Firefighter Health and Safety - News
Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) warns against deliberate fires after several callouts since lockdown began. Despite the current government guidance on staying at home to help alleviate the Coronavirus pandemic, AF&RS continues to be called to mindless cases of arson that put both crews and the community in danger. Since the start of the government’s stay at home directive on Monday 23rd March, crews have attended 58 deliberate fires across...
Firefighters across South Yorkshire are asking people to pledge not to have a garden fire during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This latest plea comes as South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue saw a huge spike in garden fires during the last week in March, a 161 percent increase compared to a normal week. Impact of air pollution The service has also been contacted by several residents who have found it hard to physically leave their homes to exercise, due to the smoke coming from local garden fire...
Kent firefighters are supporting their blue light colleagues in the fight against COVID-19 by lending their services to the wider community. Crews and staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are working alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to help meet the growing demand for medical response across the county, as a result of the worldwide pandemic. Firefighters will undergo training before being deployed to drive ambulances, while other KFRS employees have been...
G4S announces the release of the G4S facility disinfection solution that helps provide a healthier and safer environment for staff and visitors. G4S facility disinfection solution G4S offers a complete range of sanitization and disinfection services for workplace, vehicles and commercial spaces. Regular sanitization of the facility between shifts; as directed in the government guidelines, can help reduce the risk of infections, thus helping to reduce employee sick days. Some key features of...
Whilst the Grenfell Inquiry has been paused due to COVID-19, ministers have announced another overhaul of building regulation to improve fire safety. The measures, which will apply to all new builds over 11 meters, come as part of a wider government initiative to improve fire safety following the tragic Grenfell Tower. This new fire safety program comes a month after Rishi Sunak announced £1bn to remove all types of dangerous cladding with the new Building Safety Fund. A new system of fi...
The Gorman-Rupp Company (Gorman-Rupp) has announced a change in the format of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (‘Annual Meeting’), from in-person to virtual-only meeting. Due to the emerging public health impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and to support the health and well-being of the company’s shareholders, employees, and their families, Gorman-Rupp will hold its annual meeting in a virtual meeting format only, via webcast. 2020 Annual Meeting of Sharehol...
Around 200 delegates from the building and design industries in the United Kingdom region and beyond attended a one-day business seminar themed - “Sprinklers Save Lives” on providing a fire resilient environment for everyone. It was held at The Burgess Hall in St Ives, United Kingdom. “Sprinklers Save Lives” seminar Organized by BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd.) in collaboration with, and hosted by, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, t...
The BAFSA Executive have now written to its members and outlined immediate action as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd.) announced in a statement that they will continue to work within the current Government guidelines (both national and devolved) throughout this COVID19 pandemic outbreak. They have provided links below to HM Government advice, Scottish Government advice, Welsh Government advice and Northern Ireland Government advice we...
ImageTrend, Inc. announces a special study supplemental question has been added in Elite™ to be included in the National Fire Incident Reporting System’s (NFIRS) national-level special study. The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Data Center (NFDC) is implementing a special study to assist fire departments in recording responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in a consistent manner. The study question will determine if COVID-19 impacted fire department calls by having...
Cabinet Office moves to further protect suppliers after COVID-19 (Coronavirus). A new Procurement Policy Note (PPN) has been published by the Cabinet Office to further protect suppliers during and after the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFE welcomes this initiative to protect the vital provision of fire safety services during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Many companies are suffering the financial consequences of being unable to carry out routine work. However, they recognize that when more no...
For businesses and organizations using unheated warehouses or other structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in an automatic sprinkler system to burst, chances are, the system is equipped with a dry-pipe fire sprinkler system. Dry-pipe sprinkler systems Dry-pipe sprinkler systems are used in settings where a temperature above 40°F (4°C) cannot be reliably maintained. Unlike wet-pipe systems in which the pipes are filled with water, the pipes in a dry-pipe system ar...
Big Bear Fire Department personnel are wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during 911 medical calls for service, as a part of their updated safety procedures, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Out of an abundance of safety, Big Bear Fire Department staff members are wearing PPE that includes, masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, during many patient contacts. They feel it was important to let the public know, that although their appearance might not be typically what they...
Yorkshire Ambulance Service welcomes additional COVID-19 support from fire and rescue colleagues. Firefighter colleagues from the region’s four fire and rescue services will be joining the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide additional support during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The 48 volunteers (12 from each fire and rescue service – North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Humberside) will be carrying out tasks including driving ambulances and othe...
As the COVID-19 emergency continues to evolve, fire departments and fire protection contractors must ensure fire prevention and life safety systems and equipment are in working order at all times. These fire and life systems and products are essential functions in safeguarding the public, businesses, and institutions. CAL FIRE - OSFM regulations The CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE - OSFM) regulations continue to be in effect and relevant deadlines apply. The California Fi...
The AFFF foam concentrates FILMOPOL and BIOFILM are now UL 162-certified. FILMOPOL, an AFFF fluorosynthetic AR versatile foam concentrate, is especially effective at: Putting out hydrocarbon fires fast owing to its AFFF properties (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) Forming a protective film gel over the surface of all types of flammable liquid (class B polar solvents) due to its AR property (Alcohol-Resistant) offering remarkable resistance to re-ignition of the exposed combustible materials. BI...
The national picture for the Coronavirus outbreak is evolving and changing rapidly. As a supplier of PPE and Managed Services to the Fire and Rescue Service, Bristol Uniforms qualifies as an essential service that needs to remain operating if possible. In light of this the company wants to reassure their customers of the following steps they have taken at Bristol, both to ensure that their colleagues are able to work safely and to make sure they help keep their organization running as smoothly a...
South Yorkshire’s firefighters are calling on people across the county to use ‘common sense’ when lighting garden fires during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. increase in garden fire call-outs The plea from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue comes as they, and other fire services nationally, have seen an increase in garden fire call-outs over the last two weeks. These incidents, they say, could potentially slow their response to a more serious incident and hamper their ability...
BAFE announces key information published by Construction Leadership Council on 23/03/2020 and updated on 02/04/2020. Please note the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published Site Operating Procedures that is relevant to BAFE Registered Companies still going on-site to perform works.
The Government have published their response to the Building a Safer Future Consultation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) state: “In June 2019, the government published the ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation detailing proposals to achieve long-term reform of the building safety system. This document sets out the government’s proposals for a reformed building safety system covering the performance of all buildings as well as th...
Big Bear Fire Department has implemented a new emergency text alert notification system that may be used to deliver time-sensitive emergency alerts to residents when there is a threat to their health and safety. This system is called “BBFD ALERTS” and these notifications will provide important information during incidents such as wildland fires, hazardous materials incidents, health emergencies, and more. These messages will include information regarding evacuations, Shelter-in-Plac...
ImageTrend, Inc. announces CrewCare™, its free mobile app originally designed for first responders is also available for additional healthcare workers such as physicians and nurses. CrewCare has been enhanced with COVID-19 related questions to capture the stressors that healthcare workers and first responders have been dealing with since the outbreak. The questions allow anonymous information to be captured related to professional and personal stress. This provides insight and heightened...
Residents across the county are being urged to stay fire safe, while they isolate themselves with their families at home, during the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.A week into the UK government’s instruction to stay at home except for essential journeys, fire crews have responded to several fires that might have been easily avoided by following some simple fire safety advice. Ahead of the pandemic reaching the predicted peak, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service wants to ensure crews a...
FIA CEO Ian Moore has just discussed the release of the below statement with Susan Revell, Standards Development Manager at BSI, and would like to share the information, help, and guidance offered by BSI, “Following the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), BSI has examined how we can support the collective efforts to mitigate the risks to organizations, caused by this global health issue." 11 standards to help guide businesses "After careful consideration, we have made available 11...
The COVID-19 pandemic situation is of a major concern to everyone in the world, including all in the US state of New England. Fire Equipment Inc. (FEI) would like to inform their customers that they are proactively taking precautions and managing through these challenging times. FEI provides life safety fire protection services in the state of New England. The company takes their responsibility seriously, in making sure that everyone remains fully protected in the event of a fire, by properly f...
Fire Equipment Inc. is very pleased to announce that three great Cape Cod-based fire protection businesses are combining into the only full-service fire protection company located on Cape Cod. The three fire protection businesses include: Fire Equipment Inc. – Fire Alarms & Special Hazard Suppression Systems Ralph J. Perry Inc. – Fire Extinguishers & Kitchen Fire Systems CANCO Fire Sprinkler Services – Fire Sprinkler Systems These three businesses are now combi...
The symptoms of the illness associated with this novel coronavirus are similar to those caused by influenza and other respiratory illnesses and include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and difficulty breathing. In many countries, COVID-19 is considered to be a high-risk workplace hazard for healthcare workers in a variety of fields and specializations. The WHO and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended airborne precautions for healthcare workers for certain...
Popular with fire-fighters around the world, XFlex is Bristol Uniforms’ flagship range in structural fire fighting (Personal Protective Equipment) PPE. Its name came from the ‘X’ shape formed by the curved seams on the garment’s elbow and its flexibility. It enables excellent range of movement which helps fire-fighters carry out their physical roles more effectively. The creation and introduction of XFlex into the market marks a new direction in fire fighting PPE design a...
Much like other services across the country, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety activity currently looks different from normal. This is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted on its ability to deliver home safety visits, safe and well checks, school visits, and station-based events. The joint police and fire - Lifewise Centre is also closed, until further notice, and fire station community rooms are no longer being used by their partner agencies....
South Yorkshire’s firefighters will be able to deliver food and drive ambulances to support their communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This comes following an unprecedented national agreement that has been struck by fire chiefs, national employers, and representative bodies such as the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). responding to emergency incidents Crews will also be able to retrieve dead bodies, as part of the deal, while continuing to do their core duty of responding to emer...
The Advisory Board of Werner International Holding S.à.r l. (WernerCo) announced that Gary Scott has been named Global Chief Executive Officer of WernerCo, a fully integrated and international manufacturer and distributor of access products, fall protection equipment, secure storage systems, and light-duty construction equipment. Gary Scott will start in his new position, effective April 16, 2020, and will work out of WernerCo’s headquarters, located in Itasca, Illinois. Building...
