Fire Safety Planning - News

The Fire Fighters Charity has featured an interview with Sarah Goodall, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service's Crew Manager, in recognition of International Control Room Week.  Sarah's experience Sarah Goodall shares why she's so proud to work at WYFRS and some of her experiences over her 21 years of service.  “There is nothing more precious than life. Knowing you have contributed to that, is worth more than any words can describe,” says Sarah Goodall.

In the latest episode of Assembly Point, FPA Director of Operations - Howard Passey talks to Lewis Ramsey, Caretaker Manager at BAFE to examine the key issues and areas to consider when looking at fire risk management in buildings that are occupied by vulnerable persons. Howard and Lewis also explore the criticality of active and passive fire systems being suitable for the purpose, installed correctly, and that their subsequent maintenance and testing is undertaken by an accredited third party....

The Brigade currently has just 24 fire safety advisers and nearly 200 Inspecting Officers, but with the pressure to inspect high-rise buildings, it must increase its workforce. The Brigade will use part of the £9.4 million it received from the Home Office to improve its fire protection activities. It has already used some of this funding to create a Building Risk Review team to review the 8,000 high-rise residential blocks in London. This work is due to be completed by December this year....

One alarming aspect of the opioid crisis is the frequency first responders encounter synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Fentanyl and related compounds present a safety hazard for first responders — including emergency medical and law enforcement personnel at all levels — if they are not adequately prepared with proper protective equipment and reliable detection. In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) funded and provided s...

As residents will be getting ready to enjoy Bonfire Night after missing out during the pandemic, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to stay safe while enjoying fireworks. Bonfire Night can be plenty of fun for all of the family to enjoy, but with lots of potential hazards, it’s really important to keep the family safe. Help support the local community and go to an organized firework display instead of holding one at home. Be safe Group Commander Per Middleton, th...

Carolyn J. Harshman, MPA, CEM, has taken office as 2021-2022 president of the USA Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA). She was sworn in at the President’s Banquet during the Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other officers sworn in were IAEM-USA First Vice President Cathy M. Clark, MA, IAEM-USA Second Vice President Justin Kates, CEM, and IAEM-USA Treasurer Walter English, III, CEM. Expansion of emergency management  Upon taking offi...

The event organizers for A+A Congress 2021 (A+A Dusseldorf 2021) have announced that this year’s trade fair, scheduled to take place in Dusseldorf, Germany (from October 26-29, 2021), will take place in-person. A+A Congress 2021 In typical circumstances, MSA Safety Incorporated is a regular attendee and exhibitor at the event, as A + A has proven to be one of the world’s foremost safety events. After careful consideration, however, MSA Safety Incorporated has decided not to exhibit...

The Business Model workstream of the Construction Leadership Council publishes a refreshed suite of guidance on managing COVID-19 within construction contracts. The updated documents now include revised information on future-proofing JCT / NEC amendments for new contracts to ensure that if circumstances change parties take a collaborative approach. The suite also provides templates to allow parties to formally record how they can avoid disputes. Provides additional templates The COVID-19 pand...

In front of hun­dreds of indus­try lead­ers, the win­ners of the Con­struc­tion News Spe­cial­ists Awards were revealed at The Brew­ery, in Lon­don, United Kingdom, in Octo­ber 2021. Site secu­ri­ty spe­cial­ist, VPS Site Security Ltd. (VPS) tri­umphed dur­ing a rig­or­ous judg­ing process in front of an expert pan­el of judges, to win ‘Equip­ment Spe­cial­ist of the Ye...

UKAS is the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is appointed by the government, to assess and accredit organizations that provide services, including certification, testing, inspection, and calibration. From the beginning of the pandemic, UKAS has been working with the government to provide advice on quality assurance and accreditation of laboratories performing COVID-19 testing including laboratories that have been supporting the national testing provision (NHS Test and Tr...

MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are helping volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear through MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Now in its tenth year, the program has provided over $1 million worth of gear to assist volunteer fire departments in need. In 2021, 13 departments will each receive four sets of turnout gear and four helmets to help enhance the safety of their firefighters. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC me...

Ceasefire UK (Ceasefire Industries UK), a renowned manufacturer of fire safety solutions believes that many businesses are wise to be seeking ‘green and clean’ products for firefighting and educating all potential users of them, ahead of an incident. Official findings from the UK Home Office’s online Incident Recording System (IRS) shows that the public used fire extinguishers in just seven per cent (4,828) of the 68,757 primary fires attended by the fire and rescue services,...

Fire detection solutions from Global Fire Equipment (GFE) are protecting the largest mixed-use shopping mall in Europe. KUMSmall Factory Shopping Mall in Central Anatolia, Turkey, comprises a shopping mall, business center, hotel, and entertainment center. The mall covers an area of more than 302,000 m² and boasts 400 stores, 6,000 car parking spaces, and a vast range of restaurants and cafes. fire alarm panels The chosen fire detection system comprises nine Juno-Net series addressable c...

Working alone is inherently dangerous, then layer on additional risks like hazardous gas exposure, health incidents, wildlife encounters, extreme weather, vehicle accidents, trips and falls, and the threats multiply. Cell and radio coverage is often spotty at remote locations such as exploration areas, well sites and compressor stations, making communication with the people and dispatching help difficult if problems arise. Extra care must be taken to ensure the safety of the most vulnerabl...

After restricted celebrations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, MAWWFRS recognizes that many will want to return to more usual activities in 2021. As a result, members of the Fire and Rescue team wish to remind others of some helpful hints and tips to help keep themselves, their families, and communities safe. The Fire and Rescue Service has developed a full suite of information on their website, providing further information on staying safe during the Bonfire Night and Halloween period, al...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are urging bonfire revelers to make the most of the celebrations while making safety a priority this bonfire night. With coronavirus restrictions lifted, the annual festivities offer a different picture from last year with dozens of organized events to be held around West Yorkshire – providing a safer alternative to fires and fireworks at home. The Fire Service is working with local partners including councils, West Yorkshire Police, and Yorkshire Am...

Commercial kitchens are full of hot cooking equipment, cooking oils and greases, cleaning chemicals, and people running frantically through the kitchen. This sort of chaos can easily result in commercial fires, which can be detrimental to the business. fire safety training If users don’t have the right equipment and commercial fire safety protocols in place, it’s a recipe for disaster. Without commercial kitchen fire safety training, employees won’t know where fire safety eq...

A global coalition of over 80 fire safety leadership organizations has launched a new Decade of Action for Fire Safety 2022-2032, to ensure an internationally consistent approach to the safety and management of buildings, infrastructure, and more to save lives by reducing risk and preventing devastating fires. Decade of Action for Fire Safety The launch of the Decade of Action for Fire Safety is backed by the UN and builds on the International Fire Safety Standard - Common Principles...

The goal of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) is to reach out to every emergency responder, every driver, and every passenger to educate them on how to play their part in ensuring safe responses at roadway incidents. CRSW’s important Emergency responders (police, fire, medical, etc.) risk being killed or injured by passing vehicles when on the scene of a roadside emergency. 50 responders so far this year have been killed when struck by a vehicle while responding to a roadway incident, a...

The goal of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) is to reach out to every emergency responder, every driver, and every passenger to educate them on how to play their part in ensuring safe responses at roadway incidents. Why is CRSW important? Emergency responders (police, fire, medical, etc.) risk being killed or injured by passing vehicles when on the scene of a roadside emergency. 50 responders so far this year have been killed when struck by a vehicle while responding to a road...

XCMG is exhibiting emergency and rescue solutions of four major categories, geological disasters, high-rise rescue, petrochemical fires, and flood disasters, at the China Fire 2021 fire safety event, which opened on October 12, 2021, in Beijing, China. China Fire 2021 Ranked in the world's top three exhibitions for fire protection and emergency rescue, the four-day trade show, China Fire 2021 is an international platform for industry-renowned products and advanced technologies. XCMG’s l...

Ilkley’s longest-serving firefighter, Watch Commander - Alex Watson, is preparing to take a well-deserved retirement. Following an outstanding 41 years of service, Alex is also one of the longest-serving on-call firefighters in the whole of West Yorkshire. Alex Watson's retirement has prompted him to encourage others to consider joining the service as an on-call firefighter to support and protect local communities, including in his native Ilkley. meeting the criteria Alex Watson said, &...

A former South Yorkshire firefighter who went on to strike gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games has formally opened a new fire station in Barnsley. Gavin Walker Gavin Walker, aged 38, from Rotherham, was handed the honor of officially opening the station on Broadway, Kingstone which went operational in August following a multi-million-pound demolition and construction project. Gavin claimed gold as part of the GB Wheelchair Rugby team at summer’s games, having taken up the sport foll...

Zapatta, Texas Local 5355 is the newest IAFF local. The fire department in Zapatta County, located in southern Texas with only Falcon Lake separating the Texas county from the Mexico border, is a small all-career department that responds to emergency calls throughout the county. For many in the department, firefighting is more than just a job, says Local 5355 President Zenon Perez. Promoting firefighter health “We have fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, and brothers and sisters wo...

Oshkosh Corporation’s Fire & Emergency segment is displaying the new Oshkosh Striker ARFF vehicle at China Fire 2021. The new vehicle will be displayed at Oshkosh’s China Fire booth, located at site E1-04. In addition to the new Striker ARFF, the booth will feature the latest fire and emergency vehicles and technology. “Even amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, China’s strong economic growth has resulted in a heightened need for advanced fire protection and resources,...

The Environment Agency secured a restriction order against a recycling firm, after it failed to comply with fire regulations despite numerous warnings about storing hazardous waste at a site near local homes. Shee Recycling in the North East town of Birtley stored large oil drums containing hazardous waste, cutting equipment, batteries, and fuel canisters, all of which were major fire hazards. Environment Agency secures restriction order The site is close to other commercial properties, the e...

A group of road barrier companies has made a strong commitment to creating safer workplaces by offering specialist health and safety qualifications to every employee. VRS Solutions Group, which consists of Hardstaff Barriers, Asset VRS, Varley & Gulliver, and Hill & Smith Barriers, is inviting all employees to complete the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Health, safety, and wellbeing All four firms, which are committed to providing outstanding he...

To mark World Mental Health Day, employees from Hardstaff Barriers are highlighting the importance of robust and proactive mental health policies in the workplace. The staff from Hardstaff Barriers, based in Kingston-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, has spoken out to coincide with the global mental health awareness campaign, which took place on October 10, 2021. Hardstaff Barriers believes it is essential for businesses – whatever their size – to create a positive mental he...

With the many complexities in implementing a world-class safety program, combined with the millions of workplace injuries that continue to occur every year, the value of technology that simplifies safety procedures and connects safety managers to their employees working in hazardous environments, has never been more important. That’s why MSA Safety, a pioneer in worker safety technology, introduced a connected services platform that will help safety managers create safer and more efficien...

A fire that broke out at the KZN Resins factory in Durban at the end of August has placed the spotlight on the extreme hazards associated with the chemical-processing industry (CPI), comments ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. These hazards can quickly lead to a cascading sequence of events, resulting in a potentially catastrophic loss. Here fire protection systems should be designed in conjunction with, or consideration of, the respective Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). It includes identificatio...