Changing behaviour is “key to future safety” states Fire Aware

As membership of Fire Aware continues to grow in the wake of a significant presence and engagement at The Fire Safety Event in late April, the organisation is increasingly witnessing those responsible at different levels taking their duty of care for public safety that much more seriously.

Dame Judith Hackitt, of course, has called for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours, with support from the Building Safety Regulator, itself created to ‘promote competence and higher standards’.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly observed: “Changing established behaviour can be difficult, notably so across different disciplines whether you are a contractor, subcontractor, asset owner or manager. However, it makes the difference between meeting the cultural change that’s needed or not.”

According to Skelly: “Actions do speak louder than words. Adopting Best Practice above the minimum requirements of compliance can feel like an unnecessary step, yet it’s a valuable USP for any business with a Duty of Care in the post-Grenfell era.”

Further, Skelly noted: “Working in this industry is more than a job. Fire safety is a vocation. Adopting that attitude of mind, which then turns into actions and behaviours. is how we will make this happen. Dame Judith Hackitt asked for behavioural change and this is a central principle of our organisation.”

In addition, Skelly observed: “Many are joining us as members because they want to sign up to our Code of Conduct which binds us all together. Many members follow our Code and their charter conditions for their own sector, which we apply. This is a unified network that understands the vocational commitment for protecting people’s safety.”

Obligation to fire safety

Skelly explained that all of those involved in design, construction, management, maintenance and letting in the built environment need to understand that they have an obligation to fire safety even if their business isn’t directly connected with fire specialisms.

Sectors which are particularly vulnerable to fire risk include the hospitality sector – populated by many bars, restaurants and hotels which are trusted to protect their customers - and healthcare, which has to protect many vulnerable and elderly people (including those who cannot look after themselves in the event of a real fire).

For its part, Fire Aware continues to focus on the moral responsibility of all those working in the fire safety supply chain including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other key stakeholders.

In essence, the organisation aims to change the culture of the built environment sector by introducing a moral Code of Conduct via a series of charters designed to influence how member companies behave in upholding their Duty of Care.

Fire Aware’s members are focused on working and trading responsibly, always observing Best Practice standards in the interests of the safety of the general public.

*Further information is available online at www.fireaware.org