Shortage of fire risk assessors in UK
A lack of competent fire risk assessors is causing great concern amongst UK landlords says the Peabody Housing Association.
Landlords are finding it very difficult to find assessors that they can trust to carry out vital safety assessments on their properties.
The claim was made by Robert Groom, Peabody’s fire safety and emergency planning manager, at an event last month in association with the London Fire Brigade. The events main aim was to see how effectively the Regulatory Reform Order of 2005 is being enforced.
1 in 10 online electrical purchases could result in fire
The Electrical Safety Council is advising people to be very careful when purchasing electrical goods over the internet, especially in the run up to Christmas.
Goods bought from outside the European Union are often not designed to be used in Europe and this can be dangerous. Buying from overseas can also mean that you can not guarantee the safety standards of the products. An industry safety body has said that as many as one in ten items bought on line can result in a fire.
Products tested included a sandwich toaster that was marked as a well known brand and even had the CE safety mark but did not actually have a fuse. In lab tests, the product was left on and because there was no fuse – it got hotter and hotter and eventually burst into flames.
Shoppers are urged to buy goods from trusted sources to avoid any accidents.
Minister rejects fire safety bill
Torbay MP, Adrian Sanders has spoken of his anger at the Governments attempt to persuade him to drop his proposals for compulsory fire alarms in rented accommodation.
After 4 months of trying, Mr Sanders was finally offered a meeting with Fire Minister, Bob Neill if he agreed to withdraw his appeal.
Mr Saunders has vowed to continue his campaign which follows the deaths of 2 children in a house fire in Ellacombe in 2009. The rented house did not have fire alarms at the time of the blaze.
The Fire Minister has said that making wired in smoke alarms a legal requirement for rented properties would involve a significant cost, and doubted that the obligation was ‘properly and practicably enforceable’.
In regards to discussing the matter further with Mr Sanders, Mr Neill has said “We have not shut the Hon gentleman out of the department, and I greatly hope that he will take up the opportunity to meet me and discuss the matter further.”
Derelict building damaged in blaze
Over 50 firefighters tackled a serious blaze at a derelict building in Peterborough.
The fire service was alerted by a local resident after they spotted smoke and flames on the roof of the building formally used by Dairy Crest.
It is not yet known what caused the fire but it has been reported that the building did not have any working fire alarms at the time of the blaze. Building owners are required by law to ensure their premises have adequate fire detection systems.
Yorkshire landlord pleads guilty to eight fire safety violations
A North Yorkshire landlord has pleaded guilty to a series of fire safety breaches at his property in Scarborough.
Mr Banki was reported to the authorities after North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service found that the property he owned had insufficient fire exits, alarms and emergency lighting.
Prosecuting officer, Karen Galloway said, “The contraventions in this case were serious and would have continued had the fire authority and Scarborough Borough Council not acted immediately by serving a prohibition notice on the Responsible Person.”
Lazlo Banki is due to appear at York Crown Court next month for sentencing.