Following increased fire safety awareness in schools and colleges an interactive ?toolkit? has been launched to enable head teachers and the ?responsible person? to comply with the new legislation.

Many schools and colleges are still unaware of the new legislation or do not understand their requirements. The Regulatory Reform Order 2005 now requires that the ?responsible person? i.e. the head teacher or premises manager conducts and takes responsibility for fire safety requirements within the premises.

Regular inspections are carried out by the fire service to ensure requirements such as fire safety training and safety signs are in place. Fire certificates are no longer valid, and in fact, all previous fire safety legislation has now been replaced with the new order.

With low budgets and busy schedules, researching and conforming to the new legislation can be a daunting task. The new ?toolkit? enables schools and colleges to conform to requirements without high costs and enables staff to be trained internally.

The toolkit comprises of a CD and DVD package to enable the head teacher or premises manager to comply with all new requirements. It includes:

- A Pre Assessment checklist: Enabling you to gather and collate all the details of the premises relating to fire safety prior to completing your Fire Risk Assessment.

- Risk Assessment Form: This document can be completed in five easy steps with a summary sheet which can be quickly referred to by an inspecting officer. The Fire Risk Assessment is now a legal requirement where more than 5 members of staff are employed.

- Specimen Fire Safety Policy / Management Plan: It is a legal requirement that any organisation must possess a written Health and Safety Policy; this document can simply be downloaded and completed to save time in compiling your own document.

- Arson Alert: Schools and Colleges are one of the main organisations affected by arson; the toolkit contains useful guidance on the prevention of arson in and around the property.

- Electrical Safety: Useful guidance on how to detect simple electrical faults, these are the second largest cause of fires and are often not recognised accurately.

- Fire Safety Quiz: A multiple choice quiz is included based upon the full induction staff training PowerPoint presentation. This ensures your staff have attained a level of competence in their fire safety training.

- Certificate: A downloadable certificate is included to be presented to employees following successful completion of training. It is vital to retain a record of all fire training given in your fire safety log book.

- Staff Training PowerPoint Presentation: This is for the first day induction of new employees, temporary or agency staff. Running time of approximately 10 minutes the presentation contains all the information a new employee requires with regards to fire safety.

- Full Induction PowerPoint Presentation: This training package covers everything from the action to take upon discovering a fire through to knowledge and awareness of the use of extinguishers on small fires. Linked with the quiz this provides full training for permanent staff.

- Fire Prevention PowerPoint Presentation: This presentation provides basic information to the cause of fires in schools and colleges including details to prevent arson.

- Fire Law History PowerPoint Presentation: This presentation takes a light hearted look at the history of fire law ? which dates back as far as the Romans! This can be useful for re-training staff in fire safety matters.

- Risk Assessment PowerPoint Presentation: A step by step guide on how to complete that vital risk assessment procedure. Use this in conjunction with the pre-assessment check list and risk assessment form.

- Management of Fire Safety PowerPoint Presentation: A short presentation providing advice on how to set up a management system in schools and colleges.

- Arson PowerPoint Presentation: The problem of arson in schools and colleges - Escape Routes PowerPoint Presentation: Escape routes in schools and colleges

- Evacuation PowerPoint Presentation: The requirements to ensure all students and staff vacate the premises as quickly as possible when the alarm is sounded

- Kitchen and Cooking PowerPoint Presentation: Specific advice relating to schools catering facilities

- Workshop Tips PowerPoint Presentations: Health and Safety in workshops

- Safe Storage PowerPoint Presentation: Safe storage of chemical substances ? especially those used by students in labs

- Responsible and Competent Person PowerPoint Presentation: Definitions and requirements

- Electrical Safety PowerPoint Presentations: Maintaining electrical safety in schools and colleges

- Flammable Liquids PowerPoint Presentations: The safe use and storage of flammable liquids.

The toolkit also contains web links to the Disability Right?s Commission?s advice on fire evacuation; a link giving Evacuation Plan advice, plus a link to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service?s website ? the lead authority for providing advice on the new legislation.

Additionally there are links to Teachernet and the document ?Managing School Environments?

The DVD enables training to take place without the requirement of a computer, not only can this protect your data but enable new staff to be trained quickly and easily without disrupting other daily duties.

The toolkit has been purchased in bulk by numerous councils to implement within their schools and colleges including Bournemouth Borough Council who were so impressed they commissioned the toolkit for Fire Safety in Places of Assembly. Four toolkits have been produced in total with the fifth ? fire safety in HMO?s due to launch in early November.

For further information or to purchase your toolkit please email georgie.knight@means-of-escape.com

MORE THAN £22 MILLION WORTH OF FIRE DAMAGE IN SCHOOLS DURING 2003

PSAssociates are proud to announce they have been appointed as a 'preferred supplier' to Hampshire County Council for the supply of cd-rom training materials, training courses and consultancy.