Firefighter Health and Safety - News
An update to all BAFE registered organizations and the wider fire safety industry. Recent weeks have seen a new Omicron variant of COVID-19 emerge and begin to spread across the UK. With this, Government has re-introduced measures to mitigate this risk such as mask wearing in shops and on all public transport. Representing latest guidance BAFE is confident by now that all the fire safety industry fully understands their position as a life safety, and therefore necessary, provision of service...
EEAST is pleased to announce that Dr. Simon Walsh has joined EEAST as Interim Medical Director. Having worked in several hospitals in the East of England during his training program, Simon was appointed as an Emergency Medicine Consultant and Paediatric Emergency Medicine specialist at the Royal London Hospital in 2004. Experience He started pre-hospital care in 2014, flying with London's Air Ambulance. After moving to live in Hertfordshire he joined Essex & Herts Air Ambulance...
Pioneering enterprise electronic security integrator, Frontline Security Solutions, has joined the Zitko Talent industry alliance and will be welcoming an initial two trainees at the end of the year. If successful, Frontline will be looking to implement the Zitko Talent program further throughout the business. The company, which is part of the Chubb Group, provides high-end access control, CCTV, intruder, and intercom systems for customers across the EMEA region and has a long-standing relation...
AQUASYS welcomes its new partner Nile Systems from Egypt in Linz. At the kick-of-meeting in Linz, the partners are proud of projects that have already been successfully realised and the up-close experience of standing in the middle of the high-pressure water mist (HPWM) in the in-house demo room. Nile Systems focuses on the development, supply and installation of fire protection products in Egypt. The company is managed by professionals with more than 20 years of experience in this field. AQUA...
National Foam has announced the completion of its fluorine free foam manufacturing line expansion in Angier, North Carolina. This expansion, along with ongoing product initiatives, is designed to support the growing shift to synthetic fluorine free foam concentrates. fluorine free foam production “We have substantially increased our fluorine free foam production, to meet the rapidly growing demand in the marketplace,” said Bobby Nelson, the General Manager at National Foam. Bobby...
Advanced’s Technical Support Engineer, Mark Taylor, examines some of the solutions available to those tasked with protecting hotels from the threat of fire. Cooking equipment, careless smoking, and electrical malfunctions are three of the leading causes of fire in hotels. Aside from the serious threat to life and property, posed by genuine fires, failure to provide and maintain high-quality fire protection measures has other dire consequences as well. False alarms lead to disruptions...
Vimpex has supplied Agrippa wireless acoustic fire door holders to hold open fire doors at the HQ of one of England's largest housing associations to provide an easy and effective method of infection control, while not impacting fire safety. Part of a COVID-secure risk assessment carried out identified the need to reduce the touching of fire door locks and door handles by staff and visitors at the organization's administrative offices. "Reducing the spread of germs and bacteria has never been m...
BAFE continues to stress the importance of verifying appropriate UKAS-accredited third-party certification with growing industry support. 'Don’t just Specify, Verify' campaign As the nation moves towards stronger responsibility and accountability for fire safety measures, the BAFE Fire Safety Register reiterates their message on the significance of UKAS-accredited third-party certification. BAFE’s 'Don’t just Specify, Verify' campaign launched in March 2020 identifies the im...
BAFE continues to stress the importance of verifying appropriate UKAS accredited third-party certification with growing industry support. As the nation moves towards stronger responsibility and accountability for fire safety measures, the BAFE Fire Safety Register reiterates their message on the significance of UKAS accredited third-party certification. BAFE’s ‘Don’t just Specify, Verify’ campaign launched in March 2020 identifies the important second, and sometimes over...
The Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA) is an organization established in 1840. Its purpose is to ensure the continued existence of the Royal Warrant, as a respected institution. Businesses established enough to hold the Royal Warrant title must follow the regulations set by The Lord Chamberlain. What is the RWHA Seminar? RWHA Sustainability Seminar was held in central London, in October 2021. With guest speakers, including those of which A&E Fire Security are also proud members, the...
The Scutum Group is pleased to announce that Statewide Fire Corp. (Statewide Central Station) in the United States has joined Scutum North America Inc. Founded in 1981, Statewide is a UL Listed, TMA (The Monitoring Association) five-diamond designated central station, monitoring all emergency conditions throughout the United States and has established a reputation for excellence in customer service, expertise in the industry and cutting-edge technology. Acquisition of Statewide Alarm installe...
Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association’s (CVVFA) Candice McDonald is featured in a new e-Book authored by CVVFA’s good friend, Chief Dennis Compton. Candice McDonald and 30 other exceptional women have been featured in the new e-Book for their vital roles in the fire service. Candice McDonald featured in new e-book Chief Dennis Compton chose to include Candice MacDonald in his e-book, describing her as a leader who balances her professional, family and volunteer respons...
Users are all only too familiar with the “Hands, Face, Space” mantra intended to help control the spread and risk of Covid-19. Obviously, this means it has never been more important to ensure that surfaces are kept clean. This includes items such as Nittan fire alarm control panels, which have controls and touch screens used by engineers and end-users when operating them. But as with all electronic equipment, the materials used to clean them need to be chosen very carefully. Tech...
Over 70 colleagues from the fire sector gathered at the Oriental Club in Stratford Place, London to celebrate the FPA's platinum jubilee. Guests included current and former government ministers, and staff from the NFCC, IFE, and the London Fire Brigade, among many others. More than merely a victory lap or a gathering of old friends, the event was also a poignant reminder of what can be achieved within the sector with a collective and unified voice, and a singular message. FPA C...
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 ...
The adoption and implementation of hazard-resistant building codes is the most effective community mitigation measure against hazard risk. According to FEMA's Building Code Save Study, 65% of counties, cities, and towns across the United States of America (USA) currently have not adopted modern building codes. Getting community ready FEMA's new Building Science Resource Library, launched in October 2021, contains materials focused on creating disaster-resistant communities, including detailed...
Globally renowned Japanese life safety solutions provider, Hochiki, has launched in the Danish market, with its most powerful and sophisticated fire control and indication system yet, L@titude. Following Part 13 certification, which then paved the way for DBI approval, this market renowned system uses an interface that is available in multiple languages, simple to use and understand. L@titude life safety system The new L@titude life safety system combines the very latest hardware and software...
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. 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 m...
On October 27, the House of Representatives passed the Protecting America’s First Responders Act (S. 1511). Then on November 4, the Senate voted unanimously to agree to the House version of the bill. S. 1511 now goes to President Biden to be signed into law. “I’d like to thank Senator Grassley and Representative Pascrell, along with the many bipartisan cosponsors of the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, for their leadership in introducing and getting Congress...
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has announced the shortlist for its 2021 Passive Fire Protection Awards, with the winners due to be announced on 26 November at the Association’s Awards Lunch at the Edwardian Hotel in Manchester. The awards will be presented by broadcaster, naturalist, and marine biologist Monty Hall. The 2021 event will see awards presented in six categories, each recognizing excellence within the passive fire protection industry, at a company and...
The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, has received four direct grants that will advance safety in a variety of areas. The FPRF will also serve in an advisory service capacity for several other grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FEMA AFG), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and National Science Foundation (NSF). This support for FPRF projects in 2022 coordinates with the Foundatio...
The November 15 - 21, 2021 week is all about celebrating the heroes of road safety and Hardstaff Barriers is proud to be taking part in the celebrations. The Road Safety Week runs from November 15 to November 21, 2021 and is celebrating the work of people across the United Kingdom, who play a key role to make the roads a safer place for everyone. Road Safety Week Hardstaff Barriers value every single member of their hard-working team, who work around the clock to supply, manage and install th...
Six fire engines and 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have started their journey across Europe to Ukraine. The de-commissioned fire engines have been donated to Fire Aid by Kent Fire Rescue Service (KFRS), together with a vast array of equipment, including PPE donated by fire and rescue services from across the country. KFRS Supports Fire Aid Mission In Ukraine KFRS Station Manager, Mike Pitney, said: “Last year, hundreds of Ukrainian firefighters worked for weeks...
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has announced the shortlist for its 2021 Passive Fire Protection Awards, with the winners due to be announced on 26 November at the Association’s Awards Lunch at the Edwardian Hotel in Manchester. The awards will be presented by broadcaster, naturalist, and marine biologist Monty Hall. The 2021 event will see awards presented in eight Award categories, each recognizing excellence within the passive fire protection industry, at company and ind...
As a direct result of the findings of the Hackitt Report and subsequent government focus on the recommendations for the wider fire safety environment, FIREX International, the UK’s fire industry tradeshow, has taken the decision to fully commit to supporting and promoting third-party approvals, independent accreditation, and competency for construction products and services. This will mean all exhibiting companies with relevant fire protection or prevention systems and materials will need...
Heather Stefanson was sworn in as Manitoba’s new premier following a hotly contested and very close election. Her election as the province’s first female premier was, in no small part, due to the work of IAFF members. The IAFF has long said to elected leaders that they don’t have liberal or conservative issues, they have firefighter issues. Voting campaign In the final vote tally, Stefanson won by 363 votes; the margin of victory was decided by the work of the Manitoba Profe...
UK Building Regulations regularly update the importance of fire safety compliance for building structures and require all buildings to have adequate fire protection measures in place, in order to protect both property and lives. Regular fire risk assessments Regular fire risk assessments and monitoring of the quality of buildings ensure that no corner of a building remains unprotected. Most types of buildings are well-equipped with fire extinguishers, alarms and other fire safety measures, so...
Shortly before 2.30 pm, the Computer Aided Dispatch and telephony systems experienced a failure. The national contingency plan was enacted and 999 calls were rerouted to neighboring ambulance services while the fault was traced and fixed. The systems are up and running. East of England Ambulance Services also liaised with other blue-light services to ensure they were aware and could contact by other means. They would like to thank the staff who have worked incredibly hard to support patients an...
Events such as the Grenfell Tower disaster have had a profound impact on the way the construction industry reviews its building standards. Matt Ryan, the UK Country Manager at PlanRadar, explains how digital tools are providing the next step in fire safety inspection and compliance. The revelations uncovered by the ongoing Grenfell Inquiry show that, worryingly, UK housing is still falling short of the mark, when it comes to fire safety protocols. Recently, the London Fire Commissioner called f...
As Americans prepare for much-anticipated travel in the coming months, the safety of transportation and roadways is a concern for most travelers, according to a new survey facilitated by 3M. Nearly half—or 47 percent—of U.S. respondents plan to travel for a vacation or trip, within the next six months, and more than 3 out of 4 plan to travel by car. At the same time, 53 percent are concerned about the safety of transportation and roadways, when traveling outside their community. 3M...
