A train operator’s experience of the effect of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order was one of the presentations given at a Rail Industry Fire Association meeting held earlier this month.
Explaining Southern Rail’s experience managing fire safety under the Order, Ross Thornton set out the company’s plans to reduce the level of arson, assess key risks and mitigate them, and to identify and control fire assets. He emphasised the link between good fire safety management and the positive travelling experience of customers, and how the consequent reduction in downtime improved the company’s bottom line.
Peter Stephenson of Kingfell gave a fire consultant’s view, highlighting the need for early involvement of all parties, including the fire engineer and those who are to manage and use the building after refurbishment or construction. He built on Ross Thornton’s presentation on the development of management procedures for premises such as stations, transport hubs and heritage sites.
Giving a regulator’s view of CFD analysis, London Fire Brigade’s Alan Taylor highlighted the need to plan and understand the goals for a building, as well as the shape and layout of the structure. He gave a clear and concise message as to what was expected when presenting CFD and evacuation models to the London Fire Brigade and – in the spirit of the day – captured the need for prospective managers of the premises to understand the assumptions made in these models, and what they mean to their everyday operations.
Chris Keylock of Network Rail rounded off the presentations with a talk on emergency planning, highlighting the need to educate not only front line staff but also emergency and voluntary personnel who may need to enter railway premises and track areas. He explained the Network Rail approach to emergency planning, and how the different levels of control effectively made the location of the incident safe not only for those affected by the incident, but also those whose job it was to deal with it.
Andy James, RIFA chairman, outlined the goals of the association, explaining the work undertaken by the special interest groups and highlighting the success of the RIFA risk assessment template, published in September 2008. The business plan for 2009/10, due to be ratified at the AGM on 1 June, describes the work of the association, and can be found at www.rifa-rail.com.
