HazMat Protection Accessories news

All homes in Scotland must have interlinked smoke alarms from 1 February. As the date nears, members of the Scottish Parliament have expressed their concerns about whether all homeowners will be able to comply. The Scottish Government gave Care and Repair Scotland £500k to help older and disabled homeowners install alarms. The daily record reported on 25 January that Care and Repair Scotland had struggled to meet demand and had closed its doors to new requests. Since September the se...

A team from West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service joined together with partners to help train new National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) technicians last week. The multi-agency training exercise, held at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire, was part of a training course for new Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) technicians, to increase response resilience in the event of an emergency. Urban Search and Rescue Team A group of 11 staff from West Yorkshire’s Urban Search and...

All UKAS certificates of accreditation for ISO 15189 Medical Laboratories are being updated following the November 2021 issue of a revised Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on the Management system requirements of ISO 15189, as the current certificates refer to the January 2015 issue of the communiqué. Requirements of ISO 15189 Statements for use on test, study, calibration, and check reports/certificates have also been revised The communiqué states: "A medical laborator...

1: Reliability Sprinkler systems have been proven in use for well over 100 years, during which time they have a 99% success rate worldwide. Systems over 100 years old are still in full working condition today. 2: Popularity More than 40 million sprinklers are fitted worldwide every year. 3: Unnecessary Deaths Thousands of people are killed every year in buildings without sprinkler systems worldwide. 4: Life Safety Record Sprinklers are approved for Life Safety purpose...

UKAS and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) would like to invite certification bodies to express an interest in joining a pilot program to become accredited to certify against the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework. The trust framework is a set of rules for providers of digital identity and attribute services to meet in order to demonstrate they meet requirements for secure, trustworthy services. This program presents an excellent opportunity for certifi...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is reminding the public not to bring flammable objects onto moorland, following the sentencing of a 28-year-old man. Viktor Riedly received a custodial term of one year in prison after a fire on Marsden Moor, that was so large, over 100 firefighters were needed to tackle it. Landowners, gamekeepers, the National Trust, the Local Authority and local community groups also worked at the scene. Major incident with crews Leeds Crown Court heard how he...

Cold weather brings on a whole new set of changes and challenges for any kind of vehicle. The Striker® aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicle is no different. Below is a guide on key checkpoints to help ensure the Striker ARFF is operation-ready. Striker ARFF vehicle Verify the ARFF Truck Batteries are Working at Full Capacity The batteries onboard the Striker ARFF vehicle are lead acid batteries with lead plates in the electrolyte liquid The batteries onboard the Striker ARFF...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging the region’s residents to register their many appliances to make their homes safer. Ahead of ‘Register My Appliance’ Week, from 17 to 21 January, and as part of the government’s Fire Kills Campaign, the service reveals that, unlike cars, household appliances are off the radar for many people if a free safety repair is ever needed. Author's quote Research shows that for millions, the answer is ‘no,’ but this c...

As the World braces for another rapidly advancing mutating version of COVID-19, face masks are being used to reduce the chance of spreading or capturing COVID-19 once again.  To limit the spread of the virus as much as possible, countries across the world are advising their citizens to consider making mask use mandatory both outdoors and indoors. As the world starts enforcing limited lockdowns it's important to understand the differences between various types of face masks. Three types of...

The tragic loss of life from the 19-story apartment building fire that occurred in New York City on Jan. 9 reminds of the fire and life safety challenges that tall buildings present to the emergency services and to the occupants who live or work in them. Challenges and features Because of the inherent nature of tall buildings and a series of historic fires, the practice of protecting the people who live and work in high-rise buildings has evolved over the years. Very specific sets of precautio...

Following a thorough recruitment drive, the BAFE Fire Safety Register is proud to announce the appointment of their new Managing Director, Dr. Justin Maltby-Smith CEng FIET CMgr FCMI. Since BAFE’s establishment in 1984, and subsequently going fully independent in 2009, the registration body continues to have a core role in establishing methods to evidence competency within the fire safety arena. With this comes to its significant responsibility of ensuring the BAFE portfolio of schemes av...

In the field service industry, proper inventory management is essential to a successful business. However, with spare parts stored across warehouses, stockrooms, and technician vehicles, it can be easy to let valuable inventory slip through the cracks. Let’s take a closer look at how you can effectively manage field spare parts inventory using the latest field service software. After all, inventory is an expense waiting to be converted into revenue. It is the mismanaging of spare parts i...

Personal Protective Equipment, vernacularly known as PPE, is a term they have all come across several times amidst the global pandemic. From the shortage of PPE kits to countries ramping up the manufacturing process, are some of the only topics that made headlines most of 2020 and through the latter 2021. In between all this, the cardinal question of “What is PPE?” comes to mind. From being used by beekeepers as reported in ancient literature, to 16th-century plague doctors in Europ...

There are six main varieties of fire suppression systems that are installed based on the nature of the industry. 1. The Wet Fire Sprinkler System Wet fire sprinkler fire suppression systems are an effective way of preventing and controlling fire hazards and providing safety to residential, commercial, and industrial dwellings. It utilizes a network of pipes that are filled with water and are connected to a reliable water source. These pipes are equipped with special sprinkler heads which are...

'Challenge Your Potential' and apply for a Regional (Retained) Firefighter role with the MFS. The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) is dedicated to providing an efficient and effective emergency service to the South Australian community. Being a MFS Firefighter is one of the most highly respected careers in South Australia. The MFS is looking for community-minded individuals who are fit, healthy, and possess personal and professional values that align with themselves....

Chate Singh pleaded guilty to six offenses under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Nottingham Crown Court. According to the fire service, a judge said Singh's actions could have had 'catastrophic consequences'. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service noted that the breaches included failing to provide adequate fire safety training for staff, failing to implement procedures such as safety drills, and failing to...

Featherstone Fire Station has gained a new on-call fire fighter all the way from Australia following the latest pass out ceremony at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s HQ in Birkenshaw.  Toby Farmer, 25, has followed a family tradition as he joins Featherstone Station as an on-call firefighter after relocating from New South Wales Australia, where both his father and grandfather have spent their working lives in the fire service.  Firefighting equipment Toby and his 11 f...

All features used on the aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle must be tested regularly to ensure effectiveness; why should the foam system be any different? Oshkosh’s Eco EFP™ is an ARFF foam testing system created by Oshkosh Airport Products and is approved for use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Not only does the system meet FAA regulations, Eco EFP foam testing also minimizes negative environmental and health impacts that have been linked to foam testing. Contin...

UKAS is the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is appointed by the Government, to assess and accredit organizations that provide a variety of services including certification, testing, inspection, and calibration based on compliance with international standards and demonstration through objective evidence of competency and impartiality in the performance of defined activities. At the beginning of the pandemic reliable testing was quickly identified as a key component in th...

In December 2021, following an agreement at its November General Assembly, the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) published its revised Articles of Association and associated Rules of Procedure (EA-1/17). This is the culmination of months of discussions regarding the EA membership criteria, with revision allowing UKAS to retain its membership status. This status was previously at risk following the UK’s exit from the EU and hence UKAS no longer met the EA membership criteria tha...

Within the field service industry, organizing the business’s schedule can be one of the hardest challenges to tackle. As they juggle several different jobs, employee metrics, and equipment usage, it can be easy to let something important fall through the cracks. With the technology at disposal, now is the time to start working smarter instead of harder. A field service management software with mobile compatibility can help. Here are some of the scheduling and dispatch benefits they can e...

Firefighters at Slaithwaite Station have prepared more than 130 Christmas hampers to deliver to local families this week. The station is working with schools in and around the Colne Valley area, as well as the Kirklees and Huddersfield Salvation Army and Food Share Scheme and other partners.  Gifting and food parcel scheme We have a green bin at the front of the fire station which is there 24/7, and has been overflowing every day" Slaithwaite On-Call Fire Fighter, Richard Izzard, who se...

To help communities plan for the threats and hazards of climate change, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its updated Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide: Designing Whole Community Exercises to Prepare for the Effects of a Changing Climate PDF in November 2021. Increase preparedness As the impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, this resource offers communities low-risk and cost-effective ways to increase preparedness with: Tools...

Lewis Ramsay, Caretaker Manager/Board Member – BAFE, said, "BAFE fully supports any developments in helping younger people enter the fire and security sector. It is crucial the right skills, knowledge, expertise, and behavior are instilled from day one of working with life safety processes and systems." He adds, "We encourage all BAFE registered organizations based in Wales to complete this survey to establish evidence of employer interest to develop this further." specialist apprentices...

On September 19th, the Crumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands erupted, with devastating consequences. The eruption forced the evacuation of 7,000 people (close to 10% of the island’s population), destroyed almost 2,000 buildings, spread over 1,800 acres, and released 250,000 tons of sulfur dioxide. Rapid response during a natural disaster G7 personal gas protection devices were deployed with the Dirección General de Seguridad y Emergencias...

The award recognizes the work undertaken throughout 2020/2021 by the FPA to revolutionize its digital services by launching two new websites and a CRM system to improve customer engagement, integrating a third-party security tool throughout all digital platforms to protect the members, delivering two successful virtual events, and implementing a new webinar platform to improve member engagement and also in the process of launching an app to improve accessibility to digital products. Both websit...

Firefighters across South Yorkshire are urging people to put smoke alarm testing at the top of their Christmas preparation list, as the big day draws closer. The plea comes following several examples in recent weeks, from right across the country, where working smoke alarms have saved lives, pets, and homes from serious harm. With everyone busy buying gifts, putting up decorations, and making plans, officers are hoping people will be able to find 60 seconds to test their alarms. They...

Thanks to member feedback, the new membership scheme offers FPA members additional benefits such as access to the Business Property and Protection Portal which produces a risk report for any business type in the UK, the Cladding Compliance Toolkit created by RISC Authority, which aims to help users understand the complex legislative fire safety requirements of external building cladding systems, and easier access to resources such as our popular Assembly Point Podcast. Launch of a CPD Record To...

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, the Government has re-introduced measures to mitigate this risk such as mask-wearing in shops and on all public transport.   BAFE is confident by now that the fire safety industry fully understands its position as a life safety, and therefore necessary, provision of service required to continue (whe...

UKAS is delighted to announce that following the passing of a Resolution at the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) General Assembly on 25th November 2021, UKAS’s continued membership of EA has been assured. UKAS’s membership of EA, the association of national accreditation bodies for the European region, had been under review following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in 2020. The EA and UKAS were keen that UKAS remained a member and the Articles of Association ha...