fig leaves

The newsletter of the Fire Information Group UK (FIGUK)

www.figuk.org.uk

No. 36
March 2008

Edited by Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd

This Newsletter contains:

• News from around the World
• Diary of Events
• Summary of the FIGUK Meeting held on 12 March 2008
• Date of next meeting September 2008 (actual date to be finalized) LFB New Headquarters, London

FIGUK website www.figuk.org.uk ... please help to promote FIGUK whenever you can...

News items from around the world

Would You Know What To Do In An Accident At Work?
Lack of first aid knowledge poses risk to business

New research from the British Red Cross, leading providers of first aid products and HSE approved first aid training for the workplace reveals that less than 60% of office workers know where their first aid kit is at work (57%). By contrast 86% people know where their first aid kit at home is.

Amanda Jenkins, Head of PR comments "Accidents do happen in the workplace. In 2006/7 over 150,000 injuries were reported and 9 million working days were lost due to workplace injury. At the very least, every worker should know where their first aid kit is located and who their first aider is."

The research also shows that office workers have limited knowledge of how to treat minor injuries, with over 55% stating that they have never received any form of first aid training whatsoever, amongst these only 34% of women had received some form of training as opposed to 56% of men.

Other information from the survey reveals:

That for those who do have knowledge of first aid, the workplace is the key source. People who have experienced first aid training experienced it at:

• Work - 77%
• Youth group - 16%
• College - 7%

There is a strong interest in being trained

• 73% of people would attend a first aid at work course if their employer offered them attendance at a free course
• 33% of people do not know who their first aider is at work
• 57% of people would know what to do with someone with heavy bleeding
• 42% would know how to deal with someone in shock after an accident
• 50% would know how to deal with a sprain caused by a trip or fall

The HSE is currently promoting the business benefits of better health and safety in the workplace, including a "better business booklet". Effective first aid cover forms a key part of an effective health and safety policy, benefits include lower rates of lost working time, better staff morale and lower compensation risks.

The survey was carried out on 2000 adults, aged over 18. The British Red Cross is a leading provider of first aid training for the workplace. Every year we train over 120,000 people in courses ranging from the 4 day, HSE approved first aid at work course to moving and handling techniques.

The British Red Cross also supply a wide range of first aid supplies including first aid kits, defibrillators, books and bandages. It also has a series of first aid learning tools including a series of interactive CD Roms and a video/DVD.

For a full copy of the survey and further information please contact: Lydia Mottershead | Tel: 0844 871 8000 | www.redcross.org.uk

Annual Conference: Fire Related Research and Developments (RE08)
Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November 2008: CALL FOR PAPERS

The Fire Service College, in association with the Institution of Fire Engineers, is pleased to announce details of its annual conference and to invite papers for inclusion in plenary, parallel or poster sessions. Are you or your colleagues engaged in an innovative project, research and/or development in a fire-related field? We wish to hear from individuals, Fire and Rescue Authorities and other organisations looking to showcase best practice, initiative and cutting edge research. Our conference attracts a wide audience from across the Emergency Services, the Fire Industry, Research Communities and other private or public sectors interested in the latest fire-related issues, developments and concerns. We welcome a broad range of backgrounds and professional approaches including technical, engineering, legal, social, psychological, economic, operational, national and international perspectives. This gives our conference its distinctive multidisciplinary and multi-agency flavour.

Benefits of attending this event include the opportunity to:

• be informed about the latest developments in research and best practice and learn from a range of approaches and perspectives on key topical issues
• meet and network with a range of professionals from across fire-related communities
• visit the College's library and research facility, regarded as the most comprehensive fire, fire safety and emergency response related learning resource of its kind
• receive an award of CPD hours by the IFE
• discuss opportunities for further professional development with representatives from the IFE, City and Guilds and IPDS

In addition presenters benefit from:

• a reduced fee for registration at the conference
• the opportunity to profile and discuss their work through either oral &/or more informal poster presentations
• the chance to informally discuss project-related issues and problems with others actively engaged in research and development work
• an invitation to submit papers for consideration by Fire Safety, Technology and Management Journal

We are now inviting anyone interested in presenting at the conference to submit a short summary of their work (complete or in progress) using the proforma on the web site by Friday April 11th 2008.

Contact for more details: Event Co-ordinator Dr Anne Eyre (preferably by email but by post if necessary). We are happy to discuss possible topics informally prior to submission. Please feel free to contact the Event Co-ordinator for advice or further information.

Dr Anne Eyre, Trauma Training, P O Box 4495, Coventry CV3 9BQ | E-mail: anne.eyre@traumatraining.com | Tel: +44 (0)2476 505262 or 0777 3894675 | www.fireservicecollege.ac.uk

SPRINKLER '08

BAFSA - the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association has announced for its 2008 Conference and Exhibition which will take place on 20 November 2008.

In 2008 BAFSA will be organising a major conference and exhibition which will focus on the benefits and uses of sprinklers in the protection of people, property and the environment.

The event will take place at the five star Celtic Manor Hotel, Newport, South Wales on 20 November 2008 and will provide a unique forum for all groups with an interest in water-based automatic fire suppression systems to come together and learn about new developments in sprinkler technology, new uses of sprinklers and changes in standards and certification.

Please direct any enquiries to Stewart Kidd | Tel: +44 (0) 1353-741099 | British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd., Richmond House, Broad Street, Ely CB7 4AH, UK | www.bafsa.org.uk

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service website contains detailed fire information advice for the community. Safety information covers the home and workplace, with a schools programme also available.

www.nifrs.org/fire-safety

Dangerous Substances CD - Updated twice a year - 2 week trial available

Updated twice a year, Dangerous Substances CD combines EU Directive 67/548/EEC, its many amendments and Annexes, on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances with both EINECS and ELINCS. The inclusion of a database on Risk Assessment plus further modules on cosmetics legislation and the transport of dangerous substances makes this CD a truly unique and complete source of information for anyone in the chemical industries.

Legislation covering

• The consolidated text of EC Directive 67/548/EEC (including all annexes) merged with EINICS and ELINCS inventories
• All EU legislation and proposed legislation on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations
• Legislation on the import and export of certain chemical products
• Legislation on the restrictions on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and chemicals
• Legislation on the major accident hazards of industrial activities (SEVESO) and the COMAH directive
• Legislation on the protection of workers from dangerous substances
• Technical Guidance documents supporting EC Directive 93/67 on Risk Assessment for new notified bodies

Features

• All listed chemical substances, in 8 languages, retrievable by name, classification, CAS, EC or Index number
• Easy access to details of a substance, as published, showing its classification, risk and safety phrases, appropriate warning symbol and its chemical structure
• Full text searching

Dangerous Substances CD is used by manufacturers, laboratories, packaging companies, regulatory bodies and consultants - in fact, anyone involved in the production, processing or handling of dangerous substances and chemicals.

For more information, to subscribe or arrange a trial please visit www.oxmill.com or contact us email sales@oxmill.com or phone +44 (0) 1883 343000.

Shell UK Oil Products Ltd fined £266,681 after highly flammable and toxic gas escaped through corroded pipe

Shell UK Oil Products Limited had a 'narrow escape' after 20 tonnes of a highly flammable and toxic gas escaped through a corroded pipe at their Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, but dispersed without exploding.

The Health and Safety Executive's message to all companies is to ensure that robust maintenance is carried out to prevent corrosion of pipes, which was the cause of this incident.

Shell UK Oil Products Limited pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the duty imposed by Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) to take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents, by its failure to contain a flammable toxic gas.

The company were fined £266,681 and ordered to pay £37,131.62 costs at Chester Crown Court, for the incident, which happened on 29 May 2003, when 20 tonnes of isobutane (LPG), mixed with 150 kg of hydrogen fluoride escaped into the atmosphere from the release from the HF Alkylation plant. Because of the quantities released, the incident was reported to the European Commission as required by the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended).

Health and Safety Executive experts inspected the site after the incident and concluded that Shell had lost control of corrosion processes within the pipe to such an extent that a failure became inevitable.

Shell, in one of its own reports, estimated that such an incident could have resulted in multiple fatalities and damage to buildings over a significant area and secondary explosions could have resulted in a major fire leading to catastrophic damage.

Health and Safety Executive Inspector Alan Graham said: "This was a major incident which placed many company employees and others at risk from an escape of a flammable toxic gas. The incident happened when a pressure relief pipe corroded to such an extent that it fractured. Although there was no ignition on this occasion, in different circumstances there could have been an explosion.

"It was the Health and Safety Executive's case that the gas escape was caused by Shell's failure to properly inspect and maintain the pipe. This failure caused a jet of gas, which formed a cloud, which was seen to drift 10 - 15 metres above the site. The gas cloud was kept under observation until it dispersed."

Justin McCracken, HSE's Deputy Chief Executive said: "This case illustrates the importance of having effective maintenance regimes for plants dealing with hazardous substances and processes. They should include the prevention of corrosion and the careful monitoring of the state of all safety critical equipment, including pipe work. The company was lucky that this incident did not have very severe consequences."

Diary of Events

7-12 April 2008 - Fire Department Instructors Conference 2008
Indiana Convention Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Contact: FDIC, P.O. Box 973059, Dallas, TX 75397-3059 USA | Tel: +1 888 299 8016 or +1 918 831 9160 | Fax: +1 888 299 8057 or +1 918 831 9161 | www.fdic.com | www.fireengineering.com

14-16 April 2008 - Fire Dynamics and Fire Safety Engineering Design
School of Engineering and Electronics, Fire Safety Group, University of Edinburgh, UK
Contact: Office of Lifelong Learning, The University of Edinburgh, 11 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, UK | Tel: +44 (0)131 651 1189 | Fax: +44 (0)131 651 1746 | Email: cpd@ed.ac.uk | www.lifelong.ed.ac.uk/cpd
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

14-17 April 2008 - MIPS - 14th International Exhibition, Protection, Security and Fire Safety and Conference
Expocentr, Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow, Russia
Contact: www.mips.ru/eng

28 April 2008 - ILO World Day of Health and Safety at Work 2008: Managing Risk in the Work Environment - My Life, My Work, My Safe Work
World wide events
Contact: International Labour Office, Geneva, Switzerland | www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday

29 May - 1 June 2008 - International Association of Fire Chiefs 2008 International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference
Hunt Valley, MD., USA

2-6 June 2008 - NFPA World Safety Conference & Exhibition
Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Contact: Conference Organisers | www.nfpa.org

14-16 August 2008 - International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008
Denver, Colorado, USA
Contact: www.iafc.org

21-22 October 2008 - Firex Roadshow - North 2008
International Centre, Harrogate, UK
Contact: Rachel Cowdrey, Senior Marketing Executive, CMP I Tel: +44 (0)20 7921 8154 | Email: rcowdrey@cmpi.biz | www.firexroadshows.co.uk
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF: www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

28-31 October 2008 - China Fire 2008: The Twelfth International Fire Protection Equipment Technology Conference and Exposition
Beijing, China
Contact: China Fire Protection Association | Tel: +86 10 8778 9262 | Fax: +86 10 8778 9785 | Email: chinafireexpo@126.com

Abbreviated Minutes of the FIGUK meeting on 12 March 2008, held at Kingfell, Waterloo, London

Chair:

Colin Simpson (FireNet & Kingfell PLC)

Minutes:

Sheila Pantry (Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd)

Present:

Dr Roger Berrett (Dr Roger Berrett Associates)

Anna Canning (CLG)

Nigel Herring (Fire Department, Bureau Veritas HS & E Limited)

Stephen Loyd (BSRIA)

Julia Mason (Fire Service College)

Michele McHugh (LFEPA / LFB)

Sheila Pantry (Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd)

Wendy Ross (Royal Berkshire FRS)

Colin Simpson (Kingfell)

Sally Walsh (Dr J H Burgoyne and Partners LLP)

Apologies:

Barbara Kay (Fire Prevention Association)

Penny Morgan (IFC Ltd)

Jack Sullivan (Valiant Fire Protection)

Introduction and talks

The meeting started with a short introduction by Colin Simpson and then introduced Paul Bryant MBA, BSc (Hons), C Eng, MIEE, MIFireE, Chief Executive Officer., Kingfell on the range of work being carried out by the company. Members were also given a brochure of information about Kingfell.

Later a talk and demonstration on Kingfell's iCAP - Incident Control and Analysis Programme was given.

FIGUK Business Meeting

1. Matters Arising

1.1 A submission has been sent from FIGUK and acknowledgment received from Communities re the Centre of Excellence Consultation paper. FIGUK is concerned by the lack of mention of the Fire Service College Library and Information Resource Centre. (LIRC).

FIGUK has also sent a Freedom of Information request to FSC as follows:

To whom it may concern at FSC Library/LIRC Freedom of Information Question @ 14 March 2008

On behalf of the Fire Information Group UK please could we have an answer to the following question:

"What decision has been made about the future of the FSC Library (LIRC) and also when will any information be made public so that that those organisations who are relying on the FSC Library are aware of the withdrawal of services."

1.2 The Fire Inspectorate Information Service has been suspended. For those wishing to receive Fire Service Circulars on a regular basis should contact Ryan Persaud Fire & Resilience Directorate, Communities and Local Government, 9/G9 Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU, UK Tel: 020 7944 6858 | Fax: 020 7944 8319 Email: Ryan.Persaud@communities.gsi.gov.uk | www.communities.gov.uk

1.3 The remaining FIGUK post-it packs - these will be distributed by Michele McHugh to members, who could use them with the FIGUK brochure to attract more members.

1.4. Stephen Loyd raised the point that kitchen Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) are currently not under any legislation. There is ongoing discussion in the industry and business interest in having such legislation.

1.5. London Fire Brigade currently has no sales outlet e.g. videos. FIGUK members regret the non-availability.

1.6. Sheila Pantry asked all members to make any necessary amendments to FIGUK membership directory which is available on the www.FIGUK.org.uk web site.

2. Accounts

The account statement was circulated by Michele McHugh who also agreed to continue for the time being as Membership/Treasurer. Reminders have been sent out via email to those who have not yet paid the £15 p.a. membership fee.

Kingfell agree to become a member, and others such as BRE and Arup to be contacted Stephen Loyd agreed to contact Arup.

Sheila Pantry agreed to contact CILIP to see if some advertising to members could be arranged.

3. Round Table

Various pieces of information from members:

Stephen Loyd, BSRIA informed that BSRIA had started to subscribe to DOD's Political Wizard which is a political intelligence portal and online campaigning toolkit. Any aspect of the Wizard can be subscribed to in isolation, but taken all together it represents the complete political portal for the public affairs professional www.politicalwizard.co.uk. BSRIA is currently trialling with 4/5 profiles for members to be able to receive daily/weekly alerts.

BSRIA has just announced the acquisition of Proplan - global market research specialists in the building environmental controls, fire protection and security sector. All reports written by the Proplan team are still available and may be obtained from BSRIA, under the BSRIA Proplan brand, and new reports will be developed by the new, larger team of market researchers.

Sheila Pantry, Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd mentioned that there was no new details/ movement on where the information collected by the former Fire Service Inspectorate Information was to be located.

She also informed that the Fire and Rescue Statistics User Group (FRSUG) would be shortly launching their website which was being created and hosted by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd. The web site will contain FRSUG plan of work, names of members, constitution, agenda and minutes of meetings, papers presented, to the Group, diary of events and links to other relevant sources.

The new Fire Gateway web site does not currently contain fire statistics.

FIGUK response to the Communities Centre of Excellence - Fire Service College has been acknowledged. FSC senior staff still seeking any feedback from FIGUK re usage of the FSC Library.

FireINF - collection of 11 full text and bibliographic databases continues to grow at a pace. There is a continuous stream of full text documents and legislation being added. www.fireinf.com

OSH UPDATE also growing rapidly and has just expand this month with a new database of information from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health. This makes 18 databases - over 800,000 records of full text and bibliographic sources. Now that OVID's OSH-ROM (also created by Sheila Pantry some years ago) is ceasing publication in 2008 - those interested in all aspects of health and safety in the workplace, including fire information will find a user-friendly collection that is continuously updated and available at low costs. www.oshupdate.com

Michele McHugh, London Fire Brigade has just moved to new premises. The new address is: London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, London Fire Brigade, The Library & Information Resource Centre, 169 Union Street, London SE1 0LL, UK

The building was recently opened by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh - who also visited the new Library and shook Michele's hand! All in a day's work! Congratulations to LFB and its information services.

Wendy Ross of Royal Berkshire FRS is spending 99% of her time training members of her FRS on IT systems. Her increased workload has enabled her to employ an assistant who will support the Library as well as the IT side of their role. Wendy has asked that the Library be transferred to the Fire Safety Department.

Julia Mason, Fire Service College Library Customer Services Librarian talked about the administrative review of the Library and IT Suite that has been carried out within the FSC.

Amanda Collicutt has left FSC - FIGUK sends good wishes to Amanda for her future career.

Roger Berrett, Roger Berrett Associates reported that some of his recent work had been involved in a court case on double murder investigation. He continues to be involved in ENSFI - European Network of Forensic Science Institutes and their specialist working group on explosives. Roger is also involved in training courses in. Bahrain and Abu Dabhi

Anna Canning, Communities asked for any comments re the Communities website to be sent to her.

Thanks from the group to Kingfell for hosting the meeting.

Date of next meeting

September 2008 (actual date to be announced) LFB new offices, London.