IWMA and FRIC to embark on a research project

by Featured NewsSafety

The International Water Mist Association (IWMA) and the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC) in Norway are about to start a collaborative research project aiming to gather information on the performance of sprinklers to quantify the consistency of their extinguishing performance.

IWMA general manager Bettina McDowell explains: “For this purpose, IWMA will collect data which will then be made available to FRIC. FRIC will then organize, process, and analyse the data and publish an open report.”

As far as the schedule is concerned, IWMA and FRIC are looking at a one-year project. The collection of the data will commence during the second quarter of 2022. The report will be published during the first or second quarter of 2023.

IOSH backs manifesto to end workplace deaths

by Featured NewsSafety

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) today calls for a joint effort to create a safer a healthier world of work as a new manifesto is launched which aims to end workplace fatalities by 2030.

IOSH is one of many organisations to sign the manifesto ‘Zero Death at Work’, which is launched today by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

In unveiling the manifesto, ETUC estimates that more than 27,000 people may lose their lives at work in the EU over the current decade unless action is taken to make workplaces safer, something IOSH says is unacceptable.

Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher, Chief Executive of IOSH, said: “IOSH supports the European Trade Union Confederation call for zero death at work. We promote safe work and workplaces in which no lives are lost and we believe firmly that all deaths can and should be prevented. We encourage an holistic approach to preventing deaths due to occupational injuries through multi-faceted governmental and corporate prevention strategies. This requires strong leadership, worker-involvement and occupational safety and health (OSH) capacity-building, underpinned by effective OSH regulatory regimes.”

Today’s launch coincides with International Workers’ Memorial Day, an annual day in which people who have lost their lives through work are remembered. It is also World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Vanessa added: “On this day, every year, we commemorate all those lives lost due to accidents and ill-health caused by poor working conditions and inadequate protections. We also consider what improvements everyone can make to protect workers’ rights to go home healthy each day.

“Global figures from the International Labour Organisation show that many people are still dying as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases, and new challenges such as the Covid-19 public health crisis highlight workplaces as potential sources of transmission. Added to the rise of the informal economy and platform working and impacts of climate change on OSH, there is still much to do to protect workers across the entire value chain. We need action by policy-makers, Governments, regulators, organisations and workers to driver a safer and healthier world of work, and one that revitalises and ‘builds back better and healthier.

“As the world’s largest body for professionals dedicated to occupational safety and health, our charitable objects direct us to pursue the vision of a safe and healthy world of work. Our mission supports this, and our members dedicate their working lives to the protection of workers health and safety, the prevention of harm, building sustainable workforces and supporting their colleagues to lead healthy, productive lives.”

IOSH is joined by Ministers, MEPs, trade union leaders and top occupational safety and health experts in signing the manifesto.

Vanessa added: “Our Catch the Wave campaign highlights how setting high standards in the treatment of workforces, communities and supply chains will reward everyone. Let’s work together to make our shared vision a reality.”

Experts ask for ‘accountability’ in Building Safety Bill amendment

by Breaking NewsSafety

An amendment to the Building Safety Bill, which removes the requirement for landlords to appoint Building Safety Managers in leasehold buildings seven storeys and over, is being challenged by a leading tall buildings fire safety expert.

Russ Timpson – a former firefighter and Managing Director of the Tall Buildings Fire Safety Network -is urging the government to reconsider its decision to scrap the recommendation first proposed by Dame Judith Hackitt in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

“This latest iteration of the all-important Building Safety Bill states that responsibility for fire safety will now fall squarely on the squarely on the shoulders of an ‘Accountable Person’, such as the freeholder or head lessee or a management company.

“Whilst the exact details regarding how this might be implemented are scant at this point, a dramatic rolling back of the proposals would be out of step with the Hackitt report and is something which must be avoided.

“It is abundantly clear, in my view, that when it comes to health and safety an ‘Accountable Person’ must, above all, be a qualified person. In other words, someone with the knowledge, skills and competencies to proactively tackle and reduce fire safety risk amidst an increasingly complex threat environment.

“The Grenfell disaster, and other high-risk building fires, have highlighted the need for more expertise in this area, not less, to help tackle incidents and improve fire safety. My hope is that government acts swiftly to ensure that anyone who assumes responsibility for fire safety in tall buildings will be suitably qualified once the Bill eventually passes into law.”

Candace Miller, Executive Director of SFJ Awards, the awarding organisation which certificates a wide range of fire safety qualifications in the UK, including those of the Tall Buildings Fire Safety Network, said:

“It is fundamentally important that anyone who is put in charge of tall building fire safety has undergone specialist training, which is backed up by a recognised qualification.

“A change in legislation is an opportunity to professionalise and raise standards. The tailored training provided by the Tall Buildings Fire Safety Network has undergone a rigorous accreditation process and is a key steppingstone toward achieving that.”

As the leading Fire and Rescue End-Point Assessment Organisation in England, SFJ Awards will be attending FIREX – Europe’s most important fire safety event and will be positioned at stand FI1234.

NEBOSH launches new service to shake-up in-house health and safety training

by Safety

NEBOSH launches new service to shake-up in-house health and safety training NEBOSH – one of the world’s leading providers of health and safety qualifications – has launched a new solution for businesses that want to improve their in-company training.

The NEBOSH Endorsed service will – as its name suggests – endorse great health and safety training. When companies invest in training, they want to see a return. Through a collaborative approach, NEBOSH will help organisations to elevate their in-company offering and deliver measurable behavioural change that contributes to healthier and safer workplaces.

A range of solutions are available via NEBOSH Endorsed. They are all tailored to the needs of individual organisations and emphasise learning that delivers tangible impact:
• Assessment and endorsement of existing in-company training
• Bespoke consultation and development of in-company training
• Delivery of engaging online and in-person training
• Learning impact measurement

Every person that completes a NEBOSH Endorsed course will be recognised with a NEBOSH Endorsed certificate to mark their learning.

Ian Cooke, NEBOSH Business Development Manager – Corporates and Consumers, says: “So much in-company training is well-meaning but has minimal impact on behaviour back in the workplace. NEBOSH are experts in learning. We want to share our 40 years’ worth of educational expertise and help create better health and safety training, whatever its duration or level.

“NEBOSH Endorsed is focused on two things: collaboration and impact. Everything we do will be tailored to an organisation’s needs and we’ll use a range of tools to make sure it is having a demonstrable impact on individual and organisational performance. Ultimately, we want to make the world a safer place to work and by partnering with organisations through NEBOSH Endorsed, we can make that happen!”

Euralarm position paper on NLF evaluation

by Breaking NewsSafety

Euralarm, the European association representing the electronic fire safety and security industry, has given feedback on the NLF. The association’s response to the questions of the European Commission were laid down in a Position Paper.

Euralarm says it remains convinced that the New Approach and the New Legislative Framework (NLF) are the best tools to support the free movement of goods and the proper functioning of the European Single Market for Goods. The NLF in its broad set-up is fit for purpose to deal with upcoming challenges through technological developments. Thus, Euralarm believes that changes should be made only in response to clear needs, within the existing framework.

Among the main benefits of the NLF Euralarm considers: strengthened coherence across different sectoral legislation, improved legal certainty, higher compliance levels, ease of compliance, improved level-playing field, strengthened CE marking use and functioning. When it comes to conformity assessments, Euralarm strongly believes that Module A, in combination with an effective market surveillance, provides a good and fair level playing field for manufacturers. The combination of modules (particularly the use of Module A, self-assessment), acceptable time to market and good market surveillance system is an essential element of the NLF and the most effective regime to preserve safety and the level-playing-field.

The introduction of the NLF has also been beneficial for SMEs in that it has opened the EU market to them, thanks to the use of hENs and module A. Having a stronger Single Market has further benefitted the global competitiveness of European industries and it has improved the speed of adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, as compared to the old approach. The NLF has set the basis for a strong market surveillance system, notably by providing for a Union framework for market surveillance comprising both competencies and obligations for national authorities and by organising effective administrative cooperation between these authorities on the one hand and with the EU Commission on the other hand.

In the Euralarm Position Paper Euralarm further explains its position towards CE marking itself, harmonised standards, conformity assessment procedures, notified bodies, the accreditation system and digitalisation of the information.

Based on this position, Euralarm believes that a full revision of the NLF might not be necessary to address problems with specific legislation.

The Euralarm Position Paper on NLF evaluation can be downloaded here.

PEEPS could be dropped from UK’s upcoming building safety bill

by Featured NewsSafety

The UK government is likely to reject a requirement for personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for disabled people in high-rise buildings.

The FPA reported that the recommendation came from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, building safety minister, said that a consultation from July 2021 concerning PEEPs “made clear the substantial difficulties of mandating PEEPs in high-rise buildings around practicality, proportionality, and safety.”

The government had shown signs of resistance to implementing PEEPs, prior to the family of Sakina Afraeshabi, a disabled victim of the Grenfell fire, writing to the Home Office in October 2020 threatening legal action.

However, it looks as though the government’s stance has changed again, as on Monday, Lord Greenhalgh said: “On practicality, how can you evacuate a mobility-impaired person from a tall building before the professionals from the fire and rescue service arrive?

“On proportionality, how much is it reasonable to spend to do this at the same time as we seek to protect residents and taxpayers from excessive costs?

“On safety, how can you ensure that an evacuation of mobility-impaired people is carried out in a way that does not hinder others in evacuating or the fire service in fighting the fire.”

Lord Greenhalgh has also stated that the government is committing to a new consultation that will include “emergency evacuation information sharing” (EEIS), and saying the government is “acutely aware of the need to ensure the safety of residents with mobility concerns.” The government has confirmed that it is planning to publish its response to the PEEPs consultation, along with its new consultation on its EEIS plan, and commence the Fire Safety Act 2021 on the same day in May.

Claddag, the leaseholder disability action group, said in a statement that it is “unconscionable” that the government has dismissed the recommendation. They also commented further, saying that Lord Greenhalgh is “wrong to assert that mobility-impaired people” cannot evacuate without the fire and rescue service, and that the group was “sickened” to hear the minister question whether any associated costs of evacuation plans are reasonable as he “seeks to protect residents and taxpayers from costs.”

“Radio and TV awareness campaigns encourage us all to have plans in place should our homes catch fire – the government clearly believes this caution and responsibility should only extend to non-disabled people.

“The final blow was Lord Greenhalgh’s attempt to shame disabled people into ‘staying put’ in a fire to avoid ‘hindering others’ from evacuating. Please let that sink in.

“It is preposterous for the government to assert that it is ‘committed to supporting the fire safety of disabled people’ when it rejects the use of evacuation plans on the basis of costs, convenience, and ableism.”

Alarming rise in fires in New York county prompts action

by Americas - Breaking NewsFeatured NewsSafety

The Department of Emergency Services in the Westchester County has released a fire safety video following multiple major fires in the county.

In the wake of major fires that caused loss of life or significant property damage, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Department of Emergency Services are providing residents with practical tips on how to prevent fires and increase the odds of survival if one occurs.

Latimer said: “In recent months, our County has experienced several major fires, including several that resulted in loss of life. We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones. The staff at the Department of Emergency Services has prepared an important fire prevention and safety video. It provides practical, valuable information on how you can prevent fires and how to protect yourself and your family should one occur.”

In a newly released safety video, personnel in the DES Fire Services Division focused on three critical safety messages:

  • Get Out, Stay Out, Call 911 immediately. Do not re-enter a burning home or apartment once you are out safely. Fires can double in size every 30 seconds. Stay outside and let responding firefighters know if any persons or pets are still inside. Report any fire, no matter its size, immediately so help is on the way promptly.
  • Close the Door.  The simple act of closing the door to a room where a fire has broken out can save lives and significantly reduce property damage. A closed door limits the supply of oxygen to a fire and prevents the rapid spread of deadly smoke and flames. If you must flee from a fire, close the door as you leave. In apartment buildings or office settings, this includes closing the door from a hallway to a stairwell.
  • Handle Lithium-Ion Batteries Properly. Lithium-Ion batteries that power cellphones, laptops and other devices are an increasing source of fire in Westchester and elsewhere. When these batteries are not charged, stored or handled properly, they can overheat and cause a fire. Do not leave lithium ion-powered devices on fabric surfaces such as pillows, beds or couches.

Avon fire crews resist plans to work as paramedics

by Featured NewsSafety

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is opposing plans for firefighters to respond to medical emergencies following their work providing life-saving treatment during the pandemic. Avon Fire Authority (AFA) will be asked to approve a plan including potentially expanding its crews’ medical roles.

The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) said members had not been consulted on the “half-baked scheme”. The three-year service plan was proposed on March 30, IFSEC Global reported.

AFRS plans to grow its current partnership with South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST) where fire crews can reach someone suffering a suspected cardiac arrest before paramedics and administer potentially life-saving treatment.

But FBU Secretary, Amanda Mills, said firefighters would need proper training, provision of equipment, risk assessment procedures and sufficient government funding in place to ensure “costs of the additional work is not a burden on fire and rescue services which will detract from the ability to provide core services”.

She argued the increased responsibility raised the “other important issue of payment”, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

According to Amanda, a major problem identified in previous trials was that some ambulance services “gamed the system” by redirecting paramedics to other calls knowing fire crews were on hand for cardiac arrests and that this was to the detriment of patients and the fire services.

She said: “Half-baked schemes that purposely don’t involve the FBU will inevitably result in worse patient care, not better.”

In response to these concerns, AFRS said staff would receive sufficient training to be able to use specialist equipment such as defibrillators.

“We are committed to implementing new ways of working to assist with medical emergencies to support our ambulance colleagues to keep the public as safe as possible, and to save and preserve endangered life in the widest sense.”

Arizona Forestry launches wildfire prevention week

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

Several public bodies have increased focus and focused on wildfires as Arizona beckons warmer months. Many public agencies, led by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, are stressing fire prevention in the wildlands with the launch of Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week.

The campaign, which began earlier this week, will witness the forestry department oversees fire management of 22 million acres of state trust land and private property in unincorporated areas. Last year, 71% of the fires in the state were caused by people. More than 1,700 wildfires seared 524,428 acres.

Before wildfire season begins in earnest, wildfire managers recommend residents in wilderness areas clear their property of debris and keep rooftops free of anything that could act as fuel to flames.

“We’re already seeing activity in southern Arizona,” agency spokeswoman Tiffany Davila told KTAR News 92.3 FM, referring to the 4,000-acre Presumido Peak Fire near the border with Mexico.

“We don’t want people to think we’re out of the woods after last years monsoon. Don’t wait to create defensible space now.”

The department also advises signing up for emergency alerts at the Arizona Emergency Information Network and having a go bag stocked with essentials, including prescription medications, snacks, water, money and credit cards.

The forestry agency will meet with Gov. Doug Ducey at the state Capitol on Thursday to present a wildland fire outlook.

The Bureau of Land management, the U.S. Forest Service, Arizona State Parks and Trails and the Arizona Department of Transportation are also part of the team effort.

Warringtonfire marks 50 years of fire testing

by Featured NewsSafety

This year marks 50 years of fire testing for Warringtonfire. It was in 1972 that the first commercial fire test was undertaken at a newly completed fire testing laboratory in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. 50 years later, what is believed to be the UK’s oldest existing fire resistance testing laboratory, continues to operate. Today, it is one of Warringtonfire’s main sites and is a centre of excellence for the testing of timber fire doors.

In addition to being an early pioneer in fire testing, Warringtonfire has remained at the forefront of the industry. Through its collaboration with trade associations and standards committees, including ASFP, BSI, CEN and FTSG, Warringtonfire’s team of technical experts continue to play a pivotal role in raising standards in the fire protection industry.

Recognising how much customers rely on specialist technical knowledge to support them through the testing process, Warringtonfire has continued to invest in building a world class team of technical experts and has one of the largest global teams in the industry.

Leigh Hill, Division Director for Warringtonfire said: “I’m immensely proud in reaching this key milestone and of the contribution we have made to raising standards in the fire protection industry over the past 50 years. Many of our customers and even some of our colleagues have been with us on our incredible journey and I’d like to thank them for their continued support. Looking ahead, we remain committed to carrying on the important work we do, helping to ensure we are making tomorrow safer than today.”