Complacency Kills

Complacency Kills

Whilst I write, the embers are still in the process of damping down at the most recent cafeteria & office fire in central London. The cause of the blaze is currently unknown and thankfully no-one has been hurt; but yet other fire in industrial premises has been the inspiration for putting my thoughts into written word. Just for the description (and written without prejudice) I do not know the circumstances of this most recent incident and I am not manufacture any inference of malpractice against the responsible someone for that particular building.

However, one has to wonder how many of the new well publicised fires in the Uk, could have been prevented by having a Fire Risk Assessment? The Rr(Fs)O 2005 was designed to make safety law clearer, but it has become apparent that the act has not received adequate publicity. The updated law has a particular clear message, that assessing the risk of fire is no longer resides with the Fire Brigade, but that the someone responsible for a building must make arrangements to have one carried out at least once in Every 12 month period.

The regulations are very clear, but why do so many neglect this particularly important piece of red tape?

The respond is in the question... A Fire Risk Assessment, is more often than not seen as an un-necessary bureaucratic practice rather than a inherent life saver. It is perceived as an expensive luxury because of the following thought process "there hasn't been a fire on or even near the premises, why should we get a risk appraisal when there are so many other pieces of red tape to keep up with?".

Unfortunately the 6 habitancy who died in the Camberwell disaster in 2009, will never find out if a Fire Risk appraisal could have saved their lives. The building was owned by the local council and the Cps will decide if there are grounds for prosecution, but if it were proved that a subject of local Government had been negligent of basic safety law, then the message of the Rr(Fs)O has surely not been widely received or given adequate media exposure.

The respond is perseverance, the law does not want amendment but our attitudes towards it do need to change. For once, we have a piece of legislation that has clear and straightforward objectives, that are relatively straightforward to follow. Admittedly, a Fire Risk appraisal will not stop your building from burning down if there was a genuine accident, but it could well save the lives of your staff/customers/guests or tenants (and your insurance would be more likely to pay out with a valid Risk Assessment).

Complacency is the enemy and not the law. It is worth noting that the Fire assistance College who trains firefighters from all over the world, had a fire in May 2009. Their catchword is "Unrivalled excellence. Unequalled expertise" and yet they lost 11 fire engines, which along with the garage they burnt in is estimated to be over £1M in damages. The building concerned did have a Fire Risk Assessment, but it was 5 years out of date and under old legislation.

Very few establishments have 60 firefighters immediately on hand, let alone spare fire appliances if 11 are already burning, so assessing the risks and reviewing procedures are the only real defence in the face of uncertainty. Check your basic procedures and dispose for a risk appraisal Today, a fire will not wait and neither should you!