Why Fire Aware sees a step change in safety attitudes

by Featured NewsIndustry Comment

Supply chain safety shifts toward Fire Aware standards

Supply chains are increasingly adopting rigorous fire safety processes to protect public safety across multiple sectors according to the membership body Fire Aware.

The organisation noted a behavioural change as both large and small companies implement measures to ensure the safety of people using buildings and urban spaces.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “As we move about to talk to those companies and groups with products and services in fire safety, we are seeing a step change in their attitude to fire safety.

“Even in those companies who don’t necessarily have a fire safety competence requirement but still hold a duty of care.

“They want to commit to doing the right thing and make sure their part in the fire safety supply chain is fit for purpose.

“They recognise that this is more than a job, fire safety is a vocation.”

Professional obligations and the Fire Aware code of conduct

Skelly explained that all parties involved in the design, construction, management, maintenance and letting of the built environment have a fire safety obligation.

This responsibility applies even if the specific business does not focus directly on fire specialisms.

“Many are joining us as members because they want to sign up to our code of conduct which binds us all together,” Skelly added.

“Their membership is a sign of intent to protect people through a combination of competence and behavioral performance.

“After all, it is people’s lives we are talking about.”

The independent Building Safety Regulator (BSR) recently began promoting higher standards and competence following calls for cultural change from Dame Judith Hackitt.

Focus on vulnerable sectors and moral responsibility

Hospitality and healthcare represent sectors particularly vulnerable to fire risk due to the presence of customers and elderly or vulnerable people.

Fire Aware continues to highlight the moral responsibility of designers, developers, asset owners and managers within the supply chain.

The organisation utilizes a series of charters and a moral code of conduct to influence how member companies uphold their duty of care.

This membership body serves the built environment to ensure stakeholders work and trade responsibly in the interest of general public safety.

Fire Aware calls for collaboration across fire safety supply chain

by ConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Collaboration, charters and a wider duty of care

Fire Aware has said closer working across the fire safety supply chain can help deliver safer outcomes for people in buildings across multiple sectors.

The organisation said Collaboration on legislation, product supply and innovation can help address current pressures facing the sectors it serves.

Fire Aware’s work centres on the moral responsibility of those involved in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

This, it said, applies beyond specialist fire safety roles and extends across the wider supply chain.

Sectors identified as vulnerable to fire risk include hospitality and healthcare, where building operators are responsible for protecting customers, elderly people and others who may be unable to protect themselves in a real fire.

Collaboration and cultural change

Fire Aware said it aims to influence behaviour in the built environment sector through a moral code of conduct set out in a series of charters.

The organisation described those charters as a way to shape how member companies uphold their duty of care.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “Our members tell us that when they work closely together the solutions are easier to find and everyone benefits.

“We are all in this together.

“At Fire Aware, we have a community of companies large and small who often collaborate together to find the solution to a problem.”

Skelly added: “We all believe in fulfilling our duty of care and working closely with partners who are like-minded will help everyone to achieve that.

“This is a vocation for life, not a job.”

He added: “The Fire Aware community – and the wider fire safety industry – are all of the same mind.

“We cannot compromise when it comes to safeguarding the safety of people moving about in our buildings.

“That cuts cross all sectors and applies to a multitude of responsible people who may or may not be directly involved in fire safety but want to uphold their duty of care.

“It’s not just about the specialists.

“It’s about the entire supply chain.”

The statement also noted calls for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours, alongside the role of the independent Building Safety Regulator in promoting competence and higher standards.