EU to ban products made by forced labour

by Featured NewsProducts

New legislation to ban products made by forced or child labour from entering the European Union (EU) market is “a big step towards promoting safe and secure working environments for all workers”, IOSH says.

The European Commission recently presented its Communication on Decent Work Worldwide, which has the eradication of forced and child labour at its heart. The ban on products made by forced labour is part of its comprehensive approach, with the ‘legislative instrument’ covering goods made inside and outside of the EU.

In announcing this development, the commission said that ‘decent work’ is still not a reality for many people around the world, with 160 million children in child labour and 25 million people facing forced labour.

The development is aligned with the International Labour Organisation’s Global Call to Action for a Human-centred Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and takes place when the EU is supporting renewed efforts to integrate the right to safe and healthy working conditions into the ILO framework on fundamental principles and rights at work.

Dr Ivan Williams Jimenez, Occupational Safety and Health Policy Specialist for IOSH, said: “This represents an excellent opportunity not only to leverage the UN Sustainable Development Goals–related aim for a world of work where businesses frame their sustainability policies towards decent work principles, but to promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious jobs.

“As forced labour is publicly recognised as the most common form of modern slavery and, in many cases, it affects the most vulnerable and excluded groups in society, IOSH has long demanded that companies tackle and remove forced labour and modern slavery risks from their value chains.”

Jimenez added: “Progress has been slow so far; we know that some countries have passed national and state laws asking the private and public sector to report on modern slavery risks in their supply chains. However, this is a field where there is certainly room for further improvement.”

The European Commission has now invited the European Parliament and the Council to endorse the approach set out in the Communication and to work together on its implementation. More details can be found here.

MoviTHERM’s IoT tech enables early fire detection applications

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsFire DetectionIndustry SectorsProductsThermal ImagingUtilitiesWarehouse

MoviTHERM has launched iEFD Cloud – a secure cloud-based software application to support its iEFD Early Fire Detection series of solutions. The iEFD solution leverages the industrial internet of things (IIoT) to connect thermal imaging cameras, heat and smoke sensors to detect early fire formation at various stages and conditions.

The new cloud application provides real-time situational awareness to facility operators, employees, and first responders. The IoT solution alerts users of potential fire formation, helping prevent disasters.

The iEFD Cloud software has many built-in features that provide situational awareness to anyone who works in a high fire risk environment.

Markus Tarin, President and CEO, MoviTHERM said: “The days of expensive and overly complicated fire detection systems are over. Our iEFD solution provides optimal situational awareness that benefits both operators and first responders.”

Peaky Blinders, Downtown Abbey film set gutted in heavy Yorkshire fire

by ActiveFeatured News

Image: West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

More than 100 firefighters were involved in tackling a blaze at a mill complex used as a film location for hit shows such as Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey. Fire crews were drafted in to tackle the inferno at Dalton Mills in Dalton Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire, the BBC reported.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said 20 pumps were called out just before noon on Thursday. The service said the incident was being scaled back but some crews would remain overnight to damp down the blaze.

People living in the vicinity were told to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid travelling through the area because of the smoke. There is a police cordon in place and some roads have been closed.

Nick Smith from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said nobody had been hurt in the fire. He said: “Internally the building has collapsed, the floor and the roof.” Firefighters spent the night damping down the fire neighbouring brigades were also in attendance, along with police, ambulances, Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency.

London development installs 2,000 Hyfire wireless devices

by Featured NewsFire DetectionIndustrialIndustry SectorsProductsProjects

More than 2,000 Hyfire wireless devices have been installed across four towers in a London development. The project was completed with installers Gemini AMPM and property management firm FirstPort.

With up to 25 floors, the Elektron Tower, Proton Tower, Neutron Tower and Switch Tower are located on the banks of the Thames in Tower Hamlets, comprising 497 apartments in total. With fire system upgrades required outside the normal schedule of improvements to the buildings, wireless was an obvious choice, helping to limit time on site and reducing impact on the fabric of the building.

Jamie Dawson, director, Gemini AMPM, said: “With the requirement to install the upgraded system in an occupied buildings, wireless was the obvious choice, and Hyfire wireless devices are the best in the business. The original schedule to install the 2,000 individual detectors, call points, sounders and other wireless devices was six weeks, but we managed it in four thanks to the ability to pre-programme devices offsite and install them in minutes, with around 90% less cabling required.

“Our installers worked with the Hyfire team, who helped us to pinpoint the exact number of devices required and where they should be located. The onsite property managers from FirstPort helped facilitated us working across the four buildings and liaised with residents, ensuring we could gain access to 99% of apartments within the four-week schedule.”

Taurus is a completely new range of high-performance wireless detection, control and alarm devices, based on a new protocol that offers unprecedented capabilities, quality and reliability. The range is fully certified to EN54 and fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1.

Standard addressable or conventional fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers.

Ollie Murray, regional sales manager at Hyfire said: “Since the launch of Taurus earlier in 2021, more and more installers have been discovering the benefits that wireless fire devices can offer. This is just one example of a project where fire system installations are made simpler and quicker, which is particularly beneficial in situations where buildings remain occupied. Whereas the upfront cost of the unit may be a little higher, the savings on running wiring loops and making good after are also considerable, so the cost/benefit analysis in favour of using wireless is highly favourable, and that’s before you even consider the other benefits.

The Taurus range includes all devices required to build a fully wireless commercial fire system, including optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors, manual call points, wall sounders, sounder bases, and output/input modules. The Taurus translator can process up to 128 devices, with expanders that can extend the range of the system by up to 1km in open air. This effectively means that the scale of the system is limited only by the number of devices that the fire panel can handle. Tony Ulasi, development manager at FirstPort, said: “Installing a new fire system across these four landmark towers is a huge operation. We needed to work closely with a trusted supplier that could provide a cost-effective solution, whilst going above and beyond to minimise disruption to our tenants during the pandemic. From the beginning of the project Gemini AMPM ticked all the boxes – from product selection, to design, to installation. As a result, we have been able to prioritise safety, whilst achieving considerable cost savings.”

Alabama Fire College programme will benefit firefighters globally

by Breaking NewsIndustry SectorsPeople

Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, USA has developed a way to help firefighters focus on their main mission while easing the paperwork burden. Firefighters like fighting fires and caring for sick and injured people, but they are not overly fond of paperwork, the US-based college justified.

Tracy McNair, the college’s database administrator, led a team to come up with a data management system that is changing the way fire departments manage and track their training, certifications and record keeping.

The system turned what has been a frustrating paper-based system into a sophisticated online records management system that will benefit every paid fire department in Alabama and many around the world, Tuscaloosa News reported.

McNair’s system is set to benefit people who must deal with the administrative side of the fire service.

The first phase of the programme involves the development of a new website. The second phase, which came online in November 2021, was the rollout of a new department dashboard, which allows officers and administrators to manage most of the training and certifications, class registrations and record keeping. This means that all that information can now be accessed and controlled by each individual fire department.

The third phase of the rollout is the development and will allow individual firefighters to create a profile and manage their own records and personal information.

The Alabama Fire College is accredited through Pro Board, the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications and through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.

Storm Dudley And Eunice to hit UK from Wednesday

by Breaking NewsSafety

The UK Met office has issued two amber warnings for two separate storms that are set to lash the country. Authorities have said Story Dudley and Storm Eunice will commence from Wednesday and last up until the weekend.

Various UK authorities have reinforced the warning about Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice. The storm could lead to damage such as uprooted trees, damage to properties, and automobiles.

The Met Office said: “Strong winds will cross western Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, pushing eastward to northern England by evening. 80-90 mph wind gusts are possible on exposed coasts and hills of Scotland with 60-70 mph possible further inland. The worst of the winds are expected to ease through Thursday morning. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for much of central and northern areas of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Embedded within that is an amber warning for southern and western Scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland and northern England, where the strongest and most disruptive winds are expected.”

Meanwhile, Storm Eunice will cause the next low-pressure system, which is likely to track across central areas of the UK on Friday. Further impacts are expected from disruptive gale force winds with 60–70 mph winds expected inland.

Jeremy Phillips, head of road safety, National Highways said: “We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your journey and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.”

Fire ravages The Claremont Hotel in Eastbourne, England

by Featured News

The Claremont Hotel in Eastbourne has been ravaged by a fire, leading to part of the Victorian seafront hotel collapsing.

Located in Sussex, the building is Grade II listed and was engulfed in flames when a fire broke out whilst guests were eating breakfast. Part of the rear wall of the hotel has also collapsed after reports that a chimney “appeared to be moving”. A spokesman for the Wealden District Council said: “The wind direction changed which led to the rear wall of the hotel structure collapsing internally on the existing debris.”

The building is still unstable and two fire crews, as well as building control, are currently monitoring the situation – however nobody was hurt as a result of the fire or the infrastructure collapsing. Once the building is deemed safe, further investigations will take place.

The owners of the hotel, Daish’s Holidays, said “significant damage” had been done which they described as “devastating”. According to the owners, there was 130 guests and staff members present when the fire began, and around 60 firefighters and 12 fire engines were on the scene at the height of the fire. Nobody was seriously harmed as a result of the fire or infrastructure collapse, however the ambulance service revealed that six people were treated for minor injuries and one person was sent to hospital with breathing difficulties.

Hochiki Europe appoints new lighting expert

by People

Hochiki Europe, the life safety manufacturer, has appointed lighting expert Ian Hill as emergency lighting business manager.

Hill brings a wealth of industry experience to the role, with a technical background covering business development, sales of life safety equipment and product development. Hill will combine his industry sales experience with his technical expertise to bolster Hochiki Europe’s growth in the global emergency lighting sector. As part of his new role, he will support the widening of the company’s emergency lighting offering and other exciting developments on the horizon.

Starting his career within the design department at Simplex Lighting, Hill has spent decades developing his skillset across a variety of roles with lighting manufacturers including Philips and Fagerhult. He then made the transfer over to emergency lighting during his tenure at Eaton Electrical Systems, previously known as Cooper Lighting and Safety.

Hill commented: “I’ve admired Hochiki Europe’s work and reputation for some time, so when the opportunity arose, I couldn’t turn it down. The company has contributed vastly to the advances made within life safety over the past few years, especially with products such as its FIREscape collection. Working in a company with such an international foothold is also incredibly exciting.

“With so much room for growth within their emergency lighting sector, we have a real opportunity to make a positive difference. I plan on working closely with both the sales and product development teams to further the scope and capabilities of our lighting product ranges.”

Tracy Kirk, general manager, sales and marketing, Hochiki Europe, added: “Recent events and inquires have shown how vital clear routes of escape can be in an emergency situation. Ian’s extensive experience of emergency lighting will ensure we are reaching more people around the world with our ultra-dependable, intelligent solutions, and our existing customers continue to benefit from the most sought-after innovations within the industry as well as an exceptional service.”

Bristol Uniforms launches stock styles

by Uncategorized

Bristol Uniforms, a specialist in the design, manufacture and supply of protective clothing for the emergency services, has launched its first ever selection of stock styles for structural firefighting.

Immediately available, the stock styles offer a more cost-effective solution than bespoke alternatives. Although ready-made, the PPE can be personalised by adding a heat-sealed patch to the back of each coat, a name to the front, and a name to each trouser. A choice of two styles are currently available, both conforming to the European CEN standard EN469 Level 2, and featuring the most popular elements of the company’s existing top-quality ranges.

The Ergotech Action stock design includes an anti-wicking barrier on the cuffs and hems, underarm gussets and pleated back panel for improved ergonomics, knee reinforcement, and numerous pockets, loops, and rings for equipment. The kit is made up of a navy TITAN1220 outer, Gore Crosstech Fireblocker moisture barrier and a quilted aramid felt and viscose inner lining.

The XFlex stock design features elbow reinforcement, ergonomic 3D knee pads with reinforcement to make kneeling more comfortable, plus an adjustable waist band, a removable braces system and a knife pouch in the trouser. It is made up of a gold PBI Max outer, Gore Crosstech Airlock moisture barrier and an aramid viscose inner lining. Bristol will soon be unveiling an additional Ergotech Action stock style which conforms to the NFPA standard 1971:2018 for Protective Ensembles for Page 2 of 3 Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

The new style will be on display for the first time at the Intersec trade exhibition in Dubai in January. Similar to the CEN certified version, it features a Gore Crosstech moisture barrier and Hainsworth TITAN outer layer, but this time in Desert Tan.

Roger Startin, joint managing director at Bristol Uniforms, commented: “We always listen to feedback from our customers, and although many have specific requirements and value our bespoke manufacturing service, there are others, particularly those with smaller crews, that would prefer to be able to buy top quality styles off-the-peg. These new styles provide our customers with the option to purchase kit that is cost-effective and immediately available without compromising on quality.”

London Fire Brigade shares tips on keeping safe this Christmas

by Uncategorized

The London Fire Brigade has shared a range of tips to keep safe this Christmas.

Fires in London’s homes in December have reduced by 21 per cent over the past five years. In 2014 there were 529 fires in homes while last year this had reduced to 416. To keep on Santa’s nice list the brigade has issued some top safety tips to help everyone step into Christmas safely.

  • Keep candles away from Christmas trees, curtains or anything else that could catch fire and don’t leave them burning unattended.
  • 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, it’s safer to take pans off the heat and turn the hob, oven or grill off.
  • Make sure new electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
  • Don’t overload plug sockets.
  • Check on elderly relatives and neighbours and make sure they are safe.
  • 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.
  • If you smoke over the Christmas make sure you don’t get distracted and ensure your smoking material is extinguished properly.

Dan Daly, assistant commissioner for fire safety at the London Fire Brigade, commented: “Fire is devastating at any time of year but this is heightened more at Christmas time with wrapped presents destroyed and families displaced. While some may wish for a white Christmas, we want everyone to enjoy a safe Christmas.

“There are many fire hazards in the home over Christmas – candles, fairy lights, overloaded plug sockets, cooking left unattended – or carried out after a festive tipple. I don’t want to be Mr. Grinch and tell you not to decorate your homes or to take part in the festive cheer – but I do want you to be safe over Christmas and take steps to prevent fires from occurring and spoiling the holiday.

“So make sure you have a look at our safety tips, check your smoke alarms and be aware of some of the potential fire hazards. And from everyone at London Fire Brigade, we wish you a merry Christmas.”