Dean Howells Essential Safety, Health & Safety Blog

Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors - Posted 25th April 2012

A document has now been released witch outlines the criteria for assessing the competence of fire risk assessors. The document sets out broad criteria for fire risk assessors of “simple buildings” – where the fire risk assessor might be an employee of the occupier – and “complex buildings”, which will require higher levels of knowledge, understanding and experience on the part of the fire risk assessor.

Under the criteria most fire risk assessors would need to be able to demonstrate:

• Evidence of specialist training and experience, or
• Membership of a professional body, or
• Certification by a third party certification body.

 To satisfy the criteria they have appropriate knowledge of:

• The assessment of risk from fire
• Applicable legislation
• Appropriate guidance
• Behaviour of fire in premises
• Effects of fire on people and behaviour of people in fire situations
• Means of escape
• Fire prevention
• Fire protection
• Management of fire safety

We welcome this direction of travel regarding the competency of fire risk assessors, which should assist organisations to check that they are appointing the correct person for their premises.

Essential

Our Next Public Course for Fire Marshal Training is 22nd March 2012

Our Next Public Course for Fire Marshal Training is 22nd March 2012

at Corby Enterprise Centre, 9.30am-1.00pm

Only £39 plus vat

Click here for full details

Essential

How to Complete Fire Safety Checks & Inspections - Posted 11th October 2011

At Essential, we are often asked to clarify the requirements for fire-related tests & inspections at commercial premises. Although some premises may contain other specialist installations & equipment not addressed below, these are the main tests and inspections that should be carried out on a periodic basis:

Daily:

• Check the fire alarm panel for faults
• Visual inspection for defects or blocked escape routes

Weekly:

• Test the fire alarm from a different Manual Call Point (Breakglass)
• Carry out sprinkler & smoke control tests
• Check the batteries in torches etc.

Monthly:

• Carry out a functional test of all emergency lighting
• Visually inspect all fire extinguishers
• Check all fire doors and fire exit doors

6-Monthly:

• Ensure that the fire alarm is serviced by a competent engineer.

Annually

• Emergency lighting should be tested for it’s full duration (normally 3 hours) by a competent engineer.
• Fire extinguishers should be serviced by a competent engineer
• The fire risk assessment should be reviewed

With the exception of the daily inspections, all of the above should be recorded in the Fire Safety Log Book, retained on the premises.

For a free Fire Safety Log Book, email: info@essentialconsult.co.uk

Next Health & Safety and Fire Training courses 11th & 12th October 2011, Corby

Essential Health & Safety Skills for Managers - 11th October 2011 - One Day Course

Corby Enterprise Centre - just £89 plus vat.

Essential Fire Marshal Training - 12th October 2011 - Half Day Course

Corby Enterprise Centre - just £39 plus vat

Contact Essential on 01536 460171 or email info@essentialconsult.co.uk

Health and Safety and Fire Marshal Training Courses - Posted 4th August 2011

Essential Health & Safety Skills for Managers Training Course 11th October 2011

Full Day Practical Course £89.00 vat.                                  For more details click here

Fire Marshall Training Course 12th Octoner 2011

Half Day Course £39.00 plus vat                                            For more details click here

Essential

 

Health and Safety Skills and Fire Marhsall Training Courses from Essential- Posted 27th July 2011

Current Training Courses on Offer from Essential - Location: Corby Enterprise Centre

Essential Health and Safety Skills for Managers - 12th October 2011- Full Day - £89 plus vat

A practical “How to” course, full of interactive, practical exercises and case studies delivered in an interesting and innovative style.

 

Fire Marshal Training - 11th October 2011 - Half Day - £39 plus vat

Fire Marshals / Wardens are considered by Fire Authorities to be a key component of most premises fire safety precautions. This course will cover all the aspects including a practical session using fire extinguishers.

Full details of the courses and how to book can be found on the Essential website.

Essential

 

 

 

Fire Marshal Training Courses - Posted 11th July 2011

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places responsibilities upon the “responsible person” in respect of fire safety. The “responsible person” is anyone who has a degree of control over premises or systems, including managing agents, employers, occupiers or anyone else who has some control over premises. Good practice suggests that, where a Fire Risk Assessment recommends that Fire Marshals are nominated at a premises, that suitable training is provided.

We will be holding some half day Fire Marshal Training in the next few months at our training facilities at Corby Enterprise Centre. If you would like to be informed of the future dates please email our Director and lead fire consultant John Pratt, john@essentialconsult.co.uk.

Essential:    Essential Safety Ltd, Essential Fire SafetyLltd

Esential Safety Opens Essential Fire Safety Ltd - Posted 21st June 2011

Our recent move to new offices at Corby Enterprise Centre, has coincided with the formation of our new specialist Fire Safety company, Essential Fire Safety Limited. We have been  joined by a new director, John Pratt, who is a fire safety specialist with over 20 years experience in fire safety.

John has worked as a practitioner, technical advisor and more recently as a Fire Protection Officer for the Fire and Rescue Service, where he was responsible for the inspection of non-domestic premises and the enforcement of Fire protection standards and policy. Prior to this, John was a Leading Fire-fighter for the RAF, responsible for carrying out fire safety inspections and audits of MOD premises.

Fire safety advice and fire risk assessment has always been an important part of the service we provide to Clients. However, John’s considerable knowledge & experience significantly raises our levels of expertise and enables us to offer a broader range professional fire safety advice to businesses. John’s continuous professional development means he has up to date knowledge of fire safety legislation, enforcement and risk assessment, and he provides advice in a clear and concise manner”.

In addition to Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Training courses, we can now also provide fire design services. This can involve the development of a fire strategy for a premise, along with design specifications for fire safety features, installations and equipment. By completing this work at the design stage of a premise we believe we can save clients time and money”.

At the Corby Enterprise Centre we have access to state of the art training facilities to deliver our Fire Awareness and Fire Marshal Training courses, which can include practical, hands-on fire extinguisher training.

Essential

Fire Alarm Contractor Fined - Posted 12th January 2011

In a bench mark case a fire alarm contractor has been found guilty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We believe it is the first time a fire alarm contractor has been convicted in such a situation.

The electrician failed to maintain a fire detection and alarm system at a care home in Greater Manchester, and also failed  to inform the owners of the deficiencies in the system. The prosecution stated that the electrician had taken over the responsibility of the maintenance of the system and had also issued certificates of worthiness to the care owner.

At Essential Safety we believe this story highlights the importance of checking that any contractor employed to complete a task have the appropriate experience and competences required, this includes those giving fire safety advice and completing Fire Risk Assessments.

 

Essential Safety

Five Companies Fined a Total of £9.5m following Buncefield Disaster - Posted 7th September 2010

 

Five organizations have been fined a total of £9.5m for their part in a series of failings which led to the largest peacetime explosion in the UK.

The fire & explosion at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in 2005 measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and is estimated to have caused more than £1 billion worth of damage. Although 46 people were injured, incredibly, there were no fatalities, mainly due to the fact that the explosion occurred in the early hours of a Sunday morning.

The fire has also required a 5-year clean- up operation, and has left the local area with an environmental legacy for years to come.

The record fines followed the most extensive joint investigation & prosecution ever by the Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

 

Essential Safety