fig leaves

The newsletter of the Fire Information Group UK (FIGUK)

www.figuk.org.uk

No. 26
April 2003

Edited by Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd

This Newsletter contains:

• Notice of 10 September 2003 FIGUK meeting
• Message from Judy Seaborne
• News from the FIGUK network and around the world
• Minutes of the FIGUK Meeting held on 20 March 2003
• FIGUK Constitution - final edition

News from the FIGUK Network and around the world

FIGUK WEBSITE

Some Members have asked for the FIGUK web site name it is www.figuk.org.uk

It is also listed under the heading of this newsletter.

NEXT FIGUK MEETING

This will be held at 10.30 on Wednesday 10 September 2003 at the London Burgoyne office. Remember to send Agenda items to Sally Walsh at Burgoynes.

Message from Judy Seaborne

Dear FIG friends,

Many thanks for the card and gift on the occasion of my retirement- the vouchers will come in very useful, as, as many of you know, we are in the final throes of renovating Genek's father's house - a lovely 4 bedroomed one in Highbury, North London. We are at the painting and decorating stage - I did not think it would be this hard work!

I have enjoyed very much the 13 years I have been a member of FIG - the way everyone has pulled together to make it a continuing success. I know I have left the finances in very capable hands, and hope the group goes from strength to strength. I hope I can keep in touch with you, and look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Once again, many thanks.
Best wishes,
Judy Seaborne

News from around the World

International update on SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome from Medical Services Overseas (MSO)

The greatest concern for the spread of SARS is its transmission in the community outside of healthcare settings and known close contacts. Local transmission has been documented in Canada, China (mainland), China (Taiwan), China (Hong Kong), Singapore and Vietnam. Cases have been reported from 10 other countries but local transmission is not thought to have occurred. Because of the problem this report is given in full.

In spite of the large number of cases in Hong Kong there appears to be very little transmission in the community. Any community spread in Singapore and Vietnam is also likely to be at a very low level. The possibility of significant community spread in mainland China, however is of growing concern.

When considering travel (to countries where local transmission has occurred) companies are advised to heed the advice of the government in:

• the company's parent country
• the employee's country of origin
• the destination country

> Additionally employees should be fully advised about the symptoms, signs, modes of transmission and risks of contracting SARS before travel decisions are made.

Web links

The following web sites give succinct and practical advice on SARS:

• Affected areas: www.who.int/csr/sarsareas/2003_04_14/en
• SARS Symptoms + Q&A: www.who.int/csr/sars/sarsfaq/en
• UK Dept. of Health: www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/SevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome/fs/en
• Singapore update: http://app.moh.gov.sg/sar/sar03.asp
• Hong Kong update: www.dh.gov.hk/eindex.html
• Thai Ministry of Health website: http://eng.moph.go.th
• Taiwan Centre For Disease Control: www.cdc.gov.tw/mp.asp?mp=5
• Malaysia Ministry of Health: www.moh.gov.my

MSO will be happy to advise companies who may have concerns about the disease or its prevention. Please contact by e-mail in the first instance at www.mso-uk.com

Dr Andrew Dickson, Medical Services Overseas Ltd. UK

Don't miss the SHE Expo including Fire Exhibition and Congress at The NEC, Birmingham UK 5 exhibitions all interconnected

19 May 2003 - 22 May 2003 www.safety-health-expo.co.uk Halls 10 and 11

Organiser: CMP Information Ltd | Tel : +44 (0) 20 8987 7877 | Fax : +44 (0) 20 8747 3856 | www.cmpinformation.com

also see
ACPO 2003 (Trade) The NEC 19 May 2003 - 22 May 2003 Halls 7 & 8
Ifsec 2003 (Trade) The NEC 19 May 2003 - 22 May 2003 Halls 6, 19 & 20
International Fire Expo (Trade) The NEC 19 May 2003 - 22 May 2003

How prepared are you and your business?

Business Continuity Management is the answer and two new publications from the British Standards Institution/Business Continuity Institute and PennWell Publishers will assist with disaster planning and management.

PAS 56:2003 Guide to Business Continuity Management

Don't just wait until an incident occurs! Use business continuity management to increase your organisation's resilience to disruption, interruption or loss in supplying its products and services. The new PAS 56 from BSI shows you how. BSI, in conjunction with the Business Continuity Institute, (BCI) has just published a guide which clearly establishes the process, principles and terminology of BCM. PAS 56 describes the activities and outcomes involved in establishing a BCM process, and provides recommendations for good practice. It provides a generic BCM framework for incident anticipation and response and describes evaluation techniques and criteria.

ISBN: 0580413705. Published March 2003
Price: £52.00 (GB Pounds) or $86.00 (US Dollars) or 81.00 Euro
For further details, and to order online or offline
www.tssonline.net

Integrated Business Continuity. Maintaining Resilience in Uncertain Times, by Geary W. Sikich

Rapid change in the business environment is the new norm. The way organizations operate is changing as new and better technologies become available. The ability to effectively respond to and manage disruptions in a timely manner is now the deciding factor in any organisation's survivability. "Integrated Business Continuity: Maintaining Resilience In Uncertain Times" guides you step-by-step through developing and assessing an effective business continuity plan.

ISBN: 0878148655. 283 Pages/2003
Price: £49.00 (GB Pounds) or $75.00 (US Dollars) or 72.00 Euro
For further details, and to order online or offline
www.tssonline.net

An online ordering facility with secure server plus full ordering information is provided on this web site. Ordering information, for both online and offline ordering, includes details of postage charges and an order form for you to fax, post or email if you do not wish to order online.

Alternatively, contact Technical Standards Services Ltd., 3 Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1RT, England | Tel: +44 1462 453211 | Fax: +44 1462 457714 | Email: sales@techstandards.co.uk

'Risky Business'

Review by Sheila Pantry OBE

Most commentators see society as becoming increasingly risk averse and tending to blame and seek legal redress whenever an event or procedure fails to match their expectations. The UK Royal Academy of Engineering is concerned at the impact these trends can have on technological innovations and development.

Three reports on risk recently published by the Academy are the results of an innovative collaboration by leading social scientists and engineers. The reports viewed together address, for the first time, the societal, individual and practical dimensions of the engineering process in terms of risk. The reports make recommendations on reduction or clarification of risks using methods not normally associated with engineering processes and products; that of, involving society in the engineering process, designing improvements in the way workers at the 'coalface' do their jobs by reducing monotony and simplicity, a major creator of risky situations and accidents; and incorporating risk management policies in all aspects of the engineering process.

The three reports are as follows:

'The Societal Aspects of Risk'
This document summarises current thinking, informed by both engineering best practice and social science research. Engineers need to understand how groups in society develop perceptions about the riskiness of engineering projects and processes, and what these perceptions depend on. The perceptions will generally be quite different from assessments made according to traditional engineering methodologies.

'Risks Posed by Humans in the Control Loop'
The Group's objective was to understand the impact of human involvement in the "control loop" and to identify good practices that should be shared across different industrial and service sectors.

'Common Methodologies for Risk Assessment and Management'
The Working Group considered Risk Management (RM) in terms of the processes that should apply across all engineering disciplines; those in the wider context of the processes employed in client businesses and public organisations; and those demanded by the wider community of stakeholders including government, investors and society at large. Significant changes through innovation provide major opportunities to an enterprise.

To find more details:

'The Societal Aspects of Risk'.
The first in a series of three reports on managing engineering risk
Produced by working groups of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 2003
20 pages, further reading

'Common Methodologies for Risk Assessment and Management'.
The second in a series of three reports on managing engineering risk produced by working groups of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 2003 20 pages

'Risks Posed by Humans in the Control'.
The third in a series of three reports on managing engineering risk
Produced by working groups of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 2003 20 pages, further reading

The Royal Academy of Engineering, 29 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3LW | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7222 2688 | Fax: +44 (0) 20 7233 0054 | www.raeng.org.uk

Contact: Lize King, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK | Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7227 0510

Passive smoking at work kills three people every day

Every year 1,200 people in the UK (three a day) die due to passive smoking at work, according to 'A killer on the loose', research published on the eve of a major conference 'Don't choke on the smoke' that took place on Wednesday 9 April 2003. The TUC, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) conference called on the Government to implement a legally binding Code of Practice for workplace smoking, proposed over two years ago by the Health and Safety Commission.

The research, carried out by expert on second hand smoke James Repace, reveals that in the UK around 900 office workers, 165 bar workers and 145 manufacturing workers die each year as a direct result of breathing in other people's tobacco smoke at work.

The figures show that there are three times as many deaths a year from passive smoking at work as the total number of deaths from workplace injuries (295, 2000 - 2001). Previous research has shown that three million people in the UK are exposed to second-hand smoke while at work.

James Repace said: "More people died in 2002 from passive smoking at work in the UK than were killed by the Great London smog of 1952. This study shows that previous research has seriously underestimated the number of people killed by second-hand smoke at work."

Speakers at the 'Don't choke on the smoke' conference called for the Government to implement an Approved Code of Practice which would clarify how existing health and safety law applies to passive smoking, effectively banning smoking from the vast majority of workplaces. The UK is lagging behind other countries in this area and lawyers at the conference will warn that employers could face lawsuits if they fail to protect staff from passive smoke.

Amanda Sandford of the anti-tobacco campaigning group ASH said: "The Government's failure to tackle passive smoking in the workplace is scandalous. How many more lives are going to be lost before they act? One death caused by passive smoking is unacceptable but more than 1,000 a year is a disgrace and for every day's delay the Government has deaths on its conscience."

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary Elect, said: "Ministers should stop defending the fug-filled snugs of Britain's pubs, which are proving fatal for bar staff and putting off possible customers. The Code of Practice is sensible and pragmatic, and it's backed by unions and employers. It will protect the rights of non-smokers and smokers alike, and will end the uncertainty about where employers stand."

Brian Hanna, President of CIEH whose members (health inspectors) would enforce the code in service sector workplaces - such as offices, hotels, pubs and clubs - said: "Environmental Health Officers acting in their health and safety enforcement capacity want to help protect workers vulnerable to passive smoking, but they need the Government to provide them with the right tools to do the job. Relying on weak voluntary arrangements will simply not have the desired effect."

· Advances on passive smoking at work around the world have been closely followed by Risks, the TUC's weekly safety bulletin, 'Passive smoking: all around the world' is available on the TUC website: www.tuc.org.uk/risks

Online Stress Relief

EssentialSkillz (www.EssentialSkillz.com) are launching Stress Essentials, an online stress awareness course, and Stress Risk Assessment, their online stress survey software at the May 2003 Safety & Health Expo at the NEC.

The beautifully illustrated and easy to use online course provides employers with a flexible and cost-effective resource to help them manage the growing problem of workplace stress. Recent statistics from the Health and Safety Commission show that of the 40 million working days lost due to illness and work-related injuries in 2001, a record 13.4 million working days were lost due to stress-related illness.

Yet as Tony Dervan, MD of EssentialSkillz, points out, "stress is good. We would not be able to function properly without a certain amount of stress in our everyday lives. It is excessive stress that we need to be concerned about and we must learn how to identify the causes before we can control the risk."

Stress Essentials is designed to compliment organisational stress management initiatives. "Successful completion," Dervan says "will raise awareness as to what stress is, some likely sources of stress, the range of symptoms, likely effects, and options available to help control it."

Complementing the 50-minute training course is a customisable risk assessment questionnaire to help companies measure and respond to stress hot spots within their organisation.

EssentialSkillz courses are delivered via the Internet, or company intranet, and are supported by a comprehensive Learning Management System, which tracks all training and provides employers with records and a host of features to easily manage online training and risk assessment programmes. Tackling stress with this engaging and enjoyable course won't cause organisations any financial stress either as Stress Essentials costs only £5 per person!

About EssentialSkillz

EssentialSkillz, based in Galway (Ireland) and Macclesfield (Cheshire), provide a range of online safety training courses. Their DSE training and risk assessment solution was awarded the Minister's Award by the Health & Safety Authority. Demos of EssentialSkillz courses can be found on their website at www.EssentialSkillz.com

For more information, contact: Tony Dervan, Managing Director, EssentialSkillz | Ire Tel: +353 91 503090 | UK Tel: +44 7092 221122 | www.EssentialSkillz.com | email: tony@essentialskillz.com

Constant Communication is a Health Risk for the UK's Multi-tasking Office based Workers

Constant communication by email and telephone is making the UK's office population increasingly deskbound and giving rise to a string of health complaints, as well as having a negative impact upon efficiency in the office. These are the findings of new research, commissioned by GN Netcom, a leader in cordless communications.

The research, conducted in January 2003, questioned 252 office-based workers in a variety of administration, finance, helpdesk, sales & marketing and management roles. It discovered that:

• Email now takes up almost as much time as telephone calls for the majority of the UK's office workers. The huge majority, 61% spend more than an hour per day on emails with 37% devoting one to three hours to the task. This compares with 75% who spend more than one hour per day on the phone and 43% who spend one to three hours on the phone
• Multi-tasking while on the 'phone has become a way of life for 82% of office workers, so it is no surprise that 39% experience neck and shoulder ache
• One in three workers is deskbound for more than seven hours per day
• Two thirds of office workers report health problems as a result of their deskbound roles, with 47% suffering from stress, 39% experiencing neck and shoulder ache and 28% suffering back ache
• Helpdesk staff are most deskbound and most likely to complain of stress (53%), neck and shoulder ache (49%) and backache (44%). One in five helpdesk staff said the ability to take calls while moving around the desk would improve their performance.
• Sales and marketing professionals are most likely to wear a headset (32%) and least likely to complain of neck and shoulder ache (29%)
• Incoming phone calls top the list of office gripes with 29% of office workers saying fewer interruptions from phone calls would have the greatest impact on their performance at work, ahead of getting the last gadgets (29%) and having a personal assistant (20%)
• 37% said that having to hot-desk and share a phone or computer would upset them, although this figure rose to 50% for sales and marketing staff and 46% amongst management

A truly cordless headset for today's office professionals

In conjunction with the research, GN Netcom is launching the GN 9120, a truly cordless headset designed especially for the demanding needs of today' s office professionals.

Designed for on the move office professionals, the GN 9120 gives up to a 100 metre range of mobility, and delivers up to eight hours of talk time. The headset is completely free of cords, and call answer and termination as well as volume controls are located on the headset and can be operated within its range.

Unique to the GN 9120 is the conferencing feature that enables up to four headsets to join together on one call. This offers a crystal clear alternative to speakerphones, allows conference calls to take place outside the confines of a meeting room and also cuts down on expenses as conference calls can be held over only one telephone line connection.

GN Netcom is a world leader in hands-free communications technologies and specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality headsets. GN Netcom has production facilities in Europe, the United States and Asia with distributors in more than 75 countries around the world. GN Netcom is part of the GN Great Nordic Group, a 130-year old holding company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. GN Netcom also provides OEM products to familiar brand name companies.

More information can be found at www.gnnetcom.com

Titles you must not miss......

The Set-Up-to-Fail Syndrome: how Good Managers cause Great People to Fail
by Jean-François Manzoni and Jean-Louis Barsoux.
Harvard Business School Press, 2002, 280pp, ISBN 0875849490
For further information: www.set-up-to-fail.net

No matter how hard some managers try, some of their performers never measure up. Despite hours of coaching, intensive follow up, and even extra attention, the performance of these employees fails to improve. Are they just poor selections? Not according to management experts Jean-François Manzoni and Jean-Louis Barsoux. In their new book, The Set-Up-to-Fail Syndrome: How Good Managers Cause Great People to Fail the authors explain how the blame often sits with the managers themselves, "the bosses from hell", who unwittingly sink an employee's chances for success by prematurely labelling him or her a "low achiever." This may well be a major contributory problem being experience by so many people who are suffering "stress at work".

Problem, what problem?
Based on ten years of research the book outlines why managers label and how dangerous these labels can be in creating employees who start to live down to expectations. Erroneous first impressions can become ingrained by a specific event such as a missed deadline, a lost client, or a bad presentation. Even an odd reaction to advice passed on by the boss can sow the seeds that an employee's performance needs monitoring. Alarmingly, Manzoni and Barsoux highlight that performance labels do not take years or even weeks to form but can be triggered within days.

"Syndrome busters"
Managers whom Manzoni and Barsoux dub "syndrome busters" seem to work on several fronts to get more from their perceived weaker performers. They invest time and energy in the early stages of the relationship, to frame the contract with subordinates and build and develop personal relationships. As a result, they have more bandwidth for listening and reacting productively during the interactions. Manzoni and Barsoux also discuss how managers can learn to develop these skills. Avoiding problems that threatens to derail careers, takes a heavy toll on morale, causes stress, and hampers overall organisational results.

From Pain to Gain
Managers must learn how to enter situations with an open mind, how to approach difficult conversations, and ultimately, how to stop the downward spiral in order to cure this syndrome. The book outlines six concrete steps that can act as a guiding framework to help stop the downward spiral.

1. Setting the stage. The boss should acknowledge the tension and admit some responsibility for problems in the employees' performance. Subordinates should feel free to discuss the boss's behaviour.
2. Agreeing on the symptoms.
3. Diagnosing the causes.
4. Finding the cure.
5. Preventing relapse.
6. Monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment.

While it is up to the boss to initiate these steps, the employee needs to be an active partner in the process.

The Set-Up-To-Fail Syndrome provides critical insights and solutions for managers and employees who are trapped in such a dynamic or want to avoid falling into it, while at the same time reducing the amount of pain in the workplace. Fascinating reading. Highly recommend as a "self-tuition manual". The book contains 18 pages of further reading and notes, has an extensive index.

Reviewed by Sheila Pantry, OBE, BA, FCLIP

Article by FIGUK member....

Tunnel Questions, by David Lane

Covers: the problem with tunnels, responses, fir size, steps to taken, firefighting matters, life and lifetime fire safety. There are a number of references at the end of the paper

International Fire Protection, Feb 2003, issue 13, pp. 25-27

Fire Worldwide ......continues to expand .....Free 30 day trial

The March 2003 edition of Fire Worldwide has just been issued and continues to expand bringing new sources of information.

• FIRE Worldwide, published by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd., is available on subscription at a price of £535 for standalone use, and is accessible via Internet or on CD-ROM.
• Fire Worldwide is a premier collection of validated, authoritative information and contains two major collections - the Full Text Collection and the Bibliographic Collection.
• The June 2003 will contain Dear Chief Fire Officer Letters and Fire Service Circulars, plus of course other new items.

To take a free 30-day trial of Fire Worldwide - either via the Internet or on CD-ROM, please contact:

Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829 | email: sp@sheilapantry.com | www.sheilapantry.com | www.oshworld.com | www.shebuyersguide.com

Diary of Events

18-19 May 2003 NFPA World Safety Conference and Exposition
Conference: May 18-21 2003, Exposition: May 18-20 2003
Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas
Contact: www.nfpa.org/conference

4-5 November 2003 - EUROSHE 2003: European Occupational Safety, Health and the Environment 2003 Conference (MAJOR EVENT)
Aiming for a Healthier and Safer European Workscene, will be held at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK
This conference, organised by Angel Business Communications Ltd and Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd looks at the major themes of the European Commission's Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community Strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006. Eminent speakers with backgrounds in government, industry, research and education will discuss future ways of working and training, the need for risk assessment for all aspects of everyday and work life, corporate killing, fire safety, managing road risks, fitness for work. Speakers will also cover researching for tomorrow's workplace, enabling the disabled in the workplace and the roles of the social partners in securing a healthier and safer workplace.

Dennis Davis OBE OStJ QFSM CEng CIMgt FIFireE(Life) MInstE
Dennis Davis is currently HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland. He was appointed to his present position in May 1999. He is the First Delegate of the United Kingdom to the Comité Technique International de Prévention ET d'Extinction du Feu (CTIF) and currently chairs the European Union Sub-Commission of the CTIF. It is in this capacity he will speak on "Getting Fire Safety onto the European Agenda"
Contact: Mary Meadows, Angel Business Communications Ltd, 34 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1HE, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1926 512 424 | Fax: +44(0)1926 512 948 | Email: mary@angelbc.co.uk

Minutes of the FIG (UK) Meeting 20/03/03

by Penny Morgan

Present:

Ian Jerome	Fire Protection Association (FPA) (Chair)
Sheila Pantry	Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
Penny Morgan	IfFI Ltd
Norman Simmonds	Fire Service Inspectorate (HMFSI - ODPM)
Margaret Fuller	The Fire Service College (FSC)
Monique Bardon	LFB Librarian (Judy's successor)
Lis Riley	Hawkins & Associates
Diane Hall	Dr Burgoyne & Partners LLP
Sue Harris	Independent librarian/indexer/info
Tony Timmons	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (FPD - ODPM)
John Roy	Technical Index

Apologies from Pam Evans and Roger Berrett, who were at a conference, and Judy Rebbeck who is in hospital, (the Group agreed to send her a card); Amanda Collicut, Sally Walsh, Judy Seaborne, Stephen Loyd and David Lane.

The meeting opened with round the table introductions. Ian Jerome was proposed as Chairman by Penny, seconded by Sheila. He was elected nem con.

1. Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as a true record.

2. Matters arising included:

• Loss of Fire Information Collections and FIG Directory

3. Other items discussed:

• FIGUK constitution (see separate entry on the web)
• FIGUK website
• InFIRE membership and conference
• Fire Worldwide update
• Other OSH Information
• SilverPlatter/OVID has passed their H&S titles to Croner who have now taken on OSH Plus, OSH-ROM, EINECS and CHEMBANK titles. Fire-CD has ceased publication.
• Information on emergency preparedness - The US Government and in particular the US NIOSH has brought together a range of information sources from other US Government Departments, Agencies and other sources
• Fire Statistics User Group

4. Round Table produced a number of interesting items

• Tony Timmons is in the ODPM library now allocated to FSD within the department has given a presentation on what he is doing and has had good feedback. He is providing training on the dept's intranet and searching skills. He is building up fire articles and self-generated publications on fire as a two-way method of improving information exchange.
• Margaret Fuller reported that all the changes at the College are creating challenges with staff changes and organisation. The Library is to become a Centre of Excellence for ODPM, Bain report mentions FSC a lot. IPDS, vocational training has just started providing a helix to allow development from fire fighter to Brigade Manager, see FSC web page for details www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk/ipds
• Sue Harris is working on the www.hazardview.com website. Started at ERM Risks Interest Group for exchanging information and started a website
• Penny Morgan is currently working on the update of Building Bulletin 7 Fire Safety in Schools for her new part-time employer International Fire Consultants and trying to get the labelling scheme mentioned in ADB Appendix F working for cold store and food industry buildings as an aid to fire fighters.
• Sheila Pantry described the European Information Association activities and helpfulness go to www.eia.org.uk
• Ian Jerome, Fire Prevention Association said more Technical Documents will be produced and the old LPC ones brought up to date e.g. the LPC Sprinkler Rules coming out taking account of he European Standards. The EN will be a harmonised standard for installation of sprinkler systems arising out of the Construction Products Directive. Note that Approved Document B now has a European version with information on the standards.

9. Date of the Next Meeting has been confirmed as 10 September 2003 at Burgoynes.

Constitution

figcon3 - FIRE Information Group UK (FIGUK)

1. Title

The name of the Group shall be the "Fire Information Group UK". Its short title shall be "FIGUK".

2. Objectives

The objectives of FIGUK shall be:

1. to provide a forum for sharing experiences, views and information on fire and fire related matters.
2. to register members, especially those active in general or specialist areas.
3. to make information freely available electronically to members and other relevant interested bodies.
4. to promote other activities as shall be determined by the Group.

3. Membership

1. Membership availability
   Membership is open to any person or organisation who has an interest in fire and fire related information. This person need not necessarily be located in the United Kingdom (UK), but FIGUK shall be considered a UK group.
   Membership shall be determined and reviewed by the Group.
2. Application for Membership
   1. A prospective member shall apply using the current application form.
   2. All new memberships shall be accepted and effective once the applicant's subscription has been paid, subject to final approval at the next FIGUK meeting.
   3. In applying for membership all applicants agree to abide by the constitution of FIGUK.
3. Subscriptions
   1. Subscriptions shall be due annually on the 1st January. The rate shall be decided at any Group meeting.
4. Termination of membership
   1. A member whose subscription is more than three months overdue shall receive a formal reminder from the Membership Secretary. If still overdue after three further months the membership shall be deemed to have ceased.
   2. A member who resigns from FIGUK shall not be entitled to any refund of subscription.
   3. The Group may at it's discretion have the right to terminate the membership of any person at any time, and to cause the name of that person to be removed from the FIGUK register and to forfeit their subscription.
   4. A person so affected shall have the right of appeal before the Group, whose decision then will be final and binding.
5. Register of members
   1. The Membership Secretary shall maintain a general register with details of all members. FIGUK publishes this on its website.
   2. The list shall conform to the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

4. General Meetings

1. A meeting shall be held at least twice a year.
2. When necessary The Quorum for voting at any meeting shall be 10% of current members.

5. Officers of FIGUK

1. FIGUK shall elect the following at each meeting:
   1. Chairperson
   2. Minutes Secretary
   3. Newsletter Editor
2. The Treasurer or Officer appointed at the first meeting of the year, for the whole year, will carry out all the duties a combined post of Membership/Secretary/Treasurer Officer
3. There shall be four signatories for the FIGUK cheque book.
   Membership/Secretary/Treasurer Officer plus three other FIGUK members.
4. All cheques must be signed by two of the signatories.
5. The named Officer shall be the contact with the Bank to receive statements and produce an annual account. This Officer will be the contact for new members.

6. Auditors

1. The Group shall appoint annually an Auditor or Auditors (Honorary or otherwise).
2. The remuneration, if any, of the Auditor(s) shall be determined by the Group.
3. The Auditor(s) shall confirm in writing prior to the meeting at which the accounts are presented that they have examined the accounts and found they represent a true and fair representation of the financial position of FIGUK.

7. Group

FIGUK shall be managed by the Group.

8. Accounts

1. The Group shall ensure that FIGUK finances are properly managed, and at no time are the commitments in excess of assets. The Officer shall keep the accounts, which shall be audited by FIGUK Auditor(s) prior to presentation of a written report at the first meeting of the year of the Group.
2. The Officer shall present the audited accounts to the meeting and shall update the Group as necessary on changes since the accounts and audit were prepared. Copies of the accounts shall be made available to all who attend the meeting, and to any other Member on their request.

9. Amendments to the Constitution

1. No addition, alteration or deletion shall be made to any existing Article of the Constitution of FIGUK except at a Group meeting providing it has been on the agenda.
2. Any proposal for alteration, addition or deletion to the existing Constitution requires a majority of at least two thirds of the members to be present at the meeting.

10. Interpretation of Constitution

The Group shall have the sole power to determine any question that may arise concerning the interpretation of the Articles of FIGUK, whether in full or in part.
This will be decided at a Group meeting.

11. Dissolution

1. FIGUK shall only be dissolved by resolution of a Group meeting. A majority of two thirds of members present at such a meeting of those returning written consent for the dissolution shall be required.
2. In the event of dissolution the Group shall remain in being for as long as is necessary, with the sole power and discretion, to distribute any remaining assets of FIGUK, all liabilities having been fully and completely discharged. These assets shall be distributed as decided by the Group.
3. The Group Members shall be notified by the Auditor that the assets have been distributed appropriately.