The Fire Safety Order - Are YOU Legal?
Bedfordshire & Luton Fire & Rescue Service (BLFRS) has spoken to hundreds of businesses about the need to comply with Fire Safety legislation that legally requires the majority of businesses to comply - or risk being prosecuted.
The Wyboston Lakes Business Breakfast Club were also warned that people working from home may find their insurance invalidated if they have not done the appropriate written risk assessment.
Area Fire Safety Manager Tim Birchall told us "This is about business continuity as well as safety. If your office is at home and you have a fire - then your business has gone up in smoke. A significant proportion of small to medium sized companies do not recover from a fire".
Nationally it is estimated that one in three companies are STILL failing to comply with the FSO . In Bedfordshire the picture is looking brighter:
Once firms hear from us they are springing into action, so by the time we have carried out an audit on them, more than half those are legally compliant. The rest are almost there - and we will work with them to get it right, siad Tim. We don't want to prosecute people - we want safer buildings and businesses - so don't be afraid to call us, we will steer you in the right direction. We don't want to be turning up at your place on a 999 call when your business is burning or worse still, someone has been killed.
Guidance on fire risk assessment can be found via www.bedsfire.com - click on community safety to find out more about the FSO, and how you can comply.
Contact the fire safety team on 01234 351081 via Fire HQ switchboard or email NAOfiresafetyadministration@bedsfire.com
If you have a PAIN in your CHEST, DO NOT SIT THERE thinking it will go away,
PHONE 999 – Immediately, I did, and I am glad to say that I am still alive
My Story by Alec Keep
As I stepped in the door I felt this pain across my chest, I sat down and thought it will go soon. Then I remembered the poster of the man with a belt around his chest that I had seen on the way home, I phoned 999. It saved my life.
The fast response paramedic in his car was there within 5 minutes; the ambulance then arrived and took me to Bedford South Wing Hospital. On the way the ambulance had to stop in Willington as my heart had stopped. The Paramedics used artificial respiration and finally the defibrillator to shock the heart to start. I made it to Hospital alive, and I understand that they struggled for nearly an hour to keep me alive before I settled down and went up to the Cardio Care Unit for 8 days when I was allowed to go home.
On the 19th December 2006 I went to Bedford Hospital to have an angiogram and found that I would need a triple heart by-pass at Papworth Hospital, I had another heart attack 2 months later, this time I did not hesitate to phone 999 but I stayed conscious and did not need emergency action by the Paramedics. I remained in Hospital for 5 weeks before moving to Papworth where they gave me a Quadruple Heart By-pass I finally came home a week later, I started back working with my company ‘Aleena Chauffeur Drive’ 41/2 months later.
Ringing 999 if you have a pain in your chest could save your life, do not be put off by thinking that you are wasting people’s time. Any doctor, nurse or paramedic will tell you that if you are not having a ‘Heart Attack’ they will be pleased and will look into the cause.If you are having a Heart Attack they will have a chance to save your life. They cannot save your LIFE if they do not know about it.
Alec Keep
28 Aldgate Close, Potton, Bedfordshire, SG19 2RU Tel; 01767 261672 e-mail = alec@aleenachauffeurdrive.co.uk
Alec, now a passionate campaigner for the British Heart Foundation, will be speaking at The Bedford Evening Business Networking Club this month