Fire brigade says have a safe Bonfire Night

 

THE London Fire Brigade expects to be called to about 400 incidents involving bonfires and fireworks around November 5.

"Each year the brigade is called to a large number of incidents around bonfire night that result in unnecessary injuries and extensive damage to property," said Assistant Commissioner for community safety Steve Turek.

"If you are organising your own celebrations at home then please follow all the safety guidelines.

continued...

"Better still, why not go along to one of the fireworks displays being organised in your local area for a safe and enjoyable Guy Fawkes."

If you are organising a firework display or bonfire at home, the brigade urges you to follow these safety guidelines: Only buy fireworks marked with the British Standard kitemark BS7114 Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.

Keep them in a closed box, preferably a metal one.

Follow the instructions on each firework.

Light them at arms-length using a taper and stand well back.

Never go back to them once they are lit.

Even if it hasn't gone off, it could still explode.

Never throw fireworks and never put them in your pocket.

Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves and never give them to children under five.

When a sparkler goes out, don't touch it, it could still burn you so put it hot end down in a bucket of water.

Keep your pets indoors throughout the evening.

Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges.

Never use flammable liquids to help start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.

Don't leave bonfires unattended. An adult should supervise it until it has burnt out. If it has to be left, damp it down with water.

Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of emergency. You can use a hosepipe in an emergency during a hosepipe ban.

For more information on home fire safety download a free guide at www.pscfiresafety.com

We have launched two new products last week blinds and cd rom health and safety programs please go on to our site and have a look we will be happy to help or advise on any of our products.

Don't be ignorant

 

 

Smoke alarm ownership among the Asian community is 10% lower than the national average.

In the run up to Eid and Diwali the community is being urged not to be be complacent when it comes to Fire Safety.

Statistics show that every year in the UK there are 48,000 accidental fires in people's homes, resulting in 327 deaths and 10,000 injuries.

continued...

The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of fire safety issues within Asian communities.

The campaign aims to ensure that Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Muslim communities celebrating the festivals do so safely.

Candle fires increase by over a third during the Diwali period and over 20 percent of deaths caused by candles occur at this time. National statistics show five fires are caused by candles in the home every day.

The celebrations all involve an increased amount of cooking and entertaining in the home. National statistics indicate the heightened risk of fire within the kitchen with nearly 57 percent of all fires in the home caused by cooking accidents,. There are 20 fat pan fires every day in the UK.

Fire Minister Angela Smith, said: "It is ironic and tragic that during periods of celebration there is a dramatic increase in the number of fires amongst many communities.

"It's not only Diwali and Eid, but we also see an increase at Christmas - it's often that safety comes second to celebration.

"The campaign aims to make communities more aware of their surroundings and ensure that they are actively thinking about fire safety in the home."

"By taking just a few simple precautions you can greatly reduce the risks for yourself and your family. I would especially urge the celebrating communities to ensure they have a working smoke alarm installed on every floor of their home."

The announcement complements other fire safety work undertaken by the DCLG and the fire and rescue service and supports the Government's mainstream Smoke Alarm Maintenance' campaign, running concurrently.

Once again another worry how can we help please visit our web site scroll down the home page and you can collect a free government guide to fire safety in the home www.pscfiresafety.com

Or you can always give Paul Coughlan a call or email he will be more than happy to offer advice on fire related matters 01455 557877 or paul@pscfiresafety.com

 

Universities failing to protect students

 

Students kept in the dark about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning

Britain's universities are failing in their duty to protect students from the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning according to a survey of over 1,000 students.

The laissez faire attitude of many higher education establishments when it comes to advising students about safety procedures is putting lives at risk.

Less than a third of students have received even the most basic fire safety information from their university despite one in eight knowing someone who had been involved in a domestic fire.

Over half feel at risk from a fire in their term time accommodation.

Only 6% have received any advice on the dangers of CO poisoning and only one in ten have had an audible carbon monoxide alarm fitted even though incidences of deaths from the silent killers are higher among student populations.

The government have produced a free fire safety guide to home fire safety you can down load this free from our web site www.pscfiresafety.com may I suggest if you have or know a student attending University please email them and tell them to down load the PDF guide and at least read it, I think it is a valuable tool and there are lots of sensible advice that will reduce remove or replace the fire risk they may come across.

I have been asked by some contacts about this subject before, it would be great if we got every student to down load this guide www.pscfiresafety.com  I would sleep happier so come on take action now go to our home page www.pscfiresafety.com  scroll down to the bottom give us your details and it will link to the free PDf government guide to home fire safety.

If you would like to comment on this report or any have any other questions please email paul@pscfiresafety.com we would be more than happy to solve the problem or get an answer to you.

 

And remember push the button not your luck!!! Wake up get a smoke alarm!!!!

 

Paul Coughlan

PSC

 

New UK Laws Come Into Force Today, October 1st: Don't Get Burned By The New UK Fire Regulations

 

The new legislation effective from today, 1st October 2006 requires employers and others responsible for buildings to comply with the new Fire Safety Law. If you don't have a fire assessment, you're breaking the law.

(PRWEB) October 1, 2006 -- The new legislation effective from 1st October 2006 requires employers and others responsible for buildings to comply with the new Fire Safety Law. Previously it was the responsibility of the Fire Authority to ensure compliance with fire safety law and this was managed via local fire brigades.

Publication of "The Fire Safety-An Employers Guide" by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 1999 stated the advent of a new employer led approach towards fire safety at work in the UK. This was necessary to bring the UK in line with European Union directives.

New reforms will see a much greater need for employers to comply with fire protection law. The new law means that employers will need to produce fire risk assessments and introduce action plans to minimise the risk from fire and the consequences should one arise.

So the new law will

•    Emphasise preventing fires and reducing risk
•    Make it your responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone who uses your premises and in the immediate vicinity
•    Do away with the need for fire certificates

The importance of your responsibilities should not be under estimated.

Who Does This Affect?
Anyone who maybe the responsible person for offices, shops, factories, hospitals, hotels, care homes, places of assembly and so on will need to comply with new legislation. In fact the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations cover all premises that people have access to except for single domestic premises.

What Needs To Be Done?
As an employer or responsible person a fire risk assessment must be carried out, which is required to focus on the safety in the case of fire of all relevant persons. The fire assessment will pay attention to those at special risk, such as disabled people, those with special needs, young persons and must include consideration for any dangerous substances. The fire risk assessment will help identify risks that can be removed or reduced and help you to decide the extent of the general fire precautions you need to take.

If the organization or business employs five or more people you must record the significant findings of the assessment. Regardless of the number of employees it is good practice to record your significant findings.

 

 

 

 

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?    

A fire risk assessment is an organized and methodical review of a premises, what activities are carried out and the likelihood that a fire could start.

The aims of the fire risk assessment are:

•    To identify any fire hazards
•    To reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm
•    To decide what physical fire precautions and management arrangements are required to ensure the safety of people in your premises should a fire start.

The assessment will consider "what if" scenarios and consider such key components as:

•    Sources of Ignition
•    Sources of fuel
•    Sources of oxygen (air)
•    Persons at risk
•    Means of Escape
•    Fire Detection and Warning
•    Means of Fighting Fire
•    Emergency Planning.

What Next?

For help creating a fire assessment and other information contact www.pscfiresafety.com , an online tool which creates a comprehensive fire assessment and online log books.

The fire risk assessment should clearly demonstrate that, as far as is practicable and reasonable you have considered the needs of all relevant persons. Whilst it is possible for a simple fire risk assessment to be completed by the responsible person, in the real world employers have other things to think about, like earning a living.

All this may seem daunting however there is help available, there are service providers who are able to supply you with a fire risk assessment as required by this new legislation. There is the option of completing your risk assessment online via the Internet or by contacting local service providers who will attend your premises and complete a survey of the facilities. Your local fire services are always available to offer advice