PREVENTION, PROTECTION, ROAD SAFETY

Transcription

1 Learning and Development Managers Conference, 26 th April 2013 Firefighting in, and Protecting, the Built Environment Peter O Reilly Director of Prevention and Protection Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service CFOA Strategic Lead for PPRS Competence

2 What are we developing within Prevention, Protection and Road Safety PPRS Strategic Competency Group? Fire Safety Enforcement Competency & Consistency? Fire Engineering Business Safety Support Community Safety Fire Investigation Road Safety Volunteers

3 Who is interested? Department for Business Innovation & Skills Better Regulation Delivery Office (RDNA & GRIP) Department for Communities and Local Government The Fire Risk Assessment Community Fire and Rescue Authorities/Services? Private Sector!

4 How are we positioned? Seat at the POD Strategic Committee Seat at Fire and Rescue Sector Occupational Committee Working with the NOS/Qualifications Group Producing a Framework for Community Safety Advisor Apprentices Working to produce a development framework for Fire Investigation Firefighters??

5 S7(2)(d) Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 A FRA must in particular make arrangements for the obtaining of information needed for the purpose of extinguishing fires and protecting life and property in the event of fires occurring in its area S38 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Maintenance of measures provided for protection of firefighters

6 Learning from Tragedy, Gorteen House Hotel (Northern Ireland) 2004 Bethnal Green (London) 2005 Harrow Court (Hertfordshire) 2006 Marlie Farm (East Sussex) 2007 Atherstone on Stour (Warwickshire) 2009 Balmoral Bar (Edinburgh) 2010 Shirley Towers (Southampton)

7 What the Reports Say? That FRS should review its procedures for ensuring personnel are familiar with potential property risks they might encounter (2013) Ensure firefighters who collect premises information have received appropriate guidance and training (2013) To ensure that all Firefighters receive regular training in all aspects of active fire safety measures (2006) The principles of air conditioning, building construction, pressurised atmospheres and refrigerator plants should be incorporated within the basic recruit training (2006)

8 To actively enforce the Fire Safety Order to ensure that the passive and active fire safety measures incorporated into the building for the protection of Firefighters are present and effectively maintained (2006) Produce a policy on familiarisation which should include a clear definition of familiarisation and how it fits in with other visits (e.g. home fire safety visits) which are carried out by firefighters. The policy should include a clear line on identifying premises for familiarisation, the frequency for carrying out familiarisation and the content of familiarisation. The policy should enable stations to have a clear view of what is expected of them, while leaving sufficient flexibility for local needs and ensuring competence (2013)

9 Lakanal House Coroner s Inquest 2013 Guidance to crews making risk assessments for sites in their area Guidance as to matters which should be noted by crews making familiarisation visits and visits pursuant to section 7(2)(d) Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, including the gathering of information regarding flats or maisonettes with unusual layouts and access for aerial ladder platforms and other specialist vehicles

10 What is the HSE s View? When Inspecting or investigating an individual FRA an HSE Inspector will consider: How Fire and Rescue Authorities prepared incident commanders and firefighters for operational incidents, e.g. by training, provision of equipment and information on hazards, risks and control measures. (Striking the Balance) All FRSs should ensure that they provide adequate training for staff gathering and assessing risk critical information. (The Management of Health & Safety in the GB Fire & Rescue Service, 2010) (Fires in the built environment are reasonably foreseeable!)

11 Looking at the rear view mirror wearing rose tinted glasses Recruits Firefighters Course 3 weeks on the Built Environment 1 week Basic Fire Prevention Junior Officer Development 2 weeks internal JO Fire Safety Course 4 weeks FSC JO Fire Safety Course

12 Manual of Firemanship & the Built Environment Book 11; Practical Firemanship 1 (Hearths to High-Rise) Book 8; Building Construction and Structural Fire Protection (Materials, Elements of Structure, Design, Loading, Services, Examples of Buildings) The Behaviour of Fire, Tactical Ventilation of Buildings & Structures (Scenarios in a wide range of Building Types). Supplement: Compartment Fires

13 Fire Services Examination Board Leading Firefighters Examination Paper on Building Construction Sub Officers Examination Papers included aspects Building Construction/Fire Safety/Fire Science Station Officers Examination Paper on Technical/Structural Fire Safety

14 Have we improved in the last ten years? Nationally agreed Rolemaps? Supported by National Occupational Standards SFJ FRS, FF8; Contribute to fire safety solutions to minimise risks to your community How many FRSs in United Kingdom use the FF8 NOS in their FF development programmes? How many FRSs in UK use FF8 NOS in their Supervisory Manager development programmes?

15 Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Emergency Fire Services Operations in the Community H/601/4082 Contribute to fire safety solutions to minimise risks to the community 1. explain the relationship between building construction and design and fire safety 2. describe the purpose and operation of active and passive fire protection systems 3. outline the causes, effects and behaviour of fire and the importance of maintaining a means of escape 4. identify the principles behind the storage of resources and hazardous materials in premises

16 What are we doing now? Operational Competence Model NOS/Qualifications Group; IC Qualifications, Fire Safety Qualifications, Building Construction Certificate & Training Package (under development) Development of Role Specific Professional Qualifications for all operational levels? Operational Guidance replacing the MoF? Fires in the Built Environment (FiBE)

17 Questions Do you agree that there is an inconsistency in the provision of information on building construction and structural fire protection within development programmes for firefighters and incident commanders? Do you agree that the acquisition of knowledge relating to the built environment and structural fire protection should be a mandatory element of the development of firefighters and incident commanders? Do you agree that Role Specific Professional Qualifications would assist in closing the gap?