HMICFRS findings on site-specific risk information
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service has been issued an accelerated cause of concern after an inspection identified failures in the management of risk information for high-risk premises.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that site-specific risk information (SSRI) used by the service was frequently inaccurate or out of date.
SSRI consists of detailed data used to inform firefighting tactics and protect the public during emergency incidents.
The inspectorate concluded that the service failed to provide operational personnel with the necessary support to gather this information effectively.
Accelerated causes of concern are reserved for instances where a fire service’s performance raises direct concerns regarding public safety.
Improvements required to address the HMICFRS cause of concern
The inspectorate recommended that the service must identify every location requiring a specific risk visit and ensure data is uploaded without delay.
Effective training must be provided to the workforce to ensure staff can identify SSRI requirements and understand the associated processes.
Personnel are required to inspect high-risk locations to ensure they are familiar with specific site hazards.
The service must implement quality assurance and strategic oversight to monitor the accuracy of the risk records.
Michelle Skeer, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services, said: “I have issued an accelerated cause of concern as Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service doesn’t effectively manage risk information for high-risk premises.
“This is vital for helping protect firefighters and the public during an emergency.
“During our inspection, we found out of date risk information, cases where risks that been graded inaccurately and several sites with potential risks where no site-specific risk information was available.
“The service had identified 478 sites as requiring a SSRI record, but its quality assurance panel had only reviewed 37 of these sites.
“This means the service can’t know if its risk information is accurate and I am not confident the service has identified all places of risk.
“Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service must act urgently to identify all sites requiring a risk visit, make sure information is accurate and kept up to date and give staff the training they need to do this effectively.
“I will be closely monitoring its progress.”
The inspectorate found that some risk information currently held by the service was not effective for operational use.
Skeer noted that many sites with potential hazards had no site-specific information available at all.