Bemused

[johno12345]

I am glad that I am not the RP, the hints from the duty holder suggest otherwise

I have been told not to contact the insurance company as they will likely tell us to replace the fire alarm!

Contacting the FB is a step I wouldnt like to tread, at least not at the moment, I will see what happens when the reports are all complete and signed for.

The HSE is visiting soon, I wonder if they will want to see the fire RA's Could make for interesting reading. I suppose it depends on how far they take enforcing the Health and Safety Safety Signs and Signals regulations.

The sirens are a mix of "Strident" and "Master Blaster" type sounders and, yes, they are the ghost train ones. When there was a fault and I was stood near one, I had ringing in the ears for several hours after. You can feel your ears vibrating - not pleasant. Now I have ear defenders.  You cant communicate when they go off as you cant hear anyone else or machines or fork trucks etc. It is a truly deafening situation. It would be comical if it wasnt so important.

[Ken Taylor]

So, are you the person required to complete the fire risk assessments on behalf of Management? If so, you could record the weekly sounder tests as required control measures - which would highlight the issue further.

We had moans about sounders from teachers in a school a few years ago when a new addressable system was installed to include a distinctive note for lesson change notification. You could hear the sound travelling all around the building from one end to the other - but after a few weeks they just got used to it and stopped complaining.

[messy]

To answer in order:

The fire brigade do call around periodically as we are a high risk site but they only are familiarising themselves so they dont fall in the pit again. They rarely pass comment on the building or fire alarms. They do occasionally ask to see the fire alarm but we only show him the control panel for the server room HFC system - he sees a 24V panel and is happy.

"Penny wise, pound foolish" describes this guy to a tee

Another slight lie from mgmt was that there is nothing flammable in one half of the factory, the oil is all water based. Then I discover that we have 20,000 gallons of warm mineral oil sloshing about the place!

.

Johno

Do I understand you correctly? If you are owning up to giving false information to the Brigade - ie showing the 24v panel and hiding the 240v system- tread very carefully indeed.

As a Inspecting Officer, I am only too aware that punters are often economical with the truth. From hiding wedges to moving stock around, even on one ocassion moving a solitary extinguisher around the building to make it look like the building had plenty of FFE!!

Personally, I don't give a monkeys whether they lie or not. I write up my findings on what I see or have been told, then I relax happy that I have done my job properly.

After all, if it all goes tits up, it won't be me in the dock!!

If you (or others) are knowingly covering up for a poor management, I suggest the description of "Penny wise, pound foolish" applies to you

[Graeme]

So, are you the person required to complete the fire risk assessments on behalf of Management? If so, you could record the weekly sounder tests as required control measures - which would highlight the issue further.

We had moans about sounders from teachers in a school a few years ago when a new addressable system was installed to include a distinctive note for lesson change notification. You could hear the sound travelling all around the building from one end to the other - but after a few weeks they just got used to it and stopped complaining.

i get loads of complaints about the noise from the sounders,but the bottom line is that they are not meant to like the noise,it's designed to get people out the building.
same goes for the fault sounder when i get complaints.That's the whole point that it gets your attention from a very un-ignorable beep.The only way to fully stop it is to call an engineer for help/advice.

[johno12345]

I carry out the fire risk assessments. I will add a specific comment about weekly testing as it is more general at the moment.  People dont seem to get that the whole point is that you shouldnt be hanging around sipping tea and eating biscuits when the alarm goes off.

I think it may be that we are slightly economical with the truth:

FB: Can we see you fire alarm panel?
Us: Certainly, here it is, complete with test stickers etc.
FB: Jolly good
Us I hope he doesnt want to see the other 4

I never have and never will cover up for management, just not in my nature.

I will be relaxing when I have completed all the RAs and emergency plan.

I do worry about the workers, especially the lone office worker at night, if there were a fire downstairs, I would hate to be there.