HM Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland: Chief Inspector's plan - 2021 to 2024

Inspection activity 2021-22

Due to the significant impact of Covid-19 restrictions in 2020, our programme of inspection of SFRS service delivery across local authority areas was restricted, and we were unable to complete our work within Argyll and Bute. When we are in a position to recommence fire station visits, we will conclude this inspection. In addition to the Argyll and Bute Inspection, the following Local Area and Thematic inspections will be undertaken during 2021-22.

Local Area Inspection

During the next phase of our Local Area Inspections we intend to undertake inspections in the following locations.

Thematic Inspections

Early work on an inspection regarding Operational and Protective Equipment commenced during late 2020-21 and will continue. The other Thematic Inspections planned are set out in the table below, with further narrative of the intended outcome of this activity.

Health and Safety – An Operational Focus

We will look at the organisational culture in relation to Health, Safety and Welfare. We will consider how Health and Safety is centred on firefighter safety, and, confirm that operational staff understand and can demonstrate how the 'firefighter safety maxim' is being applied in the SFRS. We will also consider how the Service is using national learning, data and other information to reduce risk and improve the overall safety and welfare of its staff.

The aim of this inspection is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the Service's Health, Safety and Welfare arrangements with an operational focus. We will consider the governance and management, policy and planning, training and recording arrangements.

Firefighting in High Rise Buildings

We intend to conduct an inspection of the SFRS arrangements by examining how the Service prepares for, and carries out, firefighting in high rise buildings. In line with building standards, we use 18 metres as the threshold for high rise. While the main thrust of our inspection will be high rise domestic buildings due to the life risk, we will also examine high rise commercial buildings.

It is proposed that this inspection shall consider:

• pre-planning and information gathering;
• operational procedures;
• training and awareness of staff;
• Operations Control procedures, including fire survival guidance;
• building checks and familiarisation visits by the Service;
• how the SFRS dealt with or is dealing with the recommendations from the Phase 1 Report of the Grenfell Inquiry; and
• how the SFRS is adapting to developments in high rise fire safety.

Review of Operational and Protective Equipment

The aim of this inspection is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the Service's governance, procurement policy, management, training, routine testing, maintenance and disposal of its operational and protective equipment.

The Inspection has a wide scope and, in particular, we will consider the processes which the SFRS applies to:

• the identification of need and rationale associated with the choice of equipment and the overall procurement package selected;
• the design of and implementation of the operational and protective equipment Management Strategy; and
• the relationship between equipment manufacturers, suppliers and the SFRS's management strategy.