FEATURE FIRE SAFETY
VEHICLE FIRE SAFETY
Fire Shield Systems has worked with DS Smith to improve safety for its packaging, paper and recycling processes.
“T
he safety of our fleet operators is our priority, it comes before anything else,” says
Danny Fairhead, site support manager, DS Smith Paper. “It’s essential that our vehicles’ fire detection and suppression solutions support that effectively.” DS Smith is a world-leading provider of
sustainable packaging solutions, recycling services and paper products, strategically supporting businesses’ entire packaging supply cycles in over 30 different countries. In 2020, DS Smith began working with Fire
Shield Systems/Dafo UK & Ireland to protect its people, assets and the environment from fire risk.
CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS “Due to the nature of our industry, vehicles on DS Smith sites across the globe operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week,” says Fairhead. “Our vehicles are replaced every five years to
ensure they remain fit for purpose. It’s a big job, and ensuring they are protected to maximise their lifespan is crucial. “During operations, trucks and other fleet
vehicles can generate very high temperatures. By the nature of our company, this risk is heightened, as vehicles are regularly in use around paper and other combustible materials. “As a result, to maximise site safety –
protecting both our people and our assets – it’s essential that each of these vehicles is equipped with a fire detection and suppression solution, tailored to its individual risks. “We’ve worked with a number of systems in
the past, but when tested, they didn’t always perform to the high standards that we expect. “We wanted to find a system that we could
trust and rely on to protect our people, should an emergency occur.”
THE SAFEST SOLUTION “Many of our trucks are currently supplied and/or maintained by Linde. We came across Fire Shield Systems/Dafo UK & Ireland as the team has done a lot of work with Linde’s vehicles for them in the past.
18 SUMMER 2021 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE
WEDGING R
esults from a survey conducted by a manufacturer of fire safety
technology, Geofire, found that 53 per cent of fire safety professionals have seen an increase in fire doors being wedged open since the start of the pandemic. The survey, which was completed to
“After liaising with the team, we decided to go
with their Dafo Vehicle solution, as it demonstrated reliable capabilities and we deemed it to be the best on the market. “The Dafo system allows for a fully automated
response in the event of a fire, as it alerts the driver to the presence of flames, smoke or heat, enabling safe evacuation and deploying the extinguishing agent. The driver is our priority, but the way the system operates will hopefully save our vehicles too.”
A BESPOKE AND COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM “The Dafo system is tailored to our individual vehicles and their risks through a bespoke application process. “It also perfectly supplements our existing risk
mitigation processes, which include our regular cleaning regimes and incident reporting processes. “We haven’t yet tested the system in a real
emergency – that’s the real test. Although we hope we never have to, we’ve every confidence it will perform to the highest standard, effectively ensuring the safety of our teams for years to come.”
Fire Shield Systems
www.fireshieldsystemsltd.co.uk
gain an insight into how COVID-19 has impacted the fire safety industry over the last 12 months, highlighted key themes such as the impact of financial pressure following the pandemic. Eighty-four per cent of the respondents
identified that financial pressure has made businesses less likely to carry out fire safety maintenance and improvements. One Health and Safety advisor, said: "Fire will not stop for COVID-19, employers still have an obligation to keep people and premises fire safe”. Over the last 12 months, the COVID-19
pandemic has dominated the world with the necessary, but disruptive nature of lock-downs and restrictions impacting day to day business across the UK. Despite the turbulent year, the risk a fire poses to life and property remains unchanged. Geofire warns that businesses must
continue to ensure that their fire safety is not only compliant, but adapted to facilitate the added challenge of the on- going pandemic. The report highlights that fire safety professionals believe there is a lack of awareness in businesses around the importance of fire safety, with 37 per cent stating that infection control measures have had a negative impact.
Geofire
www.geofire.co.uk
/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE
INCREASE IN FIRE DOOR
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