WIREDGOV

The first two of the new Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance: Generic Risk Assessments (GRA) to be published offer guidance on:
• Turning out and arriving at the scene of an incident, and
• Flashover and backdraught fires.

The revised GRA guidance reflects modern good practice and changes in health and safety legislation, as well as occupational health and welfare management.

The new publications are the result of work by a team from the Office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser (CFRA), working closely with the Fire and Rescue Services in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Health and Safety Executive, representative bodies and others in the fire sector.

The Government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Sir Ken Knight said:
“The new Generic Risk Assessment guidance should inspire the confidence of both the service and the public. The Fire and Rescue Services will now be in a stronger position to improve firefighter and public safety, and improve interoperability between FRSs as they are all working to the same guidance. It will also help them to fulfil their statutory and compliance responsibilities. The involvement of the Fire and Rescue Service, the representative bodies and others in the production of this important guidance was vital.”

Fire Minister Shahid Malik said:
“I want to thank all of the organisations involved in producing this vital new guidance. Everyone in the fire and rescue service community from strategic managers to front line firefighters will clearly find this important reading. Others who work closely with the Fire and Rescue Service at emergency incidents will also find it of use when creating their own incident safety guidance.”

The new guidance, which replaces risk management documents that were originally published in the late 1990s, will be issued at a rate of two topics a month until the end of 2010.

The next topics in the series to be published in the coming months are:
• Working at heights;
• Roads;
• Ice and unstable ground;
• Incidents involving asbestos;
• Trench and pit rescue;
• Incidents involving biological hazard.

The Health and Safety guidance review project manager Derek Clough, who has been involved in the development of the GRA guidance since the start, said:
“The responses received during the consultation were very positive. The review team has worked hard to ensure that key stakeholders were consulted early and throughout the production process to ensure that the guidance truly reflects good practice. The team is continuing to work with the Fire and Rescue Service, associations and representative bodies throughout the UK to produce the subsequent GRAs.”
For more information and access to an online forum for operational guidance log on to: www.communities.gov.uk/cfra Comments can be emailed to: operationalguidance@communities.gsi.gov.uk

Also published today is the Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance - National Coordination and Advisory Framework which describes the responsibilities of the Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and other bodies in managing the FRS response to a catastrophic and large-scale emergency.

Major incidents require extensive resources, logistical support and specialist advice and guidance. While existing arrangements have ensured that these incidents have been dealt with effectively, the need for a more formal framework has been evident to the sector.

The new National Co-Ordination and Advisory Framework includes the roles and responsibilities of:
• the Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser;
• Communities and Local Government’s Emergency Room;
• National Coordination Centre;
• Regional Resilience Fora;
• National Resilience Assurance Team;
• Advisers with expert knowledge for example of hazardous materials, and
• the management of the strategic holding area of equipment and other resources.

Notes to editors
Generic Risk Assessments: Introduction can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/graintro

Generic Risk Assessment 1.1: Emergency response and arrival at the scene can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/gra11

Generic Risk Assessment 5.8: Flashover, backdraught and fire gas ignitions can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/gra58

Fire and Rescue Service Operational Guidance National Co-ordination and Advisory Framework can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/opguidancencaf


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