REPORT REFERENCE NO.	CSCPC/16/6
MEETING	COMMUNITY SAFETY & CORPORATE PLANNING COMITTEE
DATE OF MEETING	28 SEPTEMBER 2016
SUBJECT OF REPORT	BUSINESS SAFETY
LEAD OFFICER	Neil Blackburn – Area Manager (Community Safety)
RECOMMENDATIONS	That the report be noted.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	Business Safety is the ‘new’ term or name used for Community Safety Fire Protection. This is in alignment with national approaches of other fire and rescue services thus promoting consistency and clarity in the role of the Business Safety teams. This report sets out the approach being taken within the Department to improve community safety
RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS	None identified at this stage
EQUALITY RISKS AND BENEFITS ANALYSIS (ERBA)	None identified at this stage
APPENDICES	None
LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS	none

1.	INTRODUCTION

1.1	Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) has a duty under section 6 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to make provision for the purpose of promoting fire safety in its area. It also has a duty to give advice on request about how to prevent fires and restrict their spread in buildings, as well advice on means of escape from building and other property in case of fire.

1.2	The Service also has a duty under Article 26 to enforce the provisions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO).

1.3	This legislation underpins the statutory fire safety activities that the Service delivers.

2.	BUSINESS SAFETY

2.1	Business Safety is the ‘new’ term or name used for Community Safety Fire Protection.

This is in alignment with national approaches of other fire and rescue services thus promoting consistency and clarity in the role of the Business Safety teams.

2.2	The department name change has prompted a review of the titles used for staff working in the Business Safety teams within the Service so the following terms have been identified as suitable for identifying the roles and activities of staff.

3.	NEW JOB OR ROLE TITLES

3.1	The new role titles are set out below:

Business Safety manager - formerly Community Safety Protection Manager

Business Safety Policy Officer – formerly CS Protection Policy officer

Business Safety Legal Action Officer – formerly CS Protection Policy and Project Support officer

Business Safety Call Reduction Officer – formerly Call Reduction Manager

Business Safety Training Manager – Based at Service Training Centre, and responsible for delivery and provision of Business Safety training and development needs.

Business Safety team leader - GST based previously known as Local Risk Managers (6 x SMs - one in each Group)

Business Safety Officer – formerly Fire Protection Officer and Non Operational Fire Safety Officer, title applies to both ‘grey’ and ‘green’ book staff (various provision in each Group)

Business Safety Advisor – is a new term which is to be used by anyone delivering Business Safety activities and not falling into any of the above categories, for example completing fire safety checks as operational fire crews, or as advocates or as part of a Business Engagement of Support Team. More on this later.

Business Safety Engagement Officers – specially trained officer working to engage and support businesses, towards compliance with interpersonal skills which promote a positive relationship between the Fire Service and business community, the focus is not on enforcement or detailed knowledge in fire safety – suitable for advocate or similar role.

4.	STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE

4.1	The ‘strategy for Business Safety’ delivery does not need a radical overhaul, however, there are opportunities for improvements and introduction of new targeting processes which improve the intelligence led approach to identifying risk.

4.2	The Service’s Corporate Plan opens with an introduction by Chief Fire Officer, Lee Howell and Chairman of the Fire & Rescue Authority, Mark Healy titled ‘Creating Safer Communities’ and a vision ‘to make Devon and Somerset a ‘safer place to live, work and visit’’.

4.3	This is supported by the mission ‘to act to protect and save - to prevent emergencies, create safer communities and respond, when required, in order to save life’. Only preventing emergencies will ensure the safety of everyone in our community, responding in a timely manner and with adequate resources does not guarantee this. To prevent or reduce emergencies, the Service must ensure the strategy for supporting the safety message is robust and intelligence led.

4.4	The Service has a good record in respect of preventing injuries and death from fires in buildings where the Fire Safety Order applies, with zero fire deaths for the last four years or more. However, our staff cannot be complacent and with ever diminishing resources, the Service needs to ensure that resources are targeted where they are needed most, and some of the plans we aim to implement over the next 6 months or so will contribute greatly to ensuring this. This will form the basis for the years to come and is a journey of continuous monitoring and improvement.

5.	VISION OF BUSINESS SAFETY

5.1	Business Safety will promote engagement and partnership with businesses and the community to achieve ‘Safer, Healthier and Prosperous Communities’. Businesses will receive the same advice and information to help make sure they can remain open and, where issues arise, the Service will be consistent in how we enforce our work.

5.2	To achieve this we will provide advice that is:

Free of charge

In a variety of formats

Bespoke

Designed to limit enforcement activity, unless absolutely necessary

5.3	In addition to inspections under the Fire Safety Order, the Department will also undertake the following activities:

Business research and development;

Partner engagement;

Business presentations, seminars, workshops, meetings, forums;

Risk reduction campaigns and initiatives;

Business continuity and management;

Arson prevention and management;

Media and communications – leaflet, posters, blizzards, press release;

Website development and management – videos and guidance documents;

National campaigns and post incident activity;

Business engagement and advice;

The Business Safety Support Engagement/support advantages are:

Less fires in commercial premises

Reduced demand on firefighting resources

Enhanced firefighter safety

Less fire safety Enforcement

Less chance of prosecution, fines and imprisonment

6.	AN INTELLIGENCE LED INSPECTION STRATEGY

6.1	The Service has already targeted intelligence led inspection strategy, but in the coming months it is going to be in a position to enhance this greatly.

6.2	In addition to the existing data used to create the inspection strategy used by Groups, DSFRS have adopted a comprehensive mapping system called Community Mapping or CMAP which replaces our existing tool with many more layers of detail to filter in or out specific target groups, both in the Prevention and Business Safety world.

6.3	On its own this would be a great tool and would improve targeting, however, we are in the process of purchasing a Business Safety ‘premises type and risk analysis tool’ (no confirmed title yet, but likely to be known as FRED – Fire Risk Event Data) which it is hoped will allow us to focus more sharply on premises which have been identified (using a complex algorithmic programme) as premises or business types most likely to have a fire in the next 12 months (sounds far-fetched but it has had proof testing).

6.4	As we have not fully run this programme against our premises types and assessed against our existing inspection strategy – visiting and inspecting buildings with highest risk based on sleeping and then life risk, there may need to be some interpretation of the data, and innovating thinking on how it is used.

6.5	It is envisaged that the data will identify sleeping risks currently unknown to us, and business types with a risk of fire but not necessarily falling into the ‘life risk inspection strategy’.

6.6	Premises falling outside of the life risk strategy, but identified as having a risk of fire due to process or premises type, should still attract an intervention from the Business Safety teams (BSTs), as they are important in creating the safer communities, preventing injuries (including to our staff) and promoting prosperity.

6.7	This is the cornerstone of Business Safety and will be promoted through the deployment of Business Safety Advisors (BSAs) and Business Engagement teams.

6.8	The format and set up of these teams is yet to be established, but there are several models already being used by other Fire and Rescue Services that are worth exploring.

6.9	Inspections and business support for complex premises with or without life risks will be co-ordinated by the Business Safety leads (BSLs), in consultation with the Business Safety Manager (BSM).

6.10	The key objective of the involvement of the BSM in the targeting strategy is to ensure there is a balanced and consistent approach to types of premises inspected.

6.11	The development of the inspection strategy is due to commence in October 2016 with trials starting soon after with an aim to be fully embedded in the inspection plans by April 2017.

6.12	The Service’s Data Hub team leader will oversee the implementation of the new programme and will assist in developing an inspection programme, working closely with the Business Safety Manager and the Business Safety Team Leaders.

7.	CONCLUSION

7.1	That the report be noted.

NEIL BLACKBURN

Area Manager – Community Safety