst those affected.  They have already targeted 1.6 million premises to receive a leaflet explaining the main changes and what needs to be done to comply with the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005

 

FACT: it could happen to anyone. Fire ALWAYS comes without warning.

You can’t prevent fire – you can make sure that you are not liable.

 

PSC are fire safety specialist in fire risk assessment using a format endorsed by the local fire authorities and are a preferred supplier for schools and government buildings.

 

Would you like to know that your workforce are safe?

Would you like to be confident that your business is protected and you are not in danger of receiving heavy fines?

 

Act TODAY in accordance with the Government guidelines and call PSC to make certain you are protected and your workforce is safe.

 

Don’t Delay Call NOW – 01455 557877 or visit www.pscfiresafety.com you have until October 1^st!

 

Paul Coughlan

PSC

 

Regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order and sleeping accommodation

In autumn 2006 a new law - the Regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - comes into force, replacing fire certificates and 78 other pieces of legislation. What do the changes mean?

The new law affects all forms of sleeping accommodation and includes everything in the guest accommodation scheme not previously covered, notably establishments sleeping one to six guests. In relation to self-catering properties; it does not affect single private dwellings, but does apply to a block of flats. This means that single properties remain unaffected while a house converted into holiday flats will need to comply.

The law states that operators must take responsibility for fire safety themselves, so all accommodation operators will have to carry out a fire safety risk assessment. In smaller and simple premises the operator can probably do their own assessment but in large, complex premises a trained professional is more likely to be needed. Preventative or protective measures required following the risk assessment must be installed and maintained.

Fire officers will carry out spot checks and whoever performed the risk assessment is liable for anything found to be incorrect or if anything goes wrong. Magistrates will be able to impose fines of £5,000 for each offence, while a Crown Court can impose unlimited fines and up to two years in jail. From autumn 2006, Quality in Tourism assessors can also ask to see your risk assessment.

 For help with a fire risk assessment on your accommodation why not contact us on 01455 557877

 We have recently surveyed 45 properties for a property management company when our report is presented we have told them what the state of the building is and more importantly what they have to do to comply we also provided photographic evidence.

 

After our recent fire risk assessment of the Greyhound Coaching Inn Lutterworth we established the needs and additional requirements for the hotel.  

 

PSC helped the staff with understanding their role during a fire during a brief training session where all the staff had a hands on experience of using a water extinguisher.

 

Remember this new legislation is not just for sleeping accommodation it is for all companies are you ready?

 

 

Do you want to risk investigation and a heavy fine up to £5,000?

Is it worth being negligent and costing the life possibly of an employee?

Do you want to face possible prison sentences and business closure?

 

FACT: it could happen to anyone. Fire ALWAYS comes without warning.

You can’t prevent fire – you can make sure that you are not liable.

 

PSC are fire safety specialist in fire risk assessment using a format endorsed by the local fire authorities and are a preferred supplier for schools and government buildings.

 

Would you like to know that your workforce are safe?

Would you like to be confident that your business is protected and you are not in danger of receiving heavy fines?

 

Act TODAY in accordance with the Government guidelines and call PSC to make certain you are protected and your workforce is safe.

 

Don’t Delay Call NOW – 01455 557877 or visit www.pscfiresafety.com you have until October 1^st!

 

Yours truly,

 

 

Paul Coughlan

Managing Director

PS Fire risk surveys don’t cost a lot, incorrectly protected could cost a life!

 

 

 

 

 

Tempering the flames of the new fire regulations

Tempering the flames of the new fire regulations

On 1 October 2006 the most significant change to UK fire safety legislation will take place with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO)

 

The RRO is designed to roll up nearly all the preceding pieces of UK Fire Safety legislation into one comprehensive law.

It's most significant actions in this respect are to repeal the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and to revoke to Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. 'Fire Certificates will be abolished and no longer issued.

'The main responsibility falls on the responsible person or persons who are designated responsible for fire safety.

'Initially they must conduct a fire risk assessment regardless of the size of the risk and take full corporate liability for any incident.

'The extended scope of consideration will now include property safety, fire fighter safety and the environment around the site.

'The responsible person would have a duty to protect all risks but must also appoint one or more competent person(s) to assist in the delivery of the above'.

Failure to carry out these responsibilities may result in Enforcement by the Enforcing Authority through the actions of an Inspector.

Conviction of failing to comply may lead to a penalty consisting of a fine or up to two years imprisonment.

 

So there it is all you need to know….

 

What have you done about it?

 

Do not wait for the 1^st October to arrive with out taking action.

 

 PSC have designed and use an approved format fire risk assessment and have helped or are helping hundreds of satisfied customers, can you do it yourself? 'The main responsibility falls on the responsible person or persons who are designated responsible for fire safety.’ Initially they must conduct a fire risk assessment regardless of the size of the risk and take full corporate liability for any incident.

 

Does that sound like some one in your organization? Or are you going to need help?

 

From single office blocks to large education establishments to multi site locations this is going to affect everyone.

 

Please take action today phone 01455 557877 or email paul@pscfiresafety.com

 

Bespoke Fire Risk Assessment

New fire laws place an increasing emphasis on your legal duty to carry out formal fire risk assessments. The Fire Brigade will soon have the power to revoke fire safety certificates, and in the event of a serious fire incident, prosecution proceedings could be brought against those found to have carried out an insufficient Fire Risk Assessment-particularly if Fire Rescue personnel are injured while attending an incident.

PSC’s new Fire Risk Assessment service has been designed with the advice of a senior fire professional specifically to help you comply with these new laws, whilst also prioritising areas for future attention.

A PSC consultant will assess a broad range of risk factors including sources of ignition, means of escape, warning systems, risk to personnel and many more

Using a approved system combined with qualitative review, the PSC consultant will be able to make clear, even to busy management, the significance of any risks found. During consultation with the client, an initial action plan can also be developed to facilitate change if needed.

PSC’s Fire Risk Assessment offers a highly flexible approach as users of the service can add further risk factors to the assessment where they may apply. Some buildings for example might have more difficult means of escape from fire than others, meaning that more specific risk factors must be reviewed in this area.

Recent litigation, as well as forthcoming legislative change, makes the responsibility for safety in the event of fire clear. Landlords, occupiers, and managers must ensure that Fire Risk Assessments are as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible, in order to prevent incidents occurring. According to the Fire Protection Association, 77% of businesses experiencing a major fire never fully recover.

For more information on Bespoke Fire Risk Assessment please:

 

Contact us either phone 01455 557877 or email paul@pscfiresafety.com

 

Please check our web site and scroll down the home page to sign up for a free fire safety information pack www.pscfiresafety.com

 

an amusing story???

Poles apart (Filed: 05/08/2006) A fire station without a pole is a sorry place. These gleaming shafts of brass may hark back to the days when fire engines were horse-drawn and firefighters lived above the stables, but they have never been supplanted. With pole, time from crew quarters to fire engine is about 1.5 seconds, depending on the drop. Without pole, anything up to 20 seconds down the stairs. For the firefighters at Plymouth's new Greenbank fire station, it's the stairs or nothing. The health and safety police have decreed that the threat of turned ankles and wrenched knees cannot be ignored. So Greenbank is sans pole. The Fire Brigade Union, no slouch when it comes to protecting its members' interests (or lives), is peeved, arguing that running down the stairs is more fraught with risk than sliding down a pole. May we make a suggestion? A Stannah stairlift would do the job nicely and in complete safety. And while we're about it, do firefighters seriously suppose they can continue using ladders? Such wanton recklessness. Properly secured scaffolding with a safety rail should be de rigueur. And what about all these high-pressure hosepipes? Quite lethal, in the wrong hands. No. The FBU really must shape up and become more safety-conscious. Doesn't it realise it is playing with fire?

 

Our question is what have you done to protect the fire brigade?

 

PSC are promoting the new fire Information box have a look at our web site www.pscfiresafety.com

 

This will hold information the fire brigade will require.

 

Have you protected your building?

 

Don’t wait until it to late call us today to arrange a check 01455 557877.