fig leaves

The newsletter of the Fire Information Group UK (FIG UK)

www.figuk.org.uk

No. 56
April 2018

Edited by Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
www.sheilapantry.com

This Newsletter contains:

• News from around the World
• Diary of Events
• Summary of the FIG UK Meeting held on 22 March 2018
• Dates of Next Meetings

FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk ... please help to promote FIG UK whenever you can ... make a link from your website!

News items from around the world

UK Government consults on proposals to toughen rules on building safety

Consultation will look at restricting or banning the use of ‘desktop studies’ as a way of assessing the fire performance of external cladding systems.

Published 11 April 2018 from: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP

Tough new rules designed to strengthen fire testing for cladding systems on residential buildings were published for consultation today (11 April 2018) by Housing Secretary Sajid Javid.

The consultation, which aim to improve building safety, will look at restricting or banning the use of ‘desktop studies’ as a way of assessing the fire performance of external cladding systems.

The revisions come directly as a result of the recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt in her interim report from the review into building regulations and fire safety published last year. Government is also going further by asking whether ‘desktop studies’ should be used at all.

The consultation is seeking views on whether ‘desktop studies’ are appropriate for all construction products, wall systems (cladding) or for any other purpose.

If ‘desktop studies’ are deemed appropriate, the proposed changes include improving the transparency of assessments, enabling proper scrutiny of results and ensuring that the studies can only be carried out by properly accredited bodies that have the relevant expertise.

These proposals are subject to a full consultation that will end on 25 May 2018.

Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid said:

We have listened carefully to Dame Judith Hackitt and we are taking action to strengthen building regulations guidance, which could mean that the use of ‘desktop studies’ are either significantly restricted or banned altogether.

This demonstrates the tough measures we are prepared to take to make sure that cladding tests are as robust as possible and people are safe in their homes.

Further information

Desktop studies

Assessment in lieu of tests, also known as ‘desktop studies’ are an established part of the system for classifying the fire performance of construction products and systems set out in paragraph 1b of Annex A of Approved Document B.

Their use is being considered as part of Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety established by government following the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy. Her final report will be published in the spring.

See further details of the consultation.

The deadline for consultation responses is 25 May 2018. Once closed the department will consider all the comments received and provide a response as soon as possible.

New British Standard

Government has commissioned the British Standards Institution (BSI) to draft a standard for the extended application of BS8414 results. This will provide detailed rules for assessments relating to cladding systems, in support of the new proposed requirements. Once the new British Standard is introduced for cladding systems, following it would be the expectation.

Office address and general enquiries: 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Contact form http://forms.communities.gov.uk

General enquiries: please use this number if you are a member of the public 030 3444 0000

Recall of products

FIG UK Members are keen to share the various Recall websites. Thanks to Members who have sent some of these websites.

If you have a recall website you wish to share with others please send to Sheila email: sp@sheilapantry.com for adding to the FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk

Event: eHealth Revolution and Changing Work

18-20 September 2018, Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, Espoo (Helsinki area), Finland

The way we think about work, organise work and communicate with each other is changing rapidly. The Internet and personal technologies create new health and safety service cultures and platform economies. During this course we will study current trends, developments and future perspectives. The course will consist of keynote speeches, workshops and participant presentations (optional).

Main topics:

1. Is digitalisation a solution or creating new problems in the work life?

• automatisation and robotics
• internet of things
• virtual work communities

2. How can ICT improve provision of safety and health services?

• learning artificial intelligent systems
• personal health and safety coaching
• decision support systems

3. Do digitalization promote equity in health?

• ethics
• data ownership and right to know
• data protection and security

More information: https://niva.org/courses

Event: Boost your fire protection business at the Fire Industry Manufacturer’s Expo (FIM Expo)

25 April 2018, 9.30 – 3.30 pm, Ashton Gate Stadium, Ashton Rd, Bristol BS3 2EJ

Subtitle: Get updated on BS 5839-1:2017 and the future of qualifications in the fire industry with two free seminars

This April, the Fire Industry Manufacturer’s Expo (FIM Expo) is coming to Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol. The event is organised by the Fire Industry Association and helps to build the bridge between manufacturers of fire detection and alarm products and those in the services world.

The expo is a fantastic place to meet manufacturers and network with other service professionals if you’re working in this niche but still buoyant area of business.

The expo’s light and informal atmosphere is renowned for making those close connections and business partnerships due to its small size. Here, instead of wandering aimlessly between stands for hours, you can easily make all the connections you need within a relatively short period of time. A major advantage is that you can see all the products and get answers on how they all work, which is helpful if you’re unfamiliar with a particular area.

There is still plenty at the expo even for a seasoned fire detection and alarm pro. The 17 confirmed exhibitors (and more on the way) will be showing a range of their products and with new ranges being developed, so it’s a good time to find out if there are any new products, or explore other manufacturer’s products that you might not have known much about previously.

Aside from the exhibitors themselves, there is the added bonus of two free seminars.

The first seminar, ‘BS 5839-1: 2017 – What’s changed?’ is presented by the FIA’s Technical Manager, Will Lloyd is known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of British Standards, and can provide expert advice on a wide range of fire detection and alarm issues.

The seminar covers the latest major revision of the standard, BS 5839-1, and the differences between this version and the old 2013 version. Despite it being 2018, there may still be some aspects of the 2017 revision of this standard that you (or colleagues) may be unaware of.

The update seminar covers a long list of areas including:

• Differences between the old version of BS5839-1: 2013 and the 2017 update
• Unwanted fire alarm signals
• Multi-sensor detectors in escape routes
• L3 and L2 systems
• The use of manual call point covers
• Places of ‘ultimate safety’
• Manual call point locations
• Communications with the fire and rescue service
• Staff alarms
• Video fire detection
• Types of fire detectors and their selection
• Spacing and siting of automatic fire detectors
• Detector spacing and siting on honeycomb ceilings
• Siting of optical beam smoke detectors
• Ceiling height limits
• Cables, wiring, and other interconnections
• Inspection and servicing

This is not a full and complete list but does give an indication of the level of depth that will be presented. The FIA is committed to improving professional levels throughout the industry and this seminar will provide plenty of insight into this complex subject area.

The second seminar running at FIM Expo will be discussing the future of the fire industry. What levels of competency will be expected or needed in 2018 and beyond? In our current climate, where pressures on responsible persons/duty holders are rising, what will those potential clients be looking for in a fire detection and alarm service company?

Entitled, ‘The future of qualifications in fire detection and alarm’, this is a good opportunity to hear from industry experts and ask questions about the movement of the industry over the next few years. This presentation will be presented by the FIA’s General Manager, Martin Duggan.

Both seminars are fully CPD accredited and certificates will be available to pick up from the registration desk at the end.

Details: Complimentary tea, coffee, and buffet lunch. Free parking. Free entry

Seminar times

• 11 am – ‘BS 5839:1 – what’s changed?’, presented by Will Lloyd, FIA Technical Manager
• 2 pm – ‘The future of qualifications in the fire industry’, presented by Martin Duggan, FIA General Manager.

Although the event is free to attend, spaces are limited and it’s best to register in advance to secure your space.

Go to www.fim-expo.com to register

Diversity is key to expanding frontiers of future science, says renowned space scientist at ECETOC 40th anniversary celebration

The key to expanding the frontiers of future science is ‘gender diversity’ and inspiring the younger generation, according to one of Europe’s leading space scientists, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology and Chemicals (ECETOC) at the Bibliothèque Solvay in Brussels, Dr Aderin-Pocock said: “We need to find ways to inspire the next generation to be passionate about science, especially young girls, through positive role models and by communicating the ‘worlds of wonder’ that science reveals.”

Dr Aderin-Pocock continued: “Science today is not very attractive to the next generation. Unless we change that – and fast – we run the risk of scientific progress slowing down in the future.”

Founded in 1978, ECETOC has been a champion of scientific excellence and science-based decision-making in Europe. For the past four decades, it has provided a forum for top scientists from academia, government and industry to work together to develop and promote practical and realistic science-based solutions.

More information: www.ecetoc.org/mediaroom/diversity-key-expanding-frontiers-future-science-says-renowned-space-scientist-ecetoc-40th-anniversary-celebration

Event: Workers Memorial Day

28 April 2018

Each year, April 28 is designated as Workers’ Memorial Day, providing the opportunity to reflect on the many people who are killed, seriously injured or made ill while doing their jobs.

There are dozens of permanent memorials to lost workers around the UK, and many of them host ceremonies on April 28.

Some of the memorials commemorate high-profile disasters that claimed the lives of many workers and others remember lesser-known accidents in which one or two workers were killed.

In 2010, RoSPA’s National Occupational Safety and Health Committee initiated the creation of a website – www.sheilapantry.com/memorial – to provide comprehensive information about the memorial sites.

The website, put together by health and safety information expert Sheila Pantry, is updated regularly. It includes location information about a variety of memorials, as well as photographs, details of temporary commemorative sites, links to other sources of information and a diary of events.

Among the many permanent memorials listed on the website are those dedicated to victims of disasters at the Piper Alpha oilrig near Aberdeen, the Flixborough chemical plant in Lincolnshire and the Senghenydd mine in Wales.

Memorials added to the site include: the Six Bells Colliery Disaster Memorial near Aberdeeg in South Wales, which remembers 45 workers killed in a gas and dust explosion in 1960; Postman’s Park in the City of London, which remembers men and women who gave their lives while attempting to save others; and two memorials to Mathew Gilbert, who was killed during the construction of Heathrow Terminal 5 in 2005.

But it must be remembered that for every catastrophe involving multiple fatalities, there are hundreds more accidents for which there is no public memorial. Grieving families, colleagues and employers mark these accidents quietly.

A memorial day for workers – now observed in 19 countries – was first recognised in Canada in 1984.

Since 1989, trade unions across the world have organised events on or near April 28, which is the anniversary of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in the USA. In 2001, the International Labour Organisation also declared April 28 as International Day of Action for Safety and Health at Work.

Workers’ Memorial Day was officially recognised in the UK for the first time in 2010.

See also www.historyofosh.org.uk includes information on fire.

To have a memorial listed on the website, email Sheila Pantry at sp@sheilapantry.com.

New USA fire books that may be of interest

From Buddy to Boss: Effective Fire Service Leadership, 2nd Edition

Sargent, Chase; Pennwell Publishing, 2018, 380 pages; ISBN 1593703899

A good friend once said about Chase Sargent that he’s “a very intelligent man, but he sure does tick people off sometimes.” Sargent doesn’t disagree. He may have made some people mad, but he wishes he had done it more often to get this point across: “Leadership—in all aspects of life—is sorely lacking.” The second edition of From Buddy to Boss: Effective Fire Service Leadership reinforces the fact that the fire service is screaming for leaders as men and women discover that leadership is important to their existence and success. Being a firefighter can be tiring and frustrating, but it can be rewarding. It’s not only about the job, “but also about raising kids, managing your life, and trying to be a good person, attached to God, country, family, and friends,” says the author. Many leaders today are surrounded by external politics, hidden agendas, fiscal constraints, and manipulative people. Consider these factors when navigating your career. Sargent knows from decades of experience that simply reaching the top of the organizational ladder does not make you a good leader. Before he went into teaching this subject, “It became apparent very quickly that the leadership and human resources training being provided was as scarce as water in a desert and that the fire service was thirsty.” This new second edition includes must-read topics on leadership lessons from the War in Iraq, knowing death in the fire service, and providing leadership in large-scale disasters. This book will change your life.

www.pennwellbooks.com/shop-fire-books-videos/new-products/from-buddy-to-boss-effective-fire-service-leadership-2nd-ed

Always about Leadership

Rubin, Dennis; Pennwell Publishing, 2018, 186 pages; ISBN: 1593704216

One of the most demanding and stressful management jobs in existence, fire rescue leadership requires a set of clear and distinct skills. Given today’s work environment, everyone from the chief down to the newest recruit should be strong, courageous leaders. Every aspect of a successful operation relies on capable leadership at all levels. Always about Leadership is written by an active firefighter for his fellow fire-rescue service members. Author Dennis L. Rubin discusses his 13 rules for leadership, which he has developed over a 35-year career in fire service. Alongside these rules, the author has curated case studies and created critical learning points, self-improvement plans, and discussion questions for learning reinforcement and to assist real-world applications. Key features: Leadership tools with real-life applicability; Time-tested advice on navigating challenges and scenarios typical to fire service life; Experience and perspective from a multi-decade fire service leader.

www.pennwellbooks.com/shop-fire-books-videos/new-products/its-always-about-leadership

Mastering the Fire Service Assessment Center, 2nd Edition

Kastros, Anthony; Pennwell Publishing, 2018, 440 pages; ISBN 1593704224

Thousands of firefighters have reached their career goals using this curriculum to score on the top of their promotional lists and become outstanding officers! This book will help you regardless of the fire officer rank you seek. You will learn where you need to improve, how to develop a specific personal plan to become an excellent officer, and how to do well with whatever assessment center exercises you face. You will find pages of mock exercises and score sheets, including:

• More than 20 emergency simulations spanning residential, multi-family, commercial and wildland fires; hazardous materials incidents, multi-casualty incidents and more.
• 19 counselling exercises including interactive and video-based role plays.
• Oral presentations including teaching demonstrations, visual resumes and crew interaction.
• Supervisory exercises, in-baskets, modified in-baskets and leaderless groups.
• Essays, written incident reports, promotional interviews and qualifications review questionnaires.

Also included is how to eliminate barriers and baggage from past tests; The secret to making the mental paradigm shift from candidate to officer; Exercise tools, key points and common pitfalls that plague candidates and officers alike. New materials in this second edition: Enjoy reading “Wisdom from the Masters” from 18 fire service luminaries. They provide invaluable insights and challenges you will face as you prepare to promote, whether for the first time as a company officer or up the chain as a chief officer. Learn lessons from the collective experience of thousands of students from the past 12 years whose feedback has been distilled down into key points to benefit you in this second edition. Benefit from the many new elements in this book, including relevant articles, new exercises, and more extensive content regarding the dimensions of leadership, management, and emergency operations.

www.pennwellbooks.com/shop-fire-books-videos/new-products/mastering-the-fire-service-assessment-center-2nd-edition

The Evolving Fireground: Research-Based tactics

Gray, Sean; Norwood, P.J.; Pennwell Publishing, 2018, 300 pages

Deputy Chief P.J. Norwood and Captain Sean Gray discuss how fireground strategy and tactics have evolved in light of fire research conducted around the world. They discuss the fire tetrahedron and how fuel, heat, and air all affect a fire’s growth or extinguishment. Gray and Norwood take the lessons learned from the research as well as their general knowledge of the fireground to illustrate safer and more effective ways to operate on the fireground. They discuss how to apply this new understanding of fire behaviour to two of the fire service’s most important tasks: search and fire attack. This book is an important resource for anyone wanting to put new fire dynamics research to action. You will learn:

• How firefighting activities affect the fire tetrahedron
• To stay safe while working in the flow path on the fireground
• Search methods that isolate the firefighter and victim
• Fire attack methods that minimize the air fed to the fire
• Incident command size up and decision making

www.pennwellbooks.com/shop-fire-books-videos/new-products/the-evolving-fireground-research-based-tactics-1

Italy: City strikes after deadly port explosion

Workers in the Tuscan port city of Livorno went on strike on 29 March 2018 following the death of two workers when a fuel tank exploded the previous day. The victims, named as Lorenzo Mazzoni, 25, and Nunzio Viola, 53, died while doing maintenance in the industrial section of the port, which was evacuated after the incident.

Press reports say the tank contained highly flammable gas. Local prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement that he “stands with the families, the workers, and the city of Livorno”, calling the deaths “an intolerable tragedy.” Italian unions CGIL, CISL and UIL called the strike to protest the lack of safety on the job.

Unlike other European Union countries, Italy has yet to formulate its own national workplace safety strategy, CGIL said in a statement. “A worker must be certain that when he or she leaves for work in the morning, he or she will be coming home that night,” CGIL trade unionist Gianluca Persico told the press.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-risks-843-7-april-2018#_Toc510786014

On Your Feet Britain

Take part in the national day when workers across Britain unite together and participate in a variety of fun and simple activities to #SitLess and #MoveMore at work on Friday 27th April 2018.

“Get up offa that thing”

The On Your Feet Britain Challenge dares you to take James Brown at his word and convert ‘sitting time’ to ‘standing time’. Follow some simple changes – it’s easier than you think:

• Stand during phone calls
• Stand and take a break from your computer every 30 minutes
• Use the stairs
• Have standing or walking meetings
• Eat your lunch away from your desk
• Walk to your colleague’s desk instead of phoning or emailing them
• Stand at the back of the room during presentations

So, Friday 27th April 2018 is your chance to get the ball rolling and encourage your employees and colleagues to take a stand. Team up with colleagues and see how much “sitting time” you can reduce on the day.

More information: http://onyourfeetday.com/britain/challenge

Diary of Events

15 May 2018 – Public Sector Cyber Security Conference
AJ Bell Stadium, Manchester, UK
Contact: www.salford.ac.uk/onecpd/conferences/the-future-of-cyber-security-conference

15–17 May 2018 – Hazards28
EICC, Edinburgh, Scotland
Contact: https://www.icheme.org/career/events

23 May 2018 – Fire Safety Conference: Building a safer future
Adelphi House, University of Salford, UK
Contact: www.salford.ac.uk/onecpd/conferences/fire-safety-conference

24 May 2018 – Counter Terrorism Conference 2018
University of Salford, UK
Contact: www.salford.ac.uk/onecpd/conferences/counter-terrorism-conference

24-25 May 2018 – USHA Fire Group Seminar
St Georges Park, Burton Upon Trent, UK
Contact: www.usha.org.uk/events

June 2018 – National Safety and Health Conference
Nottingham Old Belfry, UK
Contact: http://www.iosh.co.uk/Key-IOSH-events/National-Safety-and-Health-Conference.aspx

10-11 July 2018 – USHA Estates Group Seminar: Safety Assurance
Jubilee Conference Centre University of Nottingham
Contact: www.usha.org.uk/events

12 August 2018 – 12th International Symposium on Hazards, Prevention, and Mitigation of Industrial Explosions (ISHPMIE 2018)
Kansas City, USA
Contact: www.ishpmie2018.com

18 October 2018 – Mental Health Improvement Conference: Delivering better outcomes
Adelphi House, University of Salford, UK
Contact: www.salford.ac.uk/onecpd/conferences/mental-health-improvement-conference

Also, Health and Safety Laboratories are offering the following courses:

HSE Training runs three different courses to help employers comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). These are:

• DSEAR – Compliance for Managers and Supervisors
• DSEAR – Controlling Dust Explosion Risks
• Hazardous Area Classification

It is intended that delegates select which course is the most relevant to them rather than attending more than one.

Abbreviated FIG UK Meeting minutes held on Thursday, 22 March 2018 at the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Headquarters, 169 Union Street, London

Present:

Sheila Pantry OBE	Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
Sally Walsh	Burgoyne Management Ltd
David Washer	Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)
Penny Morgan
Claire Benson	London South Bank University, Explosion & Fire Research Group
Alyson Warner	Auditor
Paula McCrudden	Hawkins
Steve Skarrat	Fire Service College
Julia Farrugia	West Midlands Fire Service
Pete Mansi	Fire Investigations UK LLD

Apologies:

David Lane	Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd
Nick Fry	International Fire Consultants (IFC)
John Galvin	IAAI UK Chapter
Grenville Harris	FDS Consult Ltd

Welcome

Sheila welcomed everyone – especially Julia from Birmingham FRS.

1. Previous Minutes

Previous Minutes of 6 September 2017 were accepted as a true record.

2. Accounts and Membership

Sally circulated a summary of the accounts to 12 March 2018.

Alyson Warner has kindly agreed to audit the accounts.

Comments from round the table indicated that some members had received some spam emails with demands for bills to be paid. Members are reminded that any information about FIG UK membership fees only come from Sally – FIG UK Treasurer and Membership Officer.

ACTION Sally will send out a letter on this subject.

23 Membership fees have been paid. Another 10 expected as a result of Membership for a year to any delegate attending FIG UK Seminars. The delegates are then urged to continue their membership of FIG UK.

ACTION Alyson to identify contacts in Home Office and those in charge of Building Regulations, along with Claire who agreed to contact the relevant Forensic Scientists who may also be interested in coming a FIG UK member.

3. 30th Anniversary Seminar

30th Anniversary Seminar to be held on Thursday 11 October 2018 at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London

Sheila had contacted FIG UK members with suggested speakers and topics for the draft 2018 programme – see separate document with these minutes. The draft with proposed speakers was accepted. ACTION Sheila to contact speakers and organise the seminar.

Sheila then asked for suggestions from the group if there are gaps. Pete suggested a summary of fire tests and presentation held at BRE looking into the behaviour of fridge-freezers. Claire added that behaviour of fridge-freezers is a very current topic at LSBU.

It was AGREED to keep the same seminar charges as last year for this very special event i.e. Retired members £20, Members £30, IFE members £40, Visitors £50

ACTION Publicity via FIG UK website and European Network; Fire Safety College website; Fire Risk Management Journal and individuals including ALL FIG UK Members

4. Should FIG UK contribute to the Grenfell Inquiry?

Discussions covered

• What is happening to fire information.
• How able are the people who are reported to be doing desk top studies in order to decide on choices of materials for building upgrades such as external insulation materials as part of cladding schemes?
• Members hold a strong suspicion that there are now fewer sources of information which may be relied upon.

5. FIG UK website

Are there any updates from members for the FIG UK website?

For example, information from electrical interests could be promoted. New items are valued.

6. Round Table

Penny mentioned that she had given an informal talk alongside a retired fire fighter at her local Parkinson’s Support Group. There was a lot of real interest in the Grenfell fire. Pete is about to give a talk to dementia patients about fire matters. Both recognise that people with serious health problems are perfectly able to learn about fire matters.

Pete then went on to describe the availability of www.Firmsapp.io (Available at £125 for first year then £4.99 a month afterwards]. This app has been 9 years in development with huge input from Phil Nolan for a fire investigation road map which confirms that an investigator has asked ALL the questions needed. For example, after a site visit the road map takes only a few minutes to run and can query if there were any workmen on site and if so, where?
(Thus avoiding awkward questions when in court). The map has a series of single page queries with a box for answers; when complete this is produced as a personal pdf summary. In the meantime, the user can revisit pages and/ update if necessary.

Dave reported that:

a Clean Air Strategy for London included a ban of solid fuel stoves to be installed in homes and on boats however

The strategy summarises actions to reduce emissions from domestic burning, clearly identifying there is no intention to ban wood burning stoves. Here are the key points:

1. Legislate to prohibit sale of the most polluting fuels.
2. Ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022.
3. Give new powers to local authorities to take action in areas of high pollution, bringing legislation into the 21st century with more flexible, proportionate enforcement powers.
4. Work with industry to identify an appropriate test standard for new solid fuels entering the market.
5. Ensure that consumers understand what they can do to reduce their impact from burning.

The strategy also suggests Defra will give local authorities powers to go further in areas of high pollution, for example exploring what further steps government can take to enable local authorities to encourage ‘no burn days’ during high-pollution episodes.

The BSS are exploring ways to reduce the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning on boats by engaging with HETAS as numbers of residential boats and continuous cruisers* grow on the inland waterways. Tests are being completed by BRE to discover the routes CO may follow where a number of boats are moored together.

A case study is being conducted where a CO alarm was activated at 02:00 AM on-board a boat, the owner found that his rotating chimney cowl had broken not allowing flue gasses to exit the chimney causing a build-up of CO inside the boat and luckily, in this case the alarm was raised.

*Continuous Cruiser is a boat without a home mooring and uses moorings along the towpath the boat has to move every 14 days to another mooring to prevent action being taken by the navigation authority.

Paula has been looking at electronics resources on most Hawkins’ sites as there are office moves planned.

Alyson has been networking with government information librarians and suggested that FIG UK needs to pursue which departments should be approached to be future members.
ACTION Alyson to make contacts

Julia reported that WMFS has moved from a central training venue and is now in one of the hubs with the library at Oldbury Training Facility adjacent to the Fire Station. They offer services including research training, level 2 courses via the Skills Network, traditional library services and dyslexia screening. The Library also offers reading material and ‘drop in sessions’ for staff leadership degrees accredited by Coventry University. Julie has also been working on dyslexia awareness projects, has set up a dyslexia support group and hopes to undertake further training in this field in order to help those staff in the Brigade who are dyslexic.

Sally, Burgoynes reported that there are various changes going on with staff and stock movements from London to the Midlands. Some printed material is being discarded as unlikely to be used regularly and is available at the British Library. Choices being made on usage rates. It has been a busy 6 months with successful recruitment of two new Library staff members: Bethany Tapster in Ilkley Office and Abigail Chapman in the London Office. A partial stock move is in place from the London and Ilkley Libraries to the Kenilworth office. Burgoynes is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year with various events planned.

Steve told us that the Home Office went to the College and took everything relevant to the Grenfell Enquiry and has just returned the documents. Carol is currently examining everything that can be digitised and going to all onsite courses. One topic has come up which is the use of a BPR Medical product for oxygen therapy for home users who smoke. There is now a new widget to prevent smoke getting into the oxygen supply!
At this point Claire asked why the normal approach was not used – that is to stop smoking.

Another topic is examining the use of a spray material for PV panels involving whole system testing for 4 suppliers. The College was in profit or the first time last year and they are much more robust in educational terms. The College is also looking at testing performance of large scale developments like HS2 and Crossrail with respect to health and safety at work in terms of knock on effects and mental health issues. General discussion pointed out that people living close to these developments also suffer from the effects of deep digging etc 24 hours a day. So not just the work force should be included.

Claire is at interim stages of most projects but one involved a LFB Fire Investigation visit and they were very clear that they do not do criminal investigations, this is for the Police not the Fire Brigade. Discussions on the topic seem to be going backwards with the closure of Arson Task Forces. Building Control and Freedom of Information requests re interactions could allow things to go forward against FB advice. LFB received 11,000 requests from local authorities last year re building queries.

As a member Sheila attended the RoSPA National Occupational Safety and Health Committee meeting in February 2018 where Tony Lewis Head of Policy for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health gave a very informative talk on UK air pollution. He was horrified to find so many schools for children from the age of 5 years are located on main roads. Caerphilly is named as the most polluted town in the UK with cars providing the pollution aided by the presence of many potholes and other bumps in roads.
It was noted that the 1956 Clean Air Act has not been updated since its inception and there is a strong lobby for it to be revised in light of the current situation. Also noted – the UK is the dirtiest country in Europe. For details see www.sheilapantry.com/oshworld/focus/2018/201802.html

FIRE AND OSH INFORMATION
She also has concerns about the lack of access to OSH and FIRE information with notable centres closing or reducing DRASTICALLY in size e.g. Health and Safety Executive, IOSH and many universities offering courses in OSH and fire sciences that appear not to have information provision in these areas for their students.
She did remind members that her organisation’s long established OSH UPDATE and FIRE electronic service currently contains over 1,141,579 records and full text documents is constantly updated with authoritative and validated information from worldwide sources. Arguably the best collection worldwide and especially because it is budget friendly.

7. AOB

Chris Rose LFB met Dave Washer at the last FIG UK Seminar and Dave now gets regular updates about fires in boats in London.

8. Dates of next FIG UK meetings

Thursday, 13 September 2018 at 1.00 pm. (Steve will send apologies as it is his Silver Wedding.) Location details to be forwarded.
Thursday, 11 October 2018, 1.00 pm – FIG UK 30th Anniversary Seminar at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London

Please send your booking request to Sheila – sp@sheilapantry.com