Berkshire school fails inspection over fire safety
An Ofsted report has labelled an Arborfield primary school as inadequate in a recent inspection, with a number of measures highlighted as needing to improve in order to ensure the safety of its pupils.
The inspection was carried out back in July at Coombes CE Primary School in School Road and results have now been published where it has been marked down for its overall effectiveness.
The Ofsted report said:
“The school has not been rigorous in its approach to a range of matters relating to pupils’ health and safety, including monitoring of fire safety, first aid, and the preparation of risk assessments. As a result, care, guidance and support and governance are inadequate.”
Concerns over health and safety are therefore at the top of the agenda, with staff promising that improvements are now underway.
Acting headteacher for the school, Patrick Pritchett, said:
“We are naturally very disappointed but staff, governors and students are determined to work collectively together to address the issues raised in the report.
“We have already tackled safeguarding issues and children, staff and parents returned to school this month prepared to positively embrace a number of new routines.
“With a fantastically motivated and positive team at the school, and children who love coming here, we aim to have met the requirements of the improvement notice by the summer.”
The outcome of this report by Ofsted shows that fire safety and risk assessment are important considerations if an educational establishment can be deemed to be safe. Therefore, it is necessary to put the right measures in place.
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.
Police to investigate suspicious fires in Aberdeen
It has been reported that police have begun a probe into two blazes which have left buildings with extensive damage in the city of Aberdeen recently.
The police are treating both incidents, which happened within the same area in the north-west of the city early last Saturday morning, as suspicious.
Firefighters from Grampian Fire and Rescue Service were called to deal with both situations; at Stoneywood Mill Sports and Social Club, which is now derelict, as well as the old Bankhead Academy in Bucksburn.
Despite the fact that the two fires were fairly close to one another and both caused property damage, police have said that they have no evidence to suggest the blazes were related to one another.
The investigation is now underway into the causes of these incidents and to determine if indeed arson was involved.
The threat of arson to businesses in Aberdeen, Scotland and throughout Great Britain is always going to be a concern. This is why, if you are an owner of a company, you should seriously consider the fire safety procedures as well as the equipment installed in your work premises. The security of your building is also of paramount importance if you want to protect it from the very real threat posed by arson.
More info on Fire Marshal Training
If you own a business then all your employees need to learn about fire awareness, but in the event of a fire breaking out on your premises then you need a trained fire marshal to help evacuate the building.
This role is extremely important for any business to ensure fire safety within their organisation. A fire marshal is not just there for emergency situations either; they also need to make sure that the on-going fire safety procedures within the business are kept up to date too.
A fire marshal needs to monitor and maintain the fire safety equipment and fire alarms installed in the building as well as using their knowledge to let others know the right procedures and best practice to follow.
In order to conform to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006 you need to appoint the required number of competent people to perform duties as fire marshals for your company. Following successful completion of the course they will be able to organise evacuation drills and ensure that fire safety systems are in full working order.
When you undertake a Fire Marshal Training course from an experienced training provider, you are able to get instructions from the very best. These instructors have had experience in the field and will be able to impart this to your staff.
Parliament to hear landlord fire safety bill
The House of Common is preparing for the second reading of a private members bill stating that all landlords would be required by law to ensure that their properties are equipped with working smoke alarms.
The new law would mean that all landlords of public and private properties would be responsible for fitting and maintaining mains wired smoke alarm systems at the beginning of every new tenancy. Once fitted, this responsibility to maintain the fire alarms would pass to the tenant.
Currently, landlords are required to provide safe gas and electrical supplies but in many cases are not required by law to provide smoke alarms when it is a known fact that there are many more deaths from fire each year than by the effects of gas, carbon monoxide and electricity.
Dozens of lives are lost each year to fire related accidents in the home. Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer, Lee Howell is giving his full support to the bill and has said “It has been proved time and time again that working smoke alarms can save lives. It makes such a difference – in some cases a life and death difference”.
Mr Howell urges the public to contact their MPs to ask them to support the bill that will be heard later this month.