Freelance journalist

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Paola De Pascali is an Italian reporter with eight years of work experience across a range of regional and national newspapers. She moved to London from last September to study a six-month Postgraduate course at the London School of Journalism. As a freelance journalist, she usually write many articles and features for several newspapers and social media platforms.
June 17, 2015

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London Fire Brigade: Partnerships are the Future of Fire Safety

“The main challenge is to work in partnership to save a lot of money and to share relevant services”

London Fire Brigade LogoThis is the mission statement delivered by Nick Coombe of the Fire Security Regulation Management from London Fire Brigade, during a seminar about ‘Enforcement and Fire Safety Order’ at FIREX 2015.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) 2005, any person, company or organisation that owns, manages or operates buildings must comply with this order. This means that the ‘responsible person’ must ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment has been carried out.

Coombe also underlined the value of risk assessment when he addressed an audience at the Expertise and Guidance Theatre at London’s ExCel.

“The responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions,” he said.

“For example, when landlords rent out unsafe, unsuitable living conditions to some of the capital’s most vulnerable people, he or she has a clear responsibility under fire safety laws which aim to ensure that people living and working in their premises are safe from the risk of fire.”

Steps to improve fire safety

Coombe continued: “Our mission is to reduce fire risks and to protect people in a workplace or in a private place.”

He went on to list several steps to follow:

  • Reduce risk with assessments, consideration and arrangements
  • Any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible persons who are qualified to assist with fire safety measures
  • Flexibility of outcomes
  • Specific guidance (technical advices and fire policy)

Recommendations for dealing with austerity

Coombe noted there is a limited budget from government and therefore it is not easy to manage fire safety and many other services.

“I strongly believe that it is necessary to work in partnership to put together many resources and to save a lot of money,” Coombe urged.

Coombe’s recommendations to improve fire safety quality in the future, it is absolutely important to hold:

  • Resources
  • Targeting
  • Partnership
  • Shared service, (safety and environment)

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