Mergers & Acquisitions - News

Notices were recently posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Personal Protective Technology Library (NPPTL) concerning the safety and quality of 2 types of personal protective equipment (PPE) used frequently by emergency medical services personnel: medical gloves and N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Medical gloves notice Medical gloves notice is issued by the FDA on Oct. 29, 2021. Thi...

NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry has recently recognized Marion Body Works once again for completing a rigorous qualification process, demonstrating successful implementation of defined business standards and conformity to applicable government regulations. Re-application to the MVP member status is conducted every three years and Marion Body Works is honored to have once again proven their commitment to excellence for another term. MVP member status for Marion Body Wor...

UKAS is pleased to announce that Technical Manager, Kevin Belson, has taken the position of Chair of the Technical Committee for the International Accreditation Forum. As well as congratulating Kevin on his appointment, they would like to extend good wishes to JAS-ANZ’s General Manager of Accreditation, Steve Keeling, who precedes Kevin in this role. Along with UKAS’ Accreditation Director, Lorraine Turner, who currently chairs the Inspection Committee of the International Labo...

While most U.S. emergency communications centers (ECCs) use a CAD system to dispatch 911 calls and facilitate records management, few CAD system components are uniform across vendors. This can create problems transferring emergency calls and associated data, such as caller location information. It can also create problems with the transfer of call information to first responders in the field via public safety broadband networks. These transfer functions are important capabilities for enhancing...

The Community Safety Team at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are urging those with fuel burning appliances, fires, and stoves in the community to install working Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors, following a lucky escape by a Milford Haven resident, after a Safe & Well Visit by the Fire and Rescue Service. Earlier in October 2021, On-Call Firefighters at the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Phillips and Huw Davies, who are currently assisting the Community Safety Te...

The IFSS Coalition has unveiled its new guidance document to address differing or non-existent fire safety requirements in countries across the world. A global coalition of over 80 fire safety leadership organizations on Monday, 11 October, 2023, launched a new Global Plan for a Decade of Action for Fire Safety 2022-2032, to ensure an internationally consistent approach to the safety and management of buildings, infrastructure and more with the aim of saving lives by reducing risk and preventin...

National Housing Federation research shows that one in ten new affordable homes to rent or buy in England can no longer be built because of the costs of fixing fire safety defects.   The NHF surveyed 106 housing associations, with 61 reporting that they have discovered dangerous materials on their buildings since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. This is despite those buildings having been signed off as meeting building requirements at the time they were built. Author's quote The NHF est...

In the latest episode of Assembly Point, FPA Director of Operations - Howard Passey talks to Lewis Ramsey, Caretaker Manager at BAFE to examine the key issues and areas to consider when looking at fire risk management in buildings that are occupied by vulnerable persons. Howard and Lewis also explore the criticality of active and passive fire systems being suitable for the purpose, installed correctly, and that their subsequent maintenance and testing is undertaken by an accredited third party....

The Brigade currently has just 24 fire safety advisers and nearly 200 Inspecting Officers, but with the pressure to inspect high-rise buildings, it must increase its workforce. The Brigade will use part of the £9.4 million it received from the Home Office to improve its fire protection activities. It has already used some of this funding to create a Building Risk Review team to review the 8,000 high-rise residential blocks in London. This work is due to be completed by December this year....

The goal of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) is to reach out to every emergency responder, every driver, and every passenger to educate them on how to play their part in ensuring safe responses at roadway incidents. Why is CRSW important? Emergency responders (police, fire, medical, etc.) risk being killed or injured by passing vehicles when on the scene of a roadside emergency. 50 responders so far this year have been killed when struck by a vehicle while responding to a road...

Oshkosh Corporation’s Fire & Emergency segment is displaying the new Oshkosh Striker ARFF vehicle at China Fire 2021. The new vehicle will be displayed at Oshkosh’s China Fire booth, located at site E1-04. In addition to the new Striker ARFF, the booth will feature the latest fire and emergency vehicles and technology. “Even amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, China’s strong economic growth has resulted in a heightened need for advanced fire protection and resources,...

The Environment Agency secured a restriction order against a recycling firm, after it failed to comply with fire regulations despite numerous warnings about storing hazardous waste at a site near local homes. Shee Recycling in the North East town of Birtley stored large oil drums containing hazardous waste, cutting equipment, batteries, and fuel canisters, all of which were major fire hazards. Environment Agency secures restriction order The site is close to other commercial properties, the e...

To mark World Mental Health Day, employees from Hardstaff Barriers are highlighting the importance of robust and proactive mental health policies in the workplace. The staff from Hardstaff Barriers, based in Kingston-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, has spoken out to coincide with the global mental health awareness campaign, which took place on October 10, 2021. Hardstaff Barriers believes it is essential for businesses – whatever their size – to create a positive mental he...

In August 2021, Task Force Tips (TFT) introduced CrewProtect, to protect first responders while riding in their apparatus. It eliminates particulates, VOCs, and aerosols containing bacteria and viruses from the cab and body air. However, upon returning to the station, the crew can still be at risk of exposure to these threats and more. Improves air quality That’s why TFT has partnered with Purafil, part of the largest air filtration company in the world to integrate proven and patented...

USFA highlights National Fire Academy (NFA) online learning opportunities for fire and building code officials.  Some of the courses offer International Association for Continuing Education and Training continuing education units (CEUs) for officials who need to maintain professional certification. Recommended online courses Alternative Water Supply Planning and Implementing Programs (Q0217) 0.6 CEUs: This course is designed to assist anyone with planning responsibility for alternative...

Verint Systems (Verint), the globally renowned customer engagement company, has announced that Quadrant Knowledge Solutions has named Verint’s Experience Management a top performer and technology leader, in the 2021 SPARK Matrix Analysis of the Global Voice of the Customer (VoC) Platforms Market. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions conducted an in-depth analysis and evaluated the products, market presence, and value proposition for the major VoC platform vendors. Verint’s comprehensive te...

The Nomination Committee for Saab AB for the Annual General Meeting 2022 has now been appointed, based on the shareholder structure on August 31, 2021. Members of the Saab Nomination Committee are: Marcus Wallenberg, Chairman of the Board of Saab AB Petra Hedengran, Investor AB Peter Wallenberg Jr, Wallenberg Investments AB Ossian Ekdahl, Första AP-fonden Anders Algotsson, AFA Försäkring Nomination Committee for Saab AB The Nomination Committee represents approximately...

The London Fire Brigade successfully prosecuted a West London building owner, after major breaches of fire safety law were discovered, following a major blaze three years ago. On 9 August 2018, firefighters were called to a fire at a flat above a shop on Queensway in Bayswater, West London. It took 70 firefighters and ten fire engines to control the blaze that ravaged half of the four-story building. Two women were rescued from the building and treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Absenc...

Lake Assault Boats, part of Fraser Industries and a globally renowned manufacturer of fire, patrol, and rescue craft, named Banner Fire Equipment, Inc. of Roxanna, Illinois, as its sales and service dealership for the US states of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and portions of Illinois. Established in 1986, Banner Fire Equipment offers first responders a full range of sales, service, and support capabilities. dealer network expansion “Adding Banner Fire Equipment to our dealer network is...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has been awarded ServiceMark accreditation by the Institute of Customer Service (ICS), following record feedback from customers and colleagues. It’s the first time a fire and rescue service has achieved this recognition, and it’s a national standard, independently recognizing an organization’s customer service excellence. ServiceMark assessment report The ServiceMark assessment report noted that, KFRS has "turned customer culture completel...

The NFCC Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Group (ACER) will get to work this autumn, led by Nottingham Trent University academic Dr. Rowena Hill. ACER will review research from both the UK and across the world, keeping a watching brief on lessons learned that could apply to UK fire and rescue services. The NFCC is keen for ACER to encourage approaches from academics who share areas for potential research. NFCC set up The NFCC set up NOL that analyzed incidents to then share lea...

A new qualification is now available for delivery by FireQual Approved Training Centers. This new qualification provides individuals with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace, how fire risk is controlled in the workplace, the principles and practice of fire safety management at work and the role of the nominated fire marshal. Basic fire fighting equipment This new qualification also requires individuals to demonstrate their ability to safely use portable fi...

Fire Door Safety Week research reveals more than one in ten renters fear that raising fire safety concerns will affect their tenancy. There is cause to complain: a third of all renters have experienced fire doors being damaged or propped open and a quarter noticed a broken fire alarm in the last 12 months alone. With renters also concerned about whether reporting issues will even lead to them being fixed, the Fire Door Safety Week campaign is calling for fire safety to be urgently prioritized a...

Ardent is proud to announce that they have now obtained the latest version of P-Mark SPCR 199 certification for the Ardent Dual Agent Fire Suppression Systems. The P-Mark SPCR 199:2021 certification assesses the performance of fire suppression systems against realistic fire conditions and vehicle environmental aspects in engine compartments with combustion engines. The 2021 certification standard presents a new rating classification system over the previous 2017 version. SPCR 199:2021 certific...

A necessity in most places, fire extinguishers are designed to be recognizable and practical. In case of an emergency, people need to be able to spot fire extinguishers quickly and know what extinguisher to use and how to use it. That being said, Anglia Fire Protection understands that fire extinguishers are not the prettiest of things and people often want them to be discrete, or even worse, completely out of sight. This is a complete health and safety no no! extinguisher engineers offer expe...

Module 5 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry focuses on firefighting, with opening statements setting out a detailed analysis of operational, cultural, and leadership shortcomings of the London Fire Brigade. The Inquiry is interested in how the London Fire Brigade trained and prepared its staff for responding to fires in all buildings as construction methods have changed over the decades. Different legal firms Module 5 began with opening statements from three different legal firms, representing the...

FireQual is developing a qualification that will look to provide the underpinning knowledge and the skills required by those who work within the area of fire door installation. In addition, reflecting on the core messages of the reports, Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (May 2018) and Setting the Bar (2020), FireQual will be looking at how core practical competencies of individuals can be accurately and consistently assessed. FireQual t...

Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA safety) has opened the doors of a new 20,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA. Celebrated this morning with a formal ribbon-cutting event, the building opening establishes MSA Safety’s Cranberry Township campus as global center of excellence for gas detection technology. Cranberry Township Manufacturing Facility The single-story manufacturing facility, which is located next to M...

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and West Suffolk College are working together to broaden the scope of the Health and Social Care course, with the aim of attracting more students.   A six-week taster module has been designed by EEAST staff for the Health and Social Care course, which starts on the 23rd September, 2021, in order to offer both skills and an insight into career development opportunities in the ambulance service. EEAST course covering ambulance service...

While studies show that it is likely that a second burglary can occur after an initial break-in, many people are slow to act in securing their home, after a burglary. This leaves opportunities open for the intruder to return with much more knowledge about the property. The intruder will already know easy entrance and exit points, the floor plan and if they are smart enough, they will wait until all the things that have originally been taken are replaced. The replacement of these stolen items wi...