Fire Safety Risk Assessment - News

A South Yorkshire recruitment campaign aims to change perceptions of women in the fire service. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s ‘A Firefighter Is A Firefighter’ campaign includes a new hard-hitting video, which highlights the fact that all firefighters meet the same standards and do the same job regardless of their gender. Campaign to inspire women At the same time, the service will be publishing a fresh episode of its official podcast, Shout, featuring women from across...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is delighted to have won the Trade Association Forum’s (TAF’s) Skills Development Award for its training offering. The Award, which was presented at an Awards dinner at the Brewery in London on 23 February, recognizes the ASFP’s drive to improve its effectiveness and raise competency levels in passive fire protection. Competency Pathway The ASFP has developed a series of passive fire protection training courses, across mu...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Health, Safety, and Survival Section have announced the launch of a new Virtual Training Series designed to reduce preventable injuries and deaths in the fire service. These trainings cover a wide range of fire service topics, including assembling a peer support team, cardiac health awareness and the benefits of early detection, the impacts of bullying on members’ health and wellness, and how to choose the right occupational healthcare p...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), is offering a new Hazmat Train-The-Trainer program: Partners in Training (PIT) Crew. This project will help first responders gain the knowledge and skills they need to train others in their communities on hazmat safety and response. NVFC’s Hazmat train-the-trainer program The NVFC will provide 15 in-person tra...

Honeywell, a pioneer in fire and life safety, launched the first fire alarm system with UL-approved self-testing smoke detectors that can be tested automatically, changing the way fire and life safety systems are installed, tested, and maintained. The Notifier Inspire™ fire alarm system with self-test detectors is designed to help create a safer building environment by increasing facility managers' awareness of system needs while equipping service providers with digital self-testing tools...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has released the shocking video after the owner of the property, in Halifax, agreed it needed to be seen, to educate the public on the dangers of lithium batteries. The video shows the owner rushing downstairs in the middle of the night after being woken by a popping noise, created by the batteries of an electric motorbike being charged inside the house. The sound indicated the batteries were failing due to thermal runaway–this is when too mu...

The ASFP is saddened to hear of the passing of the Fire Protection Association (FPA) Managing Director (MD), Jon O’Neill.  Jon was and continues to be one of the original advocates of improving fire safety standards within design, construction, and occupation. ASFP team and members  Jon O’Neill was single-minded in creating an environment that endeavored to lower the frequency of major fire events and associated casualty numbers. He continued to lobby those in positions...

Intertek, a globally renowned Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, will join fellow corrosion and coatings industry companies from March 19 to March 23, 2023, at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) Conference and Expo in Denver, Colorado, United States of America (USA). The negative effects of corrosion on materials and equipment are significant, causing not only production delays and costly repairs, but also extreme safety and environmental impa...

Broadcaster and safety campaigner - Nick Ross CBE has been announced as the new Independent Chair of Trustees for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). With a long-standing background in public health and community safety, as well as a celebrated career in journalism, including as presenter of the BBC’s Crimewatch program, Nick will take up the role of independent chair for NFCC from April. NFCC - professional voice of UK fire and rescue services The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFC...

To keep Victoria’s roads safe and smooth, the City is piloting a new pothole finder software that scans roads for damage to help locate and fix potholes as they develop. pothole finder tech Data from the new tool builds on city-wide road condition assessments conducted every three years and has significantly increased the number of potholes detected and repaired in Victoria. The pothole finder tech complements increased paving and road upgrades supported by additional funding for road m...

Residents in Rossington, Stocksbridge, Askern, Penistone, Dearne, and Birley are being challenged to step up and join their local fire crew, as the county’s fire service launches another on-call firefighter recruitment drive. New vacancies have arisen at the stations in each of these areas with more staff needed to keep the fire engines’ wheels turning and respond to fires, floods, road traffic collisions, and other emergency incidents. Fire officers say there has never been a bette...

A party drug warning has been issued by firefighters following several serious road traffic collisions. Firefighters in Bradford are staging an event to highlight the dangers of using nitrous oxide behind the wheel. nitrous oxide Crews from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) will be at Centenary Square in Bradford on March 19, when they will have a mock road traffic accident showing what can happen while taking nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The gas is becomin...

Kentec Electronics, a manufacturer of life-critical control systems, has launched the Loop Explorer 2 (LE-2) software to provide installers with a faster, more secure means to program and configure fire control panels that delivers a highly secure means of controlling access to the engineering software and access to Kentec’s technical support. Loop Explorer 2 LE-2 supersedes the LE-1 and will be used to commission all Kentec’s analog, addressable control panels, providing one sof...

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has approved a slight rise in its portion of council tax. Compared to the previous year, the rise will be six pence per week for Band A taxpayers, and 10p per week for Band D taxpayers. However, despite the rise, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority precept remains the fourth lowest cost-per-head-of-population in the country. The authority took this decision following a survey earlier this year, where members of the public were asked if...

Dräger, a pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, is calling for fire escape hoods to become part of any fire safety plan where evacuation takes more than a couple of minutes – including educational facilities, hospitals, hotels and high-rise buildings. Fire escape hoods are designed to provide wearers with crucial minutes of protection from fire-related vapors, particles and gases, including carbon-monoxide. Dräger’s PARAT smoke hood range provide wearers...

This month sees a change of leadership at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP). Current ASFP CEO - Steve Davies is stepping down to take up a new challenge with Corrosion Resistant Products Ltd, a division of Indutrade. The ASFP’s Business Manager - Mike Ward will be taking over as its new Managing Director. Steve Davies is moving on having led the Association through a period of huge development and growth over the last two years, putting down strong foundations for the...

Taking the time to investigate and evaluate the options for turnout gear lockers is an important step in the purchasing process. Not all locker systems are created equal, nor with the same attention to detail. Turnout Gear Locker The Industry Standard for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) storage was created in 1998 with the introduction of the GearGrid Turnout Gear Locker. Since then, other look-a-like products have come and gone. When the facts, features, and benefits are reviewed, it bec...

Has the fire department been dealing with tangled and twisted hoses? There is a solution to that problem! GearGrid’s Hose Tamer Mobile Cart will allow transporting of the hose easily and successfully without it becoming tangled. The Mobile Cart protects the hose while also enhancing the maintenance and lifetime of department hoses. Hose Tamer Mobile Cart The Hose Tamer Mobile Cart is constructed of heavy-duty steel wire that the user can count on maximum durability. The Hose Tamer provi...

GearGrid’s Automotive Organizational Cart is the most effective way to keep items organized and accessible all in one central location. Being constructed of heavy-duty materials, this cart will ensure unlimited placement flexibility. In addition, the cart will ensure security through its complete locking capabilities. accessories GearGrid also offers accessories that will help meet storage needs. With the shelves being adjustable, users can move them to store whatever they may need...

Madrid Fire Department has selected Allison-equipped Renault Trucks vehicles as part of a fleet renewal process. The order for 13 vehicles includes seven light urban fire trucks, two automatic aerial ladder trucks, and four heavy-duty wildland fire trucks, all equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions.   seven light urban fire trucks The seven light urban fire trucks, with Iturri bodywork mounted on the D 2.1 240.12 4x2 FPTL chassis, are fitted with Allison 2000TM Series transm...

The recent announcement from the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on proposed changes to Approved Document B (ADB) of the Building Regulations is welcomed by the BSA as a common-sense step to improve fire safety in care homes. The government is proposing several new updates to ADB including recommendations to mandate sprinklers in care homes, regardless of height, and is inviting responses to the consultation which is open until 17 March 2023. UK care homes Accordin...

A new initiative has been launched to provide vulnerable residents with emergency packs, which are filled with items to help keep them warm. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has been involved in the scheme as part of the ongoing effort to address the cost-of-living crisis in Leeds. immediate relief packs The packs aim to provide immediate relief for residents while they wait for specialist services. Each pack contains items including a fleece blanket, thermal flask mug, and hot...

Firefighters across South Yorkshire are asking the county’s residents to not believe everything they read or hear when it comes to fire safety. The warning, issued by South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, comes amidst a ‘cost of living’ crisis that has seen potentially dangerous money-saving ‘hacks’ being shared online. Fire crews have also attended a number of fires locally, over the winter period, which have been started through unsafe heating practices. The service...

GEARGRID is excited to announce they are offering a 24” Wide by 24” Deep locker. Until recently, GEARGRID has only offered lockers with a standard 20” depth. After listening to customers’ needs for larger lockers to store more personal protective equipment (PPE), GEARGRID responded with a new locker size. The 24” x 24” locker is based on GEARGRID’s patented design, which promotes air movement to minimize odor build-up and allow damp items to dry faster....

The GearCart with Hose Dryer Attachment is GearGrid’s newest addition to their line of hose drying solutions. Built to stand up to the demands of firefighters, the unit makes the perfect addition to any fire station. innovative solution The innovative solution allows the hose to be looped through the attachments, which provides for a quick, convenient drying process. At 75” wide, the system allows departments to dry hose within a limited amount of space. The system is ideal f...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced authorized dealer - Allegiance Fire and Rescue, a division of Massachusetts-based Allegiance Trucks, LLC, has earned the distinguished Pierce Dealer of the Year Award for 2022. The award recognizes a dealership’s outstanding customer service, the impact it has made on in the fire service community, and growth as a company over the past year. In addition to the award, Allegiance is celebrating the near completion of a sig...

REV Fire Group, which includes REV Group Inc. manufacturers of E-ONE®, KME®, Ferrara™, Spartan Emergency Response®, Spartan Fire Chassis™, Smeal™, and Ladder Tower™ fire apparatus brands, announces the expansion and US$ 1.5 million renovation of its Ephrata, PA facility to allow for the increased manufacturing of aerial apparatus, including tractor drawn aerials (TDAs). The expansion is expected to more than triple the production of TDAs, and nearly double the...

Those responsible for the safety of high-rise residential buildings in England have six months from April to register with the new Building Safety Regulator. The Building Safety Regulator was established to protect high-rise residents from unsafe building practices in England, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Under the Building Safety Act, high-rise residential buildings which are 18 meters tall or higher, or at least seven storeys, with two or more residential units are defined as &lsqu...

Combining the stability of NASH liquid ring pumps with the high vacuum capabilities of NASH steam jet ejectors results in a hybrid vacuum system that reduces GHG emissions and operating costs while improving system stability. Nash hybrid vacuum systems have been the industry benchmark since 1979, and are recognized worldwide for delivering reliable performance and lower emissions. But it is never satisfied. NASH Ener-Jet hybrid vacuum systems Due to extensive R&D, NASH Ener-Jet hybri...

Departments and facilities are often faced with the challenge of finding enough space to properly store and protect their gear and equipment. By storing gear and equipment in spaces that allow them to effectively air out, they can dry properly, which will prolong their overall use. Two-Tier Locker GearGrid heard customers’ needs for additional storage options and responded with the Two-Tier Locker. The system’s added openings provide space on any wall where full height, individual...