Assistant Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is urging communities to be as vigilant as ever in terms of fire and road safety during the industrial action planned for the 30th November, but he reassures the public that despite some internal organisational disruption SWFRS will provide the same high level of response to fires and other emergencies that the public expect.

Unite, Unison, GMB and the National Association of Head Teachers are among those that are intending to take industrial action from Tuesday 29th November until midnight Wednesday 30th November, allowing any member of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service personnel that is a member of those unions to protest in the form of strike action.

The number of SWFRS staff expected to make a protest is low and operational staff will not be affected, as the majority of Operational staff are members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and they have chosen not to ballot at this point.  The Service will therefore continue to respond to emergency calls as usual and SWFRS expects a speedy and safe return to normality on conclusion of any period of industrial action.

Rod Hammerton, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, explained; “Whilst South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority understand why staff are taking industrial action The Fire and Rescue Authority has a duty and an obligation to ensure that the provision of services to the public remains as unaffected as is reasonably practicable”.

He continued; “Whilst I understand the concerns of staff in relation to pension arrangements, with the proposed changes affecting many people in a wide range of organisations across the public sector, my number one priority is to ensure public safety and a consistent public service.”

He explained that in order to provide reassurance to communities, safety advice and guidance for the public is widely available through the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service website, social network sites on Facebook and Twitter, as well as through the local news. But he stressed the importance of the following advice in the event of a fire;

Prevention is best - paying extra attention to fire safety in the home.
If a fire does start - get out, stay out and call 999
Don’t be tempted to tackle a fire yourself.

“Business owners also need to ensure that their fire risk assessment is up to date and ensure that their premises remain safe from fire during periods of industrial action. Below are some fire safety tips for home owners and business owners”:

Fire safety in the home:
Smoke Alarms - Install a smoke alarm on every floor of your home and test them regularly. Batteries should be checked once a week and changed at least once a year.

Cooking - Take special care when cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. Do not fill a chip pan more than one-third full. Never put food in a chip pan if the oil begins to smoke – turn off the heat and leave to cool. Never cook under the influence of alcohol.

Candles - Do not use candles too close to curtains. Never leave candles unattended. Always ensure that candles are extinguished properly.

Matches - Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.

Smoking Materials - Always use a proper ashtray. Extinguish smoking materials properly. Never smoke in bed.

Escape Plan - Plan your escape route with everyone, always include children and the elderly. Close all doors at night and switch off at the plug any electrical appliances not in use.

Open Fires - Guard all open fires. Do not dry clothes too close to an open fire.

Electrical - Replace worn or damaged leads. Use correct fuses for household appliances. Test electric blankets annually. Do not overload sockets.

Business Owners:
To ensure that your premises remain safe from fire during periods of industrial action:
Business owners should firstly undertake a review of their Fire Risk Assessment and if any changes are needed, implement those as a matter of importance.  Precautions should also be made to prevent the occurrence of a fire.  This might be as simple as walking around the building at the end of the working day to ensure that there are no combustible materials in the vicinity of the property. 

Owners will also need to ensure that procedures for reducing the chances of a fire starting are well understood by all members of staff and that everybody remains alert to the dangers from fire.  What each owner will need to do is dependant on their own Fire Risk Assessment.

During any period of industrial action, the responsibility for maintaining the fire precautions within the premises of the business remains with the ‘Responsible Person’ for the property and therefore, business owners are advised to ensure that everything is in place, in accordance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, in order to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the premises.

Rod Hammerton concluded; “If any member of the public needs to call South Wales Fire and Rescue Service regarding a non-urgent matter it would help us if they considered waiting an extra day to make that call”.