Lancashire Community Safety Strategy - Research Proposal Example

Name : xxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxx Title : Lancashire Community Safety Strategy Institution : xxxxxxx @2010 1. Title of the proposal: Lancashire Community Safety Strategy 2. Introduction Safety is one of the most important reassurances needed by human beings. Wherever one works or stays, there is a call for safety. In this, Lancashire is not an exception and so the need to know how to handle the safety of this very region. This is the key and sole reason why Lancashire fire and rescue department is of great importance to this great county. In the current time, most of the emphasis has shifted from just emergency response to the already existing risks which is to do with rescue to the more important activities of prevention and protection. This has been improved lately with the help of the available community workforce. It is also important to note that the whole concept of risks is dynamic and so challenges have never ceased to spring up. As it stands, road accidents account for more risks than fire and so our focus on innovative road safety strategies. Fire however still has some great impact when it comes to the old and the physically impaired. Risk management involves planning and implementation of strategies to handle and/or completely evade the risks or the harms that could come around the people. This explains why the four year strategies by this safety department are a welcome idea that should not fail to get the needed implementation. This will help keep the community in the county safe and reassured which, needless to say, elevates the living conditions of residents. 3. Area information and existing risks Lancashire is an area that demands a lot of flexibility in the rescue department because of its diversity. It has rural areas, urban areas, coastal leisure towns and some old industrial townships. It shot to prominence because of industrial and agricultural activities. It boasts this day of 77% agriculture, 19.5% of woodland and about 3.5% urban area. The most populated areas are around the towns of Blackburn, Preston, Burnley, Colne, Nelson, Acrington and Blackpool; the largest holiday town around here. Most places mentioned are on the southern part meaning the northern parts are sparsely populated. The fire associated risks are higher in urban areas and those of motor collisions distributed through the county. It is equally important to mention that the population analysis includes immigrants from the eastern part of Europe. Lancashire equally has a lot of academic activities being home to: Edge Hill, Lancaster and Central Lancashire Universities. With this knowledge, we focus on safety provision in this region with special focus on prevention of the safety threats and protection of the people and property. A risk is viewed as the probability of an occurrence multiplied by the severity of the outcome. If the probability is reducible and/or the consequence kept minimal, the risk is managed. Risks and damages differ in different parts of the diverse Lancashire and with times of the day. The first risk is that of fire especially to the old and the physically impaired. The patterns and intensity of the various risks is influenced by factors like age, deprivation, lifestyle and health. Other risks to the people in Lancashire as mentioned include highway collisions, health emergencies and crime incidences. While there is need to prevent risks and to protect against them, there is also need for emergency response. This has called for what we refer to as ‘incidence intelligence’ where departments have been required to produce a risk management plan. There also is sharing of information with other players in the risk field like the health sector and police. 4. Commitment of Lancashire fire and rescue To continuously review our community strategy of safety, annually, in order to remain relevant to the task. Work with users to keep reviewing priorities, objectives and purpose statement to remain relevant. (Online) available: http://www.saferlancashire.co.uk/ (accessed April 26, 2010) Offer response to queries and give details on what can or cannot be done. To do the best and lower levels of risks to levels reasonably practicable. Update the community using an annual profile publication that communicates any changes. Contribute to local area agreements in this vast county. Continually place prevention in a central position within community safety strategy through specialized resource allocation. Upgrade our enforcement and ensure fire safety where the safety of the public is compromised. Ensure quick and appropriate response to all emergency and keep improving against the standards. Report annually the performance and measures as well as checking the satisfaction of the users within Lancashire. 5. Responsibilities Fire and rescue services in Lancashire are controlled by the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (CFA). The various requirements of CFA as checked by the various acts demand a provision of fire safety to the people. Also, there is the responsibility of quick response to rescue victims of fire, traffic collisions among others. An important one yet is the enforcement of necessary safety provision for fire across the area. These are such as escape ways, warning systems and evacuation organization. There is also the mandate to obtain and share information concerning probability, some occurrences and prepare for them. This involves working with other agencies to ensure the overall good of Lancashire residents. Most important is where there is the involvement of the users in order to fulfill their needs. It is also a duty to ensure health and safety of the staff members during working to follow The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. These responsibilities are met through some aims and a purpose statement, that is: ‘Working together to make Lancashire safer’. The objectives that help run the statement are: to lower emergency incidences and their outcome, ensure a competent and safe workforce, reduce damage of the environment, deliver affordable and relevant services and to have a healthy community. 6. Risk analysis and organization Here, it is important to mention that resources are allocated basing on the risks with focus on cutting down on the risks as may be possible. It is important to have knowledge on the areas of occurrences and how it happens in order to tackle major risks effectively. The frontline staff members are trained in investigation and analyze the conditions. In order to maximize achievements, there is increase in effort-targeting. This is done in consideration of the geographical area and the population. In all these, there are requirements to enforce safety provisions, provide the necessary emergency responses and focus on specific demographic groups to reduce the deaths and injuries associated with fires. There is a risk management plan running from 2008-2011 which is annually supplemented by a Performance Report and Action Plan. Working with, or for, partners calls for organization in delivering services and hence the changes that took effect in 2002. There are six administrative regions each assigned a community protection manager for co-ordination of measures to diminish risks. Details of the rescue department in charge of the six regions are available in the phone book or accessed on the service provider’s website. These regions are: Northern (Lancaster, Wyre), Eastern (Blackburn including Darwen, Hynbum and Ribble Valley), Western (Blackpool, Fylde), Central (South Ribble and Preston), Southern (Chorley and West Lancashire) and Pennine (Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle). 8. Partnership approach This involves jointly pursuing common objectives with the view of increasing user satisfaction. The partnerships could be either formal or informal but all in all, the partners’ responsibilities and benefits are agreed upon before the start. One such is The Local Strategic and Crime and Disorder Partnership. An agreement does not undermine but enhances the responsibilities of other agencies. Should there fail to be the anticipated outcome, definitely there is need to call off the agreement and seek better partnerships. Most recently, there has been a development of a volunteer network capturing different personalities (ages, occupations and originations). These volunteers are developed further as they in turn offer their skills in the betterment of safety. They become new friends, build prospects and develop some personal confidence. 9. Protection, prevention and emergency response As stated, emphasis is on prevention together with protecting the people from risks. However, there is need for some response should an emergency occur. About 90% of fires are accidental with those in greater risk being people at home. Therefore, there is Free Home Fire Safety Check giving professional advice, advice on fire related actions, formulating the plan of escape and installing smoke alarms. For motor accidents the Lancashire Partnership for road safety are our partners. Available: http://www.safe2travel.co.uk/ (accessed April 26, 2010) In protection, safety is enforced in public places followed up by Risk-Based Inspection Programme. There is need to focus the available resources more effectively to cover people and property from the outcome of an occurrence. In some homes, there has been introduction of the sprinkler system to ensure that the damages of a possible fire are kept at the lowest possible level. In emergency handling, there is no mistake allowance and so the need to use the right resources. This depends on what the type of emergency is, that is, critical incidences which are a threat to life and property should be given more attention while secondary ones which are not the biggest threats should be left for the station in charge of the region it occurs. 10. Conclusion It is justified to say Lancashire community safety strategy is focused on the good of the area inhabitants and growth of its economy. It is expected that in the next phase, there will be reduced severity and increased user participation. Bibliography Health and Safety Regulations: a short guide 08/03, London: Health and safety Executives Lancashire partnership for road safety, Viewed April 26, 2010 . http://www.safe2travel.co.uk/ Safer Lancashire: The community safety partnership website, Viewed April 26, 2010 . Read More