Leamington Spa fire: Residents asked to help clear fallen debris
Residents near a huge fire at a plastics manufacturer are being asked to help clear fallen debris.
One employee is still missing following the blaze in Leamington Spa at Leeson Polyurethanes Ltd on Friday.
Police earlier warned people against touching the charred debris but said agencies were struggling to clear it all “given the size of the area”.
The substances were not believed to be hazardous to health, Warwickshire Police said.
Read more about the incident on the BBC website.
Three-quarters of fire doors in recent years have failed inspection
Thousands of fire safety installations in the past two years have failed their inspections, according to the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS).
According to the certified inspector, over three-quarters (76%) of fire doors failed their tests in 2019 whilst 30% of fire doors across the country were condemned due to poor installation, with problems ranging from excessive gaps around the doors and the use of non-compatible foam.
It comes as the home office also revealed that over half a million fire-related incidents were recorded in 2020, with hundreds of fatalities resulting.
All non-domestic buildings are legally required to have several safety features implemented to reduce the effects of fires, such as alarms and doors. Fire doors work by stopping the spread of deadly smoke and fire; yet over three quarters of fire doors in 2019 failed inspections and were condemned as unfit for purpose.
Reasons for failure of these doors range from ‘excessive gaps’ that allow smoke to pass, to ‘poorly adjusted door closers’ that prevent the door from staying in its default closed position in order to hold back the spread of fire.
Find out more about the inspections from SHPOnline.
HSE Chair reflects on past year
As I complete my first year as Chair of the HSE, I have an overriding feeling of pride in the people and achievements of the whole organisation. Our resilience, flexibility and determination to deliver on our mission, values and business plans during these testing times continues to be an inspiration.
HSE stepped up and continues to contribute to the national response to the global pandemic. At the same time, colleagues are taking on significant new responsibilities and expanding others so that we enable more people to be safe and feel safe in their homes, whether houses , apartments or high-rise buildings as well as protecting people and the environment from harmful exposure to chemicals and explosives.
Behind the scenes colleagues have enabled new ways of working, including the continuity of our helplines and an extraordinary growth in our online advice and information communications reach. Right across the organisation there is much learning that is valuable and will inform our new strategy and future business plans.
Read the HSE Chair’s full press release on their website.
“OSH has never been more valued”
Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals are held in higher esteem than ever – that’s the big takeaway message from the 2021 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) member survey.
In total, 43 per cent of respondents said they felt more valued since the outbreak of Covid-19. And 63 per cent said the OSH role was highly regarded within their organisation.
Jimmy Quinn, IOSH President, said: “Our members are critical to a safe and healthy recovery from times of crisis and have been front and centre keeping organisations afloat around the world.
“I am delighted that they are, quite rightly, being recognised for their incredible work. And I also want to say a huge thank-you to them for engaging with us during this busy period.
“For our part, IOSH will continue to provide the tools needed to do the job, and our ambitious enhancement programme, including our member grades review and improved arrangements for CPD, will ensure every member has the means to develop their competence and raise the standards of the profession.”
The focus now is to build on this momentum.
Read more about the survey from IOSH.
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