Posts in category: Safety

Health officials have praised a North East Fire and Rescue Service after they helped set up a vaccination centre in a matter of days.

Millions of residents across the UK have been invited to receive their Coronavirus booster vaccination in the face of an increase in Omicron cases in recent weeks.

The new strain has led to a spike in transmissions as we enter the festive period and health officials have called on the public to protect themselves.

But it has led to a huge demand for new vaccination centres and health officials have relied on partner organisations and volunteers to drive the booster roll-out.

Officials in the North East have praised Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) after they helped set up a vaccination centre.

They were able to stand up the centre at the Newcastle Eagles arena on Scotswood Road just four days after being asked for their support.

Prof. Eugene Milne, Director of Public Health for Newcastle, said: “The whole vaccination rollout, and more recently the push to get as many boosters in people’s arms as possible by the end of the year, has been a real partnership effort with many organisations and volunteers pulling together to help keep people safe.

“The support of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in getting the clinic at Newcastle Eagles under way so quickly has been key, and demonstrates what can be achieved when partners work together.

“I would urge everyone to come forward for the vaccine, whether you’re eligible for a booster or still need a 1st or 2nd dose, it is the best way of looking after yourself and your loved ones, and minimising the pressure on the NHS.”

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s most senior fire officer said fire and rescue services across the country are playing a “crucial role” in the fight against Coronavirus.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther said: “Throughout the pandemic fire and rescue services have played a crucial role in protecting communities against the virus.

 “Here in Tyne and Wear we have helped set up vaccination centres, some of our staff have been trained in administering vaccinations and we have provided lateral flow tests to our communities.

“Many of our staff have volunteered their own time to help with the vaccination drive and I am so proud of everyone who has stepped up to help keep the public safe.

“We do so much more than fighting fires. We provide a humanitarian response for our communities and will always be there creating the safest communities in the most challenging of times.”

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service are supporting the vaccination drive at a number of different sites with vaccination buses also being stationed at Fire Stations across Tyne and Wear.

London Fire Brigade has issued an appeal to all residents of the capital to focus on the fire safety of their home in the run-up to Christmas.

Firefighters have, sadly, attended nine fatal fires across the city in the last month alone (18^th November – 20^th December), which have resulted in a total of 15 people losing their life.

While there is no suggestion that the incidents were linked, the Brigade is urging people to take the opportunity to assess their homes for fire risks at a time when many are busy preparing for Christmas.

“One death in a fire is one too many, and 15 in a month is a tragedy for London,” said Deputy Commissioner Richard Mills. “We are asking Londoners to be vigilant, check that their homes are as safe as they can be, and check that vulnerable friends and family are protected too.”

The Brigade has an online home fire safety checker that guides Londoners around their homes, allowing them to self-assess any fire risks and get tailored advice on how to put them right. This can be accessed on our website, where there is also a range of other advice on smoke alarms, cooking safety and advice on the safe use of candles.

Richard Mills continued: “Fatal fires are the worst incident that any firefighter can attend and we would like to appeal to every Londoner to please take every step you can to help ensure that we do not have to visit your home this Christmas.”

Christmas safety checklist

• Keep candles away from Christmas trees, curtains, or anything else that could catch fire and don’t leave them burning unattended. Consider using LED tea lights instead.
• Check your Christmas tree lights conform with safety standards and always switch them off before going to bed.
• Don’t attach decorations to lights or heaters – they can overheat and catch fire.
• Make sure you have a fire escape plan and share this with everyone in your household and any guests staying over Christmas.
• Don’t leave cooking unattended and don’t cook if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
• Don’t overload plug sockets.
• Test your smoke alarms and make sure they are working. Fit a heat alarm in the kitchen – this will detect an increase in temperature caused by fire, but not be set off by cooking fumes.

In his third and final assessment of England’s fire and rescue services before leaving his post in March 2022, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services, Sir Thomas Winsor, found that:

• services have made good progress on protection, which includes auditing the safety of premises at risk of fire, and that most services are better at promoting a positive professional culture;
• outdated and ineffective structures for negotiating pay, terms and conditions are where reform is most needed, which would reduce the risk of industrial action; and
• if no progress is made on national reform, then the removal of firefighters’ right to strike should be considered.

Sir Thomas Winsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services said:“Firefighters and other staff continue to work hard to help their communities, and I thank them for their service – particularly during the pandemic. The fire and rescue sector has made progress in some areas since our first inspections in 2018, but more change is urgently required.

“I am disappointed that the windspeed of national reform has dropped. Although the pandemic has understandably delayed progress, the public cannot wait any longer. The efficiency and effectiveness of services is hindered by the continued threat of industrial action, and the removal of firefighters’ right to strike should be considered.

“Another obstacle hampering progress to modernise this important public service is a woeful lack of workforce diversity.

“Responsibility to make these changes does not lie solely with chief fire officers – political leaders and policy makers must also take action and raise the priority of fire reform. The service, its staff and the public deserve no less.”

The Chief Inspector previously made six recommendations for national reform of the fire and rescue sector.

One of these recommendations was to introduce a code of ethics. Following the publication of the code in May 2021, the Chief Inspector has said he had already seen evidence of services making the code part of their values and policies.

However, Sir Thomas Winsor said four of his recommendations have still not been implemented. These include giving chief fire officers operational independence, reviewing the machinery determining terms and conditions, and the Home Office determining the role of fire and rescue services and firefighters.

Today’s report also mentioned improvements made by several services, including Avon and Surrey. During the inspectorate’s first inspections in 2018, these were two of the services with the worst performance.

Get the report

State of Fire and Rescue – The Annual Assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England 2021

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has launched its new, 10-year vision which deepens its pledge to improve the safety of Scotland’s communities.

In its new vision, the SFRS sets out its commitment to meeting the changing needs of communities, recognising the new and emerging challenges they face, including climate change, an aging population and the increased threat from terrorism.

The vision is underpinned by an undertaking to continue to work together with all public, third-sector and community partners for a safer Scotland and to keep a local focus on responding to the diverse needs of communities across the country.

Martin Blunden, Chief Officer of the SFRS, said: “We are a national service with national standards and practices but we absolutely recognise the need to find local solutions to local issues to effectively respond to community need.

“We want to be regarded as among the best fire and rescue services in the world, focused on meeting the shifting needs of our communities, working together to prevent and reduce the impacts of unintentional harm being at the heart of what we do.

“We believe that we will achieve this because we have a highly-skilled, experienced and talented workforce and we know we can offer more to help save lives and keep Scotland safe.”

Chief Officer Blunden added: “We created our vision in partnership through extensive engagement and consultation with our staff, our partners and the public, and we will continue to work together to achieve it. Working collaboratively – particularly with other emergency services – gives us all the best chance of meeting our ambitions.

“From early 2022, we’ll be setting out how we will achieve our vision through our next three-year strategic plan, and we will again be engaging with all stakeholders on this next step of our journey.”

A self-employed builder has been fined after a contractor working for him suffered serious injuries when a single-story roof he was demolishing by hand, collapsed at a construction site in Cobham, Surrey.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard that, on the 15 April 2019, the contractor was standing on the roof of a partially demolished single-story extension of a domestic building undergoing refurbishment. Whilst he was on the roof, it collapsed and the worker suffered significant injuries to his right leg including a fractured tibia and fibular. Due to the damage sustained, his leg was later amputated above the knee.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found there was no safe system of work in place, as the demolition work had not been adequately planned. The stability of the structure during the demolition work had not been assessed, and there were no measures in place to prevent falls from the roof.

Patrick Sheehan of Walton Street, Walton-on-the-hill, Surrey, trading as Mastercraft Building Services, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974. He was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,383.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Leah Sullivan said: “The contractor’s injuries were life-changing and he could have easily been killed. This serious incident and the devastating effects on his life, could have been avoided if basic safe systems of work been put in place.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is urging businesses to ensure they continually review measures they have in place to protect staff as new figures reveal that 1.7 million people suffered a work-related illness in Britain last year.

The figures cover the 2020-21 period and include both new and long-standing illnesses. Of the 1.7 million cases, more than 800,000 were stress, depression or anxiety, and nearly 500,000 were musculoskeletal disorders.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that 93,000 people self-reported catching COVID-19 at work, with 52,000 of those working in the human health and social work sector.

These new figures were unveiled by the Health and Safety Executive this week.

They also highlighted that in same period 441,000 people sustained an injury at work, according to the Labour Force Survey.

Ryan Exley, of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), said:

“It is deeply concerning that so many people are suffering from ill health because of the work they do. Equally concerning is that there are still a large number of people being injured in workplace accidents, in addition to those who sadly lose their lives.

“What makes these figures even more poignant is that many of these instances of ill health, injuries and death are preventable. No one should be harmed by the work they do and everyone has a part to play in ensuring that is the case, whether it’s senior leaders and health and safety professionals implementing measures to prevent harm or other workers ensuring they adhere to these measures.

“We urge all businesses to constantly review how they manage health and safety risks to ensure their measures are proportionate and fit for purpose. This is of course particularly important with Covid-19 control measures given the current surge of cases, but they must not take their eye off the ball with other risks.”

IOSH has guidance available for businesses on how to manage risks relating to COVID-19, including preventing workplaces from becoming places of transmission, available here.

The Institution is also a world-leading developer of health and safety training courses, which support businesses in preventing work-related ill health and workplace accidents. More information can be found here.

The Fire Brigades Union has responded to the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service State of Fire and Rescue 2021 report.

Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “It is not clear how removing firefighter’s rights to democratically organise would help keep the public safer – in fact, having a fair structure where employers and employees can come together to work through issues helps protect public safety. If Sir Tom Winsor was serious about improving the fire and rescue service he might suggest putting back some of the one in every five firefighters which have been cut since 2010.

“The criticism of the pace of change in the fire and rescue service lies at the door of central government. For more than a decade, the FBU has attempted to discuss what is expected of the service. The response has been endless evasion by government ministers. To blame firefighters and their union is an outrage and to suggest further undemocratic attacks on the rights of firefighters as workers is disgraceful.

“Support for collective bargaining is shared across the fire and rescue service, and to suggest otherwise is at best disingenuous, and at worst a lie, making his recommendations untenable and unsupported by evidence. The conclusions reached on the role of the union, are simply Winsor’s own opinions. He has a track record, across sectors, of attacking workers and the role of unions in line with what we can presume to be his own political beliefs.

“By stating views that even fire and rescue employers do not share, Tom Winsor is demonstrating his lack of understanding of the fire and rescue service. Sadly, the work of the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services is hampered by this lack of understanding and we are pleased this will be his last report.”

As the holidays approach, how can temporarily vacant buildings remain fire safe and secure? Allegion UK outline the best practices.

As most of the nation winds down for a stint packed with celebration and enjoyment, schools, workplaces and commercial facilities momentarily shut their doors, but in doing so, invite potential safety and security threats.

In fact, the weeks surrounding Christmas signify a steep increase in burglaries, with the rate doubling in the UK between November and December. And despite research showing a 33% reduction in domestic burglary offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2021 (much to the help of a national lockdown), building owners must remain vigilant in protecting their property.

Security measures aren’t the only item on the agenda either, as statistics suggest that up to 60 fires begin in or next to empty buildings every day. Idle, unmonitored buildings unfortunately make an easy target for arson attacks, which accounted for 50.5% of all fires attended by Fire and Rescue Services in 2017/18. Each year, buildings are proven vulnerable to these seasonal breaches, and so responsible parties must now take the appropriate measures to ensure they too don’t fall victim.

Doors shut

With the winter months showing a notable peak in security concerns, the first step is to assess any vulnerabilities in your building’s security measures – starting with potential entry points. The most common point of entry for burglars is through a door, with almost three-quarters of domestic incidents occurring this way. Commercial properties are commonly targeted in the same way and according to research by the National Federation of Self Employed & Small Businesses (FSB), around 50% of small businesses in the UK have been the victim of a crime in the last two years, accounting for £12.9 billion of costs.

Expectedly, unoccupied or older properties with ageing door components are more routinely targeted in trespassing, vandalism and theft cases. To combat this, it’s vital to plan for adequate security, and decision makers can benefit from going back to the basics. When it comes to entry points, all doors – and windows – must operate as intended, with any damaged or compromised components repaired or replaced quickly and professionally. As is recommended by the West Yorkshire Police Force, properties should make sure doors and their hardware are of high-quality, comply to minimum standards and that windows, doors and panic escape bars are well locked upon closing – helping to firmly shut the door on any outside threats.

For additional security, larger estates with multiple access points can also benefit from installing access control systems. As part of a centralised solution, digital locks can be installed, providing an added layer of security through the process of revoking and reissuing digital credentials. These systems can keep owners informed about the activity in their building, providing peace of mind that only authorized access is possible to the site, even when vacant.

Why maintenance matters

With ageing entry points a primary target for offenders, the importance of correctly maintained door hardware can’t be understated – especially over the holidays. In winter for example, the drop in temperature can sometimes affect the operation of a door, with the weather causing components to swell or shrink in some cases. A swollen door can damage its closing mechanism, which in turn can lead to jamming – making it more difficult to open or close and more suspectable to break-ins.

On the other hand, a shrunken door can leave unwanted gaps between itself and its hinges which poses risks to security as well as fire safety compliance. In the event of a fire, a shrunken door creates additional complications, with the door’s ability to compartmentalise smoke and fire severely hindered.

The gap around a door frame must remain constant at around 3 to 4mm, and with arson being a threat at this time of year, decision makers must ensure their fire doors adhere to this and can therefore be trusted to perform while the building is vacant. Routine maintenance is key here, and responsible parties have an obligation to perform sufficient risk assessments in a bid to address these potential damages and further reduce vulnerabilities.

Upon assessment, responsible parties must recognize the areas of a door and its hardware that need examining. Aside from assuring fire doors are not propped open, attention should immediately turn to the door’s certification, apertures, gaps and seals, closers and operation. When conducting an assessment, a five-step checklist is commonly referred to which can aid responsible parties through the process. However, if maintenance is required it’s important to seek the advice of a professional. For those who remain unsure, manufacturers can provide proficient guidance on topics such as certification and door closer adjustments if required.

To further guarantee the reliability of doors and their hardware, decision makers should also look for the BSI Kitemark Certification which signifies hardware has passed the British Standards Institution test. By definition, door closing devices must conform to Standards EN 1154 and EN 1155 whereas exit devices, must also meet the mandatory EN 1125 and EN 179.

While the holidays have always been a time for winding down, nobody can afford to relax on their building’s fire safety and security standards, especially when vacant. Suitably maintained entry points with certified hardware can be the changing factor in the fight against theft and arson – but only by taking the time to plan and address any potential issues can property managers and owners alike rest easy this Christmas.

Aviva is warning customers to take care when charging electrical items, after receiving dozens of home fire claims caused by chargers and batteries in 2021.

According to the insurer, multiple home fire claims this year have been linked to faulty, damaged or incorrect chargers, or items which were left to charge for too long. Aviva found a common cause of components over-heating, leading to fires in the home.

The insurer notes that in many cases, damage was exacerbated because customers had put items to charge and then left their homes, enabling fires to take hold.

Sarah Applegate, Head of Data Science for Aviva says: “This appears to be a growing problem as the number of battery-powered items increases. We would strongly urge people not to leave their electrical devices unattended while being charged or leave items charging when batteries are full.

“In the last 12 months alone, we’ve seen incidents relating to e-scooter and e-bike batteries, e-cigarettes and even an electric golf caddy, each causing six-figure sums of damage and considerable inconvenience and distress for the families involved. As we see more cordless devices around the home and garden, it’s becoming even more important for householders to remain aware of fire safety when charging batteries.”

Aviva claims involving batteries in 2021 include:

• A fire where e-scooter batteries had been left on charge in the garage (value: £150,000).
• A fire believed to be caused by an exploding e-cigarette battery (value: £140,000).
• A fire caused by an electric golf caddy left on charge while the customer was away (value: £150,000).
• A fire caused by overheating of lithium batteries from a model aircraft  (value: £120,000).

Sarah Applegate adds: “The number of claims caused by chargers is actually relatively small in relation to fire claims overall. We tend to see more fire claims as a result of candles and garden fires, for example. However, because people don’t tend to think of chargers as a fire hazard, they often leave them unattended, which means the damage can be worse and more disruptive for customers.”

Aviva research also finds that chargeable items such as phones, tablets and consoles were amongst common possessions purchased by UK residents during the Covid pandemic. According to the insurer’s latest How We Live report, of those who had purchased luxury items during the pandemic, 34% of UK adults had bought phones or tablets, while 18% had purchased consoles and gaming equipment.

Aviva offers the following tips for using batteries and chargers:

• Always use genuine chargers which are designed specifically for your devices. Don’t be tempted by cheaper “bargains”. Counterfeit chargers may not meet UK regulations and can cause batteries to overheat.
• Replace your charger if it becomes faulty or if wires are exposed / fraying.
• Don’t leave batteries charging when you go out. A fire can take hold very quickly and the damage is likely to be much worse if it is not spotted and attended to immediately. 
• Stop charging your device as soon as the battery is full. Similarly, don’t leave items charging overnight.
• Put your device on a non-flammable surface when charging. Avoid highly flammable materials such as clothes, bedding, cushions or paper and don’t cover devices while they are charging.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets. You can find out more about cables, fuses and leads here.
• Be careful how you dispose of batteries. Many local authorities offer facilities at recycling centres to ensure that ‘spent’ batteries can be disposed of safely.
• Store batteries responsibly. Don’t expose them to extreme cold or heat.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published statistics that cover work-related ill health, non-fatal workplace injuries and enforcement action taken by HSE, in the 2020/21 period.

• 1.7 million workers suffering from a work-related illness, around half of which were stress, depression or anxiety

Two new estimates have been developed to measure the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic;

• 93,000 workers self-reported catching COVID-19 at work; 52,000 of these worked in the human health and social work sector
• 645,000 workers reported that their work-related illness was caused or made worse by the coronavirus pandemic; 70 per cent of these were cases of stress, depression or anxiety.

The pandemic has affected certain data collection and impacted on assessment of trends, therefore there is no new data on working days lost and the associated economic cost for 2021.

It is not known whether some of the people reporting a coronavirus-related ill health condition would have developed and reported an ill health condition if pre-pandemic working practices had continued. It is therefore not possible to assess the scale of work-related ill health independent of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, commented: “These annual statistics are important to give us a clear picture of the health and safety risks faced by workers in the Great Britain and help to inform the measures HSE, employers, policy-makers and workers themselves need to take to ensure everyone can go home from work safe and well.

“The 12-month period in question coincides with the first national lockdown and the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. There have been significant impacts on the labour market, which is reflected in our reporting.

“We worked differently too in responding to the challenges posed by the pandemic, advising across Government, helping to shape guidance for businesses and implementing our Covid Spot Check programme to ensure workplaces were kept as safe as possible.”

Of the 1.7 million workers who suffered from a work-related illness (new or long standing) in 2020/21, 800,000 were stress, depression or anxiety, and 28% were musculoskeletal disorders (500,000 workers).

Sarah Albon continued: “The latest figures on work-related stress reinforce our previous concerns around the scale of this issue in workplaces. Just last month we announced our new Working Minds campaign, in partnership with a number of key organisations, to help employers make recognising the signs of work-related stress routine.

“HSE continues to act as a proportionate and enabling regulator taking the most appropriate actions to achieve the best and quickest result. However, where employers fall short of expected standards, HSE will not hesitate to hold those responsible to account.”