MFRS urges businesses to make fire safety a priority following
number of industrial fires across Merseyside
BUSINESSES across Merseyside
are being urged to ensure they are operating safely and adhering
to fire safety regulations following a series of large
industrial fires in recent weeks. Merseyside Fire and Rescue
Service (MFRS) spent more than 26 hours dealing with a fire on
an industrial estate in Newton-le-Willows last month. The fire;
which was declared a major incident; saw 20 fire engines attend
at its height, and drew resources from neighbouring fire and
rescue services and multi agency partners. 2 further fires at
industrial sites took place the following day, again requiring
significant emergency service resources. On the back of these
and a number of similar incidents, MFRS is reminding businesses
of their responsibility to adhere to fire safety and carry out
checks around their site.
Station Manager Bill Shepherd, MFRS Protection department,
said:- "We know that the current COVID-19 pandemic has
adversely affected a number of businesses across Merseyside,
through reductions in staffing levels and disruption to normal
working practices. However, it is vital that business owners
continue to prioritise the fire safety of the business, the
safety of the people working there and/or those visiting the
business. As Government guidance changes and lockdown
restrictions are eased, more and more people will be returning
to work but we understand that businesses are still not
operating at what they would deem to be ‘normal’. Coronavirus is
not an excuse for disregarding your responsibilities and
businesses must ensure that they have an adequate amount of
competent people to help in the implementation of both
preventative and protective fire safety measures. If you have
absent staff, you must ensure that there are adequately trained
staff on site at all times to ensure fire safety measures are
not adversely affected. You should be continuing to maintain and
regularly testing your fire safety provisions, including testing
your fire alarms and carrying out regular fire drills."
Businesses should also be taking the necessary steps to protect
themselves from arson, including removing combustible materials
from the site or ensuring they are stored securely out of sight.
Entrances and exits of buildings should be kept clear at all
times and stock should not be kept in excessive amounts. 1 thing
that businesses should not be doing under any circumstances is
burning waste onsite. Not only does this create serious risk of
fire, it can also seriously harm health and pollute the
environment.
Nigel Glasgow, an Environment Agency Environmental Manager
said:- "The Environment Agency remains committed during
the Coronavirus pandemic to reducing waste crime and reducing
the opportunities for those operating illegally to do so. We
will continue to support the Fire and Rescue service during this
challenging time. The Environment Agency would like to take this
opportunity to remind the public that it’s illegal to burn most
types of waste. Burning waste such as treated wood, tyres,
plastics, rubber and oil can seriously harm health and pollute
the environment. People face a fine of up to ₤50,000 for
illegally managing waste. Also if you are visiting the
countryside, please follow the Countryside Code and do not light
fires or use disposable barbecues. Fires can be devastating to
wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property. So be
careful with naked flames and cigarettes at any time of the year
and if a fire appears to be unattended then report it by
calling:- 999."
There are a number of steps that businesses can take to reduce
their risk of fire:-
►COMPETENT PERSONS:- Ensure you have an adequate amount of
competent persons to help in the implementation of preventative
and protective fire safety measures. If you have absent staff
you must ensure that there are adequately trained staff on-site
at all times, to ensure the fire safety measures are not
adversely affected.
►PROTECTION FROM ARSON:- If your business is closed for an
extended period of time, ensure it is secure and continue with
usual measures to prevent arson:-
- Any combustible materials should be removed from site or
stored securely.
- Remove or store all rubbish securely away from the premises.
- Keep all entrances and exits clear at all times.
- Stock should not be kept in excessive amounts.
►FIRE SAFETY TESTING:- Onsite fire safety provisions should be
tested regularly. This includes carrying out alarm tests and
fire drills.
►FIRE DOORS:- Do NOT prop open fire doors, even if this is
intended to minimise contact between staff and door handles. We
would advise businesses to follow Public Health Advice around
regularly washing your hands for 20 seconds or more to minimise
the spread of Coronavirus.
►LONE WORKING:- With a reduced workforce, there may be an
increased likelihood of people working alone within buildings.
You need to ensure that these people are provided with adequate
warning in case of fire so they do not become trapped.
►FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT:- It may be necessary to review your fire
risk assessment during this time to ensure suitable and
sufficient measures are in place. Further information on your
fire risk assessments can be found
online.
►SECURE BUILDINGS:- Try to ensure premises are regularly
checked to ensure that the security of the building is not
compromised and identify any attempts of arson. Any issues
should be reported to Crimestoppers by calling:- 0800 555 111.
►BURNING WASTE ON COMMERCIAL SITES:- Remember, it is illegal to
burn most types of waste. Burning waste such as treated wood,
tyres, plastics, rubber and oil can seriously harm health and
pollute the environment. People face a fine of up to ₤50,000 for
illegally managing waste.
- You may be committing an offence by allowing waste to be
stored on your land or in your property without the relevant
permissions. This could leave you liable to prosecution. Carry
out rigorous checks on prospective and new tenants.
- If you operate a waste management site, make sure it is legal
and check you have the right permit for your activities:-
Gov.UK.
For fire safety advice, please
call:- 0800 731 5958. For more information on the Countryside
Code visit:-
Gov.UK.
Stay safe at the School
gates
IF you’re going back to
School, follow the rules… That’s the message from Liverpool City
Council as pupils return to the classroom in the wake of the
Coronavirus outbreak. This week some Schools have
re-opened to accept the children of key workers and vulnerable
residents, who had previously used the City’s Childcare Hubs.
The City Council is working closely with primary and Secondary
Schools to encourage social distancing at the School gates. And
1 of the biggest ways parents can help is to leave the car at
home and walk their children to School. Measures being
considered to encourage greater social distancing include
installing barriers of footways to create space and even closing
roads at both School drop off and pick up times. As well as
helping to prevent the spread of the virus, such measures may
also help improve air quality around the Schools. The big
message from the Council is:- do not drive to School if you can
possibly avoid it. The space taken up by cars means less space
for people to walk and maintain the correct social distance. The
advice from the Council is clear for those returning their
children to School this week; plan ahead. Parents/carers should
consider how they will get to School and give themselves more
time to walk or cycle in. Those with older children, Year 4 and
over, are being asked to encourage them to walk some of the way
independently. This could help children to become more aware of
the roads. Parents could agree on a meeting place each day away
from the School gates, which would reduce the number of people
congregating outside School. The Council is urging everyone,
except adults and children with mobility issues, not to drive to
School. If you have to take the car, then plan in advance and
find a suitable spot away from the gates to park.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education,
Employment and Skills Cllr Barbara Murray, said:-
"Children returning to their Schools this week will find their
classrooms very different places to the ones they left before
lockdown. We have encouraged all our Schools to undertake a full
risk assessment and ensure that all the necessary safety
measures have been put in place. We know many of our children
will be looking forward to returning to School, but it must be
done in the safest way possible. We would urge everyone to
follow the advice and respect the social distancing rules at all
times."
Cllr Sharon Connor, who is the Council’s Cabinet Member for
Regeneration and Highways, added:- "Residents of Liverpool
have risen to the challenges posed by the Coronavirus outbreak.
They have worked with the Council and other agencies responded
to our requests for their support and looked out for one
another. People have also responded by walking and cycling more
around our City and we would ask everyone to continue to do this
as the Schools return. Leaving the car at home will leave more
space for everyone outside Schools, it will also help you to
become more active and could help to make the streets and roads
around our Schools safer for children. If you are sending your
children back to School this week, let’s all stay safe at the
School gates."
Total UK cases
COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and
surroundings
THE total number of UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that have been laboratory
confirmed, within the UK, has risen by 1,871 cases and the total
number now stand at 279,856, that includes tests carried out by
commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National
totals.
The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive
test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is
39,728. Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK fatalities added
to the total, was sadly reported to be 359 according to the
Department of Health.
In England, there are a total of 153,376 confirmed cases.
North West - total of 25,891 confirmed cases. The number of
laboratory confirmed cases within the following Local
Authorities, in and around the Liverpool City Region are as
follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,633 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 934 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,301 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 753 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 408 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,653 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 1,157 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 1,249 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,597 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 1,055 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 830 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 1,210 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 1,025 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 810 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 771 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 745 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 1,091 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 413 confirmed cases.
These stats are according to Public Health England as of
03/06/2020. Last updated 4.01pm GMT. UK total includes cases
detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by
commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of
the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests
carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs)..
UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing
(tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does
not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only
include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved
Administration Labs).
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 03 June 2020 Video