Experts call for national register of fire risk assessors08 October 2010The need for a national register of fire risk assessors to help drive out ‘cowboys’ is to be highlighted at Firex North later this month. Simon Ince, manager for personnel certification schemes at Warrington Certification, will call for the standardisation of competence assessment to help create a single listing of competent fire risk assessors across the UK. So far, the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has supported the call for a unified register. Other stakeholder organisations are said to be looking at the merits of the proposal. “We know there is a real need for such a register, said Mr Ince. “We will be asking for further support at Firex North and we believe this is a critical issue for the industry to tackle. A national register would offer the responsible person/duty holders a level of protection which has thus far been unavailable. “Unfortunately, the ‘cowboys’ within the industry are not easy to spot. The end user urgently needs protection, as it is they who are ultimately in the firing line when a serious fire occurs and subsequent prosecution follows.” Two further presentations on fire risk assessor competency and accreditation – from Nick Coombe, CFOA lead on enforcement policy and from Stephen Adams, general manager of BAFE – will also be held Firex North takes place at Manchester Central on 27-28 October 2010. Click here for full seminar timetable.    |
