“Stand up and be counted for public safety” urges Fire Aware’s CEO

Fire Aware’s CEO Gavin Skelly firmly believes those practitioners who adopt the highest standards of Best Practice should be proud of their stance as opposed to those who still seek to cut corners.

“There’s a growing demand from the public and decision-makers in the supply chains to meet and exceed fire safety requirements,” stated Kelly. “The Building Safety Act 2022 references competence and what it means in terms of knowledge, qualifications and skills. However, members of the public don’t know what competence looks like technically and neither should they be expected to, but they do have a right to expect reassurance that they’re safe when moving around in our towns and cities.”

Further, Skelly commented: “Best Practice every time should be the norm, but that’s not the case. We will continue to demand the highest standards technically and morally to ensure that people and the buildings they inhabit are safe.”

According to Skelly, the public has a right to know they’re protected by the actions and behaviours of those duty holders responsible for putting fire safety measures in place (including those who procure products and services, install them and assess them).

Culture change

“If we are to change the cultural landscape in the fire sector,” observed Skelly, “we must shift the market to provide the public and the supply chains with an identity of that responsible provider. When lives are at stake, providing the consumer with a choice to make about their service provider’s behaviour is every bit as important as identifying their technical ability.”

Fire Aware’s members commit to a Code of Conduct and specific Charters, which take the safety process beyond legislation. The members abide by them. “This is a vocation, not a job, and we should not forget that,” affirmed Skelly.

“That means following the Codes of Practice and legislation and even exceeding them to ensure the public can sleep at night with peace of mind. We still come across instances where safety has been breached by cutting corners to save money. We need commitment and transparency in the way that companies and responsible people do business when safety is at risk.”

Skelly has also emphasised that the fire safety principles are relevant to any sector which relies on Best Practice including the retail industry, hospitality, stadiums, healthcare and the public infrastructure.

Moral and ethical behaviours

Dame Judith Hackitt has called for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours. That ‘Call to Action’ has been supported by the Building Safety Regulator that was created to promote competence and higher standards.

The Building Safety Regulator, of course, sits at the heart of the Government’s mission to create safe communities, support economic growth and deliver 1.5 million high-quality homes for residents. Its role is part of the drive to advance building safety and restore confidence in the safety of people’s homes.