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Service delivery – Protection
By Maggie Harte
I am extremely pleased as Director for Service Delivery (Prevention and Protection) to produce this article detailing our performance in the Protection work streams during 2007/08.
The Protection work stream had its first national meeting on 5 March 2008. The new Committee will keep its previous name, ie the ‘National Fire Safety Committee’ (NFSC) – Chair Iain Cox. Work has commenced on encouraging the establishment of regional representatives. The NFSC will hold quarterly meetings and provide a conduit for information and ideas from regional forums and lead officers. During 2007/08, the NFSC has ensured effective partnership working with stakeholders in the fire protection industry and provided a means of capturing, at a national level, the outcomes and benefits of the range of working groups operating in the area of fire protection.
The NFSC has provided an integrated national framework for the delivery of the following core fire safety policies and procedures for practitioners (copies of which can be found on the CFOA website www.cfoa.org.uk):
• HSE Liaison at Hazardous Installations
The document was developed as a result of changes in legislation. Specifically, the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) transferred the control of ‘general fire precautions’ from the HSE to the FRA within Special Premises. This document seeks to provide fire authorities clear and consistent understanding of roles and responsibilities when responding to hazardous installations. The benefits of the document are to improve safety, reduce risks and support better partnership working.
• Protocol between Ofsted and FRAs to improve Fire Safety
The protocol was developed to assist FRAs and Ofsted’s Children’s Directorate manage their working relationship. The protocol recognises the changes brought about by the FSO and the implications of the Fire and Rescue National Framework. In addition, an updated version of the CFOA fire safety guidance for childminders has been placed on the CFOA website.
• CFOA/BASIS Protocol for Inspection of Agrochemical Stores
CFOA and BASIS have agreed joint working arrangements to provide operational information to support risk assessment on BASIS member premises and to assist FRSs to target resources appropriately. BASIS is an independent registration, standards, certification and training organisation working with, and through, industry organisations to implement relevant sections of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and other legislative industry Code of Practice requirements.
• Automatic Water Suppression Systems (AWSS)
CFOA is quite clear that AWSS can represent the single most significant aspect of an appropriate fire management programme. CFOA remains committed to increasing the use of AWSS in key high-risk premises. CFOA’s 2008 Policy Statement made on AWSS can be found on our website. In addition to the above, work is ongoing in the following key areas:
Fire safety officer development
The introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in October 2006, brought about a change in how fire safety was enforced. This saw the introduction of a national model of audit form that relies on the fire safety officer having a good knowledge of fire safety standards and their application to a wide variety of premises. This highlighted long-term development needs in the training of fire safety officers. Therefore now is an appropriate time to review the system of training for fire safety officers and develop a more robust model for FRSs to work to.
It is not expected that FRSs will take on the model in its entirety, as no doubt there will already be systems in place, although it can be used in its entirety if needed. It is more likely that a FRS will be able to compare its current structure and programme against this model and use it as a reference point to check their current system against.
Objectives
1. To develop a training structure for a FRS fire safety officer that is consistent with IPDS and relates to both the fire safety and operational national occupational standards as appropriate.
2. To identify the sources of training that are available which complement this structure.
3. Produce a workbook and timetable for the development phase of a new fire safety officer.
4. Produce a workbook and timetable for the maintenance phase of a fire safety officer.
5. Produce suggested training programmes to support a new fire safety officer during their development phase.
6. Produce a register of external training providers that provide training that supports both phases of the fire safety officer’s career development.
Review of CFOA’s fire safety audit process
Since the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, in October 2006, FRAs have been using a common methodology for determining the outcomes of a fire safety audit, in order to provide a consistent approach to enforcement for national business. The audit process was developed by the CFOA SE Region and is accepted as achieving the initial outcomes expected. A review group has been established and further information on their work can be found in CFOA Circular 2007/1028.
Consultation on a revised audit procedure has now closed, all comments have been considered and the revised audit form produced. A further meeting of the group has been arranged for September to identify any outstanding work and to discuss any training implications for the new form. Full planning timeline available on the CFOA website.
Provide evidence of the impact of RRO by establishing a website for members
Last year, CFOA National Fire Safety Order Working Group requested that Greater Manchester FRA take the lead on developing a national database to record all formal enforcement action taken by FRAs based on the HSE model. This register is to be hosted by CFOA. Following the initial pilot, all FRAs will have access to this information when considering enforcement action. When this system is fully operational and quality assured (in particular with regard to the quality of the data) access will be made available to the public (except for the appeals section). Stephen Brady (GMFRA) is currently managing this project working closely with Jonathan Dean (CFOA IT Manager).
The HSE has been contacted to ensure it has no objection to CFOA following their model closely. The HSE has indicated that providing the system is for public safety and/or interest it is supportive.
Several meetings have been held and significant progress has been made:
• Data dictionary agreed
• Format of data and method of exchange/update agreed (excel or CSV)
• Methodology of updating database agreed, ensuring that each FRA has control of the published information
• Database work completed
• Code to web page written
• Search methodology agreed
• Text for web screen etc provided to CFOA IT Department. Next phase of work planned proposed:
• August to September run pilot
• October – evaluate results including quality assurance of data and improve if necessary
• Draw up guidance for FRAs re associated policy and procedures
• November – extend to all FRAs
• December – evaluate results, including quality assurance of data and improve if necessary
• January 2009 – if system satisfactory, extend to public access.
False alarms and unwanted fire signals
At a meeting on June 12, 2008 the final draft of the CFOA policy to reduce false alarms and unwanted fire signals was agreed by representatives of the major stakeholders. The April draft was very close to the final copy. However, as a result of the research report released by CLG in May (Cost and Benefits of alternative responses to Automatic Fire Alarms) there are some important changes to the 999 call filtering section. CFOA is putting forward an example of best practice for 999 call filtering. This is intended to prevent FRSs from attending known false alarms but will not delay attendance to unknown alarms. It must be remembered that call filtering is designed to be used in conjunction with the rest of the policy and not in isolation. This decision is likely to have implications for a number of FRSs which go further with their filtering, including a potential increase in calls attended in the short term. In the medium to long-term however, the full implementation of the policy should give sustainable reductions at minimum risk to the public and their property. CLG research may also lead FRSs to re-assess the way alarm receiving centres have been asked to filter calls. Discussions are underway with both security-based alarm receiving centres and Telecare service providers, with reference to the completion of the parts of the policy which affect them. There were some minor changes made to 3rd party certification wording, but this will still be a recommendation rather than a requirement. The policy was launched at Fire Conference on the August 27 2008 and published on the CFOA website on the September 1, 2008. There will be a lead time to allow changes to be made to existing FRS policies, but it is hoped that FRSs will understand the importance of consistency for all stakeholders and adopt and implement the policy by September 2009. Policy letters and forms will be available in a 'tool box' on the CFOA website in due course.
Police National Computer (PNC)
Work is ongoing regarding recording Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 offences on the PNC. A recordable offence is a criminal offence for which the police are empowered to hold national records of offenders. Recordable offences therefore may be recorded on the PNC in order to enable all relevant agencies to have direct/indirect access to this information. There is now a mechanism to record certain convictions on the PNC when a person has been prosecuted for a fire safety offence.
A person operating a business applying for authorisation to the various regulatory bodies must prove they are a fit and proper person to run a pub, club, residential care home etc. Criminal Record Bureau checks are therefore required for these persons. Currently, CRB checks do not involve examination of the Fire Safety Order. Fire and rescue authorities will be encouraged to register these offences to allow enforcing authorities to make a more informed judgement with regard to someone’s suitability for the role in question. A draft CFOA circular is being produced for consultation. The circular recommends that fire and rescue authorities liaise with the constabularies in their respective areas and adopt the process described in the circular. The circular will be issued subject to National Fire Safety Committee approval.
Conclusion
In summary, this has been a really busy period for the Protection work stream. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Protection working groups and lead officers for their commitment and support. EVENTS PROGRAMME 2008
4-5 Nov CFOA Members Autumn Conference For further information and booking details please contact the Events Team at CFOA HQ. Hollie Tell Shirley Allsop Events Manager Events Assistant
T: 01827 302330 T: 01827 302330 DD: 01827 302311 DD: 01827 302301 F: 01827 302399 F: 01827 302399 E:
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