A new project which is helping keep Merseyside fire-fighters safe has won a national award.
The Site Specific Risk Information (SSRI) initiative, set up by the Knowledge and Information Management team at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MF&RS), won the Citizen Award at the 2011 GeoPlace National Gazetteers Exemplar Awards.
The prize was given for the team’s work in supporting the collection of risk information by fire-fighters.
The project saw MF&RS fire-fighters survey selected buildings across the region to identify hazards and risks, including such things as chemicals and other potentially hazardous materials.
They also assessed Computer Aided Design (CAD) plans of the premises and updated them with symbols highlighting risks.
Then information collected was and fed back into the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG), an address book of commercial and residential properties across Merseyside.
It was from this service fire fighters initially selected the buildings which they would visit and it is now fully update with potential risks posing emergency services.
The information can now be accessed by fire crews and other staff before they arrive at the scene of a fire or emergency call-out.
Head of Knowledge and Information Management at MF&RS John Curtis said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this accolade.
“The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of local authorities, local partnerships, police forces and fire and rescue services, in the creation, maintenance and utilising of the National Gazetteers including the LLPG.
“This is about fire-fighter safety. The more information the crew has before they get to a fire, the more hope there is that the fire can be contained quickly, resulting in less damage and cutting the length of time before that business is functioning again.
“The address book helps to substantially reduce risks at commercial sites because hazards are already identified. It enables crews to respond quicker and more effectively.”
The project took 18 months to develop and more than 500 commercial properties have now been surveyed by MF&RS staff.
Curtis added: “By using this standard we will be able to provide more relevant risk information to fire-fighters before they attend at the scene.
“In addition to the LLPG, we are also using the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) for the properties which enables other organizations, such as Trading Standards, to add in data to give us even more information on a property.”
The Knowledge and Information Management team at MF&RS received the national award at an event in Nottingham.
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