Bucks fire service launches safety drive for work premises

This week, Bucks Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) is running a Business Safety Week, seeking to help companies across the region comply with fire safety law and reduce workplace fire risks.

The safety drive runs from 5^th September to 11^th September and businesses are encouraged to get in touch with the fire service if there are concerns about work premises.

BFRS says it refers to fire safety as ‘protection’ and the aim of its Protection Team is to ensure that everyone who works, lives, or visits any premises in Buckinghamshire is able to safely escape in the rare and unfortunate circumstances of a fire occurring.

The Protection Team manages this in the following ways:

• Provide feedback to consultations involving the development of buildings, whether a new-build or a change in use
• Respond to fire safety complaints, either from fire officers who are made aware of areas of concern, or from members of the public with similar concerns
• Undertake visits to premises that have recently had a fire to see whether there is advice which can be offered to reduce the impact or likelihood of a re-occurrence
• Undertake their own pre-arranged audit visits that reflect BFRS understanding of the risk of a building and those who occupies it. For example, if a building is occupied by older or less able people, they would view this as a higher risk because those people would not be able to escape as quickly
• Work closely with their colleagues in Response and Prevention (Community Safety) to ensure that information on the safety of our communities is passed on to all relevant teams

Our Group Commander Community & Business Safety Policy, Steve Hawkins, said: “The overriding aim throughout all the activity undertaken by Our Protection Team is the safety of our communities.

“We always look to offer guidance and advice to achieve this, and we are always proud to say that we are helping to improve the fire safety in premises, covered by the Order, across the whole of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

“So, if you need advice, or have identified what you believe to be unsafe practices that we may be able to help resolve, please help us continue to make people safer, and get in touch with us.”

Protection Office contact details:

Aylesbury Vale/Chiltern: 01296 744400 / AVDC-CDC-Fire-Safety@bucksfire.gov.uk

Wycombe/South Bucks: 01628 470640 / WDC-SBDCfiresafety@bucksfire.gov.uk

For more information, click here.