News

POST GRENFELL: A SAFE AND COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO A WAKING WATCH

March 2021

Clear – the safety and compliance specialist – is working to help landlords whose properties do not have a fire alarm system, but which feature potentially unsafe cladding, to address the crippling costs associated with paying for the waking watch required until the hazardous material is removed from the building.

Employing personnel to stay on site overnight and man fire exits within the building to ensure the safe egress and speedy evacuation of the premises, represents a major expenditure. More importantly, such initiatives are vulnerable to the scope for human error and rely on identifying and employing competent individuals.

To address this problem, Clear specified a temporary (wireless) basic L5 (localised fire protection) fire alarm system manufactured by Hi Fire that features heat/smoke detectors at all openings to any clad wall (i.e., windows and balcony doors) which can be installed in any building. If a fire breaks out, the alarm sounds and alerts the residents, effectively dispensing with the need for a waking watch service. Installing the temporary fire alarm system represents the rough equivalent of about one to two months of funding a waking watch. So, the new solution not only delivers a safer environment for the residents with less reliance on human intervention, but also represents a considerable financial saving, given that it will generally be more than three months before any cladding works can even commence.

Clear has already rolled out this system on behalf of one of its housing association clients. Although the concept of adopting a temporary system is not new, many landlords are concerned that they don’t have the requisite expertise or access to the appropriate resources to ensure a seamless, speedy installation and are fearful of being exposed to further risk. Clear oversaw the whole process from specifying the alarm system, including a detailed spec for contractors to price; performing a quality assessment of contractors to procure the best workforce (both in terms of quality of workmanship and price); issuing contract documents and managing the installation including a 10% post inspection regime and 100% provision of proof of works via Clear’s robust reporting system. The latter is vital as without evidence of commissioning and placement of fire detectors, a waking watch cannot be decommissioned. Finally, only when the team was satisfied with the evidence that all works had been completed to a satisfactory standard, Clear instructed final payment and commissioning of the alarm system.

Enhanced safety and proven adherence to the required compliance protocols, whilst still successfully reducing costs resulted in a win-win for both the residents and the landlord.

PROTECTING HOUSING DEVELOPERS POST GRENFELL

March 2021

Clear is delighted to be working with a major housing developer, to undertake periodic inspections of a number of its large-scale developments to provide unbiased evidence of the satisfactory completion of fire compartmentation works (quality, identification of remedials and completions) during the construction phase of each building.

The remit will require Clear to inspect each floor of the development, at the appropriate time, and upon completion of the entire block, to undertake a final inspection.

Commenting, Director Matthew Westby said:

“The decision to work with Clear is based on our ability to provide an impartial and informed risk assessment of the building, to demonstrate that all works are compliant with latest industry recommendations. This means that in the event of any future claims in relation to a fire incident at the development which spreads, the developer’s liability will not be in dispute. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, anyone purchasing a property in a residential block is going to want total reassurance that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that if disaster does strike and a fire breaks out, residents will not be trapped and the fire won’t spread in the same way as played out in the fateful events of 17th June 2017. And of course, developers need to take the necessary precautionary steps to be able to demonstrate compliance and therefore avoid costly litigation.”

Anyone purchasing a property will have access to Clear’s meticulous independent records which will serve as proof of the developer’s strong commitment to compliance.

BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT IS IT SAFE?

March 2021

As schools prepare to make a return to ‘normal’ service, the focus in recent times has been on Covid-secure measures, but those in charge of site safety and security should also ensure that this is not at the expense of other important health and safety considerations.

Clear, the safety and compliance specialist with a strong track record of working in the education sector, advises the following checks are made prior to opening up the school to normal pupil numbers next week:

• Carry out a site walk of the whole site. It's good to involve a senior leader as well as the site manager. Look out for issues around the perimeter such as harmful litter (for example discarded sharps in the grounds, smashed bottles) and broken or perished play equipment
• Review the standard of cleaning and housekeeping, ensure all electrics (switches/sockets) and lights work and are safe
• Check that all fire exits are clear and operational. Test the fire alarm system and make sure that all sounders and emergency mechanisms work (such as door releases and shutters). Make sure that all smoke/heat heads are uncovered (since these are often covered during work undertaken by contractors). Check fire doors to ensure they are operational and able to close with an effective good seal. Visually check all fire extinguishers to rule out any potential tampering / changed siting of extinguishers.
• Check that all plant room functions are fully operational
• Flush all water outlets thoroughly to clear any bacteriological build up. Descale any showerheads
• Test all emergency lighting
• If automated gates feature on the site, check that the photocells are not obstructed by debris / leaves and plants (similarly on a sliding gate, check that the runback is not constricted by build-up of leaves); check the foundations of the gate and gate posts are still secure; look for signs of wear and tear on the hinges and ram pivots; check control box is securely fixed and locked; check any audible warning / flashing light / general warning signs are still fitted and visible; check manual release and location of manual release keys. Book the routine maintenance visit if it is overdue
• Check windows and access points for any damage/vandalism
• Carry out visual inspections of all equipment such as machinery in DT/workshops, science labs, kitchens, sports equipment and lifts. If statutory examinations have lapsed during lockdown, take equipment out of service until these can be completed
• Carry out visual checks of the condition of known asbestos containing materials

February 2021

We’re thrilled to have our article on Fire Protection featured in School Building magazine. The article refers to the complexities associated with a school achieving compliance following a fire risk assessment – and how Clear Safety can help.

Read the full article here...

FIRE PROTECTION – NAVIGATING A CLEAR PATH TO COMPLIANCE

February 2021

According to research by Zurich Municipal, two-thirds of schools in England are not adequately prepared for a fire and there is little consistency in the approach to fire risk management amongst schools. With more than 1,000 fires in school premises every year costing an average of £2.8 million for more significant incidents, not to mention major disruption to the educational continuity of children, clearly fire protection will feature highly on schools’ health and safety agenda.

But while schools will undoubtedly be aware of the need to address fire protection, the fact that so many fires are still happening poses the question; are mistakes being made? Are risk assessments and their actions fully understood by site managers? And if so, what are the common misunderstandings?

Essential actions

Simply going through the motions of completing a fire risk assessment does not ensure a school is compliant. Key staff need to familiarize themselves with the findings and make a simple, prioritised plan to address the recommendations. Any competent fire risk assessment will include a rating of the risk level and actions will be a assigned a priority level. However, there are often lots of practical complexities (such as budgetary logistical considerations) as to why a school cannot simply address the actions in order of ‘high’, ‘medium’ and ‘low’ priority ratings. This leaves schools with a dilemma; How do they become compliant within the budget that is actually available? Are they doing enough? Or are they being too risk averse? A sensible balance needs to be struck and this is where an understanding of a ‘reasonable and proportionate’ response is essential. For example, an assessor will often state ‘recommend doors are inspected and, where not compliant, replaced’. Or another favourite is ‘check and replace all intumescent strips on fire doors’. While this is informed and appropriate advice it must also be considered that many schools have hundreds of doors and at a cost of nearly £2-3k each, it is not reasonable to expect every single one to be ‘perfect’. Similarly, ‘compartmentation and fire stopping’ and following through on recommendations to investigate these areas of the building for fire-rated materials can involve expensive investigations carried out by a building surveyor in order to identify if areas are sufficiently compartmentalised. But is this a reasonable expectation?

The risk assessment may be overwhelming, identifying a plethora of issues that require improvement and which will all contribute to enhanced fire protection, but in reality how can a school site achieve 100% ‘compliance’ within the budget that is available? The legislation governing health and safety compliance allows for ‘reasonability’. But how can a school interpret what is reasonable in order to make the right decisions and spend money in the right areas to the greatest effect, without the potential of being exposed to unacceptable risk or even prosecution?

Completed works may not equal compliance

Even when improvement works are undertaken, how can a school be confident that they are to the correct specification, without running up further costs to fund another independent risk assessment? School staff may not necessarily be fully conversant with what a robust evidential trail looks like for the completion of these works and so will not know what to ask for.

A risk assessment will provide a comprehensive overview of the site but some of the recommendations will require specialist knowledge to interpret the level of action required. Equally, not all findings can be logistically actioned, so what should the school do to demonstrate a commitment to compliance? Are there any additional control measures that the school should be introducing to mitigate the risk for instance?

Engaging contractors

When addressing the need to undertake any essential remedial works, the school needs to understand the full financial ramifications. But how does the school know what constitutes a fair and reasonable estimate?

In situations where a school provides a contractor with the fire risk assessment and asks for an estimate of the works required, a lot of trust is placed in the contractor. Are they actually helping to identify the essential works whilst also looking after the school budget, as opposed to putting their own interests first? Do they have the necessary knowledge to complete the works that will help with site compliance?

Similarly, without the requisite specialist knowledge, how can a school advise the contractor on what needs to be done and what does not need to be done? And, if after engaging a contractor to undertake specific actions, an inspector deems the school to still be non-compliant, what happens then?

Navigating the school through an improvement programme in response to a fire risk assessment is complex, time-consuming and fraught with the potential for error and poor decisions around spending budgets. Engaging a specialist company that is 100% impartial and independent – i.e., not incentivised by the amount of expenditure on remedial works and always has the school’s best interests at heart - is the solution. Clear Safety can manage the entire programme for a school, from undertaking the fire risk assessment, through to advice on the works required, collating evidence of all completed work before payments are made and achieving compliance. Alternatively, we can work with an existing risk assessment, engaging with contractors and interpreting the findings on behalf of the school. Clear Safety has the requisite knowledge and extensive experience to help your school achieve compliance, whilst minimising cost!

By Stuart Letley, Director, Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner, Clear Safety

CLEAR PATH TO ISO CERTIFICATION SUCCESS

November 2020:

Clear Safety (Clear), the safety and compliance management consultancy, is celebrating ISO certification in three separate categories:

• Quality Management and Control
• Environmental Management
• Health and Safety Management.

The company, which has an established track record in providing safety and compliance support in the education and housing association sectors, was awarded the certification following a full UKAS approved audit, with three assessors from ISOQAR auditing Clear over three days this year. Clear sailed through the process, resulting in the highly regarded recognition of compliance to the following standards:

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 45001.

In addition to the ISO endorsement, the team at Clear boasts a number of further relevant industry safety accreditations including:

• NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting)
  • electrician
  • renewable energy installers
  • plumbers and gas
  • heating engineer safety awareness
• CHAS (The Contractors’ Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) - Premier status
• Gas Safe - gas safety awareness
• Gate Safe - automated gate safety awareness.

Commenting on the recent ISO approval, managing director Stuart Letley said,

“It is imperative that as a business, Clear can evidence the highest level of competency and understanding of the sectors in which it delivers specialist safety / compliance counsel. We spend much of our time reviewing the safety protocol of our clients across various aspects of their business, in addition to ensuring that any personnel contracted to work on site are able to demonstrate the requisite skills and expertise to deliver best-in-class results. It is therefore wholly appropriate to apply the same exacting criteria and standards to our own business. We are delighted to have achieved this certification and remain dedicated to continually seeking to improve and evolve our own business operations.”