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Fire Risk Assessment For Residential Care Homes

DB Fire Safety Limited has been awarded the responsibility of providing fire risk assessments for over 30 Residential Care Homes in the Midlands.

Residential Care Homes are subject to the Fire Safety Order and also inspections by The Care Quality Commission to fulfil their responsibilities to their residents in the event of a fire emergency.

Training and preparation are crucial for Residential Care Homes. Staff fire training must include ensuring that all residents can escape safely without the assistance of the Fire & Rescue services. Procedures must take into account that the residents could have restricted mobility  (either utilising wheelchairs, walkers or sticks).  Another point to remember is that residents may also have mental health issues such as dementia.

When carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment at a Residential Care Home, the following will be considered:

  • Is an emergency fire strategy in place?
  • Is there adequate evacuation equipment in place in the event of an emergency and is the evacuation equipment fit for purpose?
  • Have residents with special needs been considered?
  • Have the staff a clear knowledge and understanding of the fire safety procedures?
  • Have the staff a clean knowledge and understanding of manual handling techniques?
  • Have residents, visitors and staff been made aware of the fire escape routes?
  • Residential Care Homes must have an accurate and comprehensive Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in place for each and every resident.
  • In the event of an emergency evacuation plan, is there an adequate place of safe shelter available?

DB Fire Safety Limited is looking forward to taking on the responsibility of providing Fire Risk Assessments on behalf of Residential Care Homes.

 

 

 

 

Pub Landlady Ordered To Pay Over £11,000 Penalty

By ignoring a fire risk assessment, a pub landlady could well have been given a jail sentence because she exposed  her customers, her staff and also members of the public to extreme danger.

Carmel Heathcote, the licensee at The Harrow Inn in Boughton, avoided a jail sentence but was instead ordered to pay a penalty of more than £11,000.

The case was heard at Nottingham Crown court.  Despite a fire risk assessment being carried out, Carmel Heathcote chose to ignore the requirements because the first floor of the Harrow Inn pub was being used as sleeping accommodation for between 13 and 16 guests.

Head of fire protection at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, John Mills, said: “All business owners have a legal obligation to adhere to the relevant legislation relating to fire safety in their premises in order to ensure their staff, customers and members of the public are kept safe from fire.

“What is key in this case is that the defendant was in possession of a fire risk assessment which specifically identified that the premises were not suitable for sleeping accommodation. Unfortunately this had not been updated to reflect the high risks associated with allowing people to sleep there.Fire Exit

“This sentence sends a very strong message to the owners and managers of premises regarding their legal responsibilities and the potential consequences of ignoring them, and it also sends a very positive message to those conscientious landlords and property managers who ensure their staff and customers are kept safe.”

The fire risk assessment found on inspection evidence of people sleeping on the first floor of the property.  There was, however, no way of detecting a fire or raising the alarm in the event of an emergency.  There was no emergency lighting and the escape route was not adequately protected from fire or smoke.

Carmel Heathcote admitted six counts of breaching fire safety regulations and paid the hefty price.

This sentence is a warning to business owners that failure to comply with fire risk assessments will incur a substantial fine or even a term in jail.

The writer of this blog will be happy to advise you in respect of all your fire risk responsibilities which do apply to all businesses and organisations regardless of type or size.

Fire Door Safety Week – 14th to 20th September 2015

Fire Door Safety Week is the brainchild of the British Woodworking Federation, BWD-CERTIFIRE Scheme and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS)

Fire Door Safety Week has been organised to:

  • Raise awareness of the critical role of a fire door making particular reference to how the door has been installed and if the door requires maintenance.
  • To draw attention to owners of builders, not forgetting users, to check the condition of fire doors and report if they are found to be in an unsatisfactory condition and not fit for purpose.
  • To offer advice to every property owner and user in respect of the correct fire door specification, how they should be installed correctly, regular inspection and their maintenance.

Fire doors offer passive fire protection.  Providing passive fire protection into the structure of  a building can save Fire Doorspeople’s lives and limit the fire damage that can occur in the event of a fire which can, in effect, save money.

It’s crucial that fire doors are fitting correctly because they will:

  • Protect escape routes
  • Protect the building’s structure
  • Limit the spread of the fire and smoke by containing both these fire hazards in just one room.

Fire Safety Responsibilities

As a business owner, if you manage, own or employ people it’s your responsibility to manage your own fire safety and to understand the fire safety legislation.  The law states that it’s also your responsibility to ensure that your employees and visitors either in, or within the vicinity of, your premises are protected.  It’s also important to note that  refurbishments made to your premises are, again, your responsibility to ensure that these meet with current Building Regulations.  It’s also your responsibility to carry out regular fire risk assessments.

The writer of this blog has over 21 years experience in the fire safety industry and fully understands how your fire safety responsibilities can impact on the running of your business or organisation. If you are finding it difficult to navigate your way through the minefield that is fire safety legislation, then please feel free to contact me on 0800 772 0559 for advice in respect of fire doors.


New UK Fire Safety Legislation For Landlords

With effect from the 1st October 2015, there will be new UK Fire Safety Legislation for Landlords.  The new regulations will make it compulsory for all landlords to fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in rented properties.

House FireThis legislation will mean that a smoke alarm must be fitted on each floor of the premises. For properties with a solid burning appliance there will be a requirement to fit a carbon monoxide detector.

It will be the responsibility of landlords to check that these alarms are fitted and working at the commencement of each tenancy. If they choose to disobey this new legislation and fail to comply, they will face the possibility of a penalty of up to £5,000.

It’s not all one way traffic though.  Tenants will also be given some responsibility too. There will be a requirement for tenants to test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on a weekly basis. Any faults must be reported to the landlord or agency.

It has been reported that people are at least four times more likely to die in a house fire if no smoke alarm has been fitted. Our hope is that this new legislation will make homes significantly safer for tenants.

 

UK Business Safety Week 2015

Fire and Rescue Services from across the Country will be taking part in the UK Business Safety Week 2015.  This UK Business Safety Weekimportant fire safety (and possibly life saving) event will run from the 7th September through to the 13th September 2015.

This year’s UK Business Safety Week will be managed by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), in partnership with, for instance, the Fire Industry Association (FIA), Fire Protection Association (FPA), BAFE and the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA).

The central theme of this year’s UK Business Safety Week is to ‘Keep it SIMPLE and Safe’  The following are six fire safety SIMPLE reminders that can be shared with your employees within the work environment on, for example, noticeboards.  The SIMPLE easy to remember points are as follows:

  • Store stock safely: keep corridors, stairs and exits clear
  • Identify alarm points so you can inform and warn others
  • Make sure doors are closed to prevent fires from spreading
  • Place things that catch fire away from things that cause fire
  • Let someone know if you spot any fire safety problems
  • Ensure everyone knows what to do if a fire alarm sounds

As a business owner and employee, share the SIMPLE message with your staff.

With Christmas just around the corner, you may be getting ready for the festive season by buying in new stock over and above which would normally be stored.  Remember to store safely.  You may also be recruiting new members of staff to help with the Christmas rush.  Now should be the perfect opportunity to convey the SIMPLE message to make sure that everyone is fire safety aware to protect themselves, their colleagues, your customers and at the end of the day maybe your business.

Your local fire and rescue service can and want to help you protect your business from the risks of fire

For more information and the contact details of your local service, please visit www.cfoa.org.uk/frs.

 

Fire Safety: A Burning Issue for Hotels

There are over 45,000 hotels in the UK and fire safety is of paramount importance, not least because non-compliance with legislation can result in loss of life, loss of revenue, fines and imprisonment.

From small B&Bs to large hotels, the main legal responsibilities are the same. Hotel owners and managers need to be aware of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO); the current law in England and Wales. The FSO required one individual to be named as the ‘Responsible Person’ for a building – generally deemed to be the owner, manager or employer.

Quite often a hotel manager can be the designated Responsible Person without knowing it and without any fire safety knowledge or training. However, just because they are listed as the Responsible Person doesn’t mean they need to know everything about fire safety; someone else can be nominated to be a ‘Competent Person’ for the premises and receive training accordingly.

Do You Comply?

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION & REVIEW:

PHONE: 0800 772 0559

OR

EMAIL: enquiries@dbfiresafety.co.uk

 

Fire Station gutted in fire!!!

When the retained fire fighters were called out this week to a fire they arrived at their fire station only to find that it was their own building that was ablaze.

The fire, that had started in the garage area, completely destroyed the £250,000 fire engine as well as the remainder of the building.

Red-faced fire brigade chiefs have thanked the local police for raising the alarm and storing the new replacement fire engine at the local police station.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-26525149