Creating a safer environment for residents

Brighton and Hove City Council appoint Towner and Townsend's Health and Safety specialists to undertake Fire Risk Assessments for a number of properties across their estate.

City Council undertake raft of measures to create safer environment for residents of Brighton and Hove Date: 10/04/2007 Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) has undertaken two major assessments in order to improve safety and accessibility for local residents and businesses across the city.

As the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order gets into full swing, BHCC has appointed Towner and Townsend's Health and Safety specialists to undertake Fire Risk Assessments for a number of properties across their estate.

Turner and Townsend has begun assessing a variety of different properties including the common areas of blocks of flats and care homes for Fire Risks.

The project is set to last between three to four years.

With Fire Statistics showing a total of 180,000 fires occur in the UK per annum resulting in 30 deaths and 1,500 injuries, the order, which came into force from 1 October 2006, was initiated as part of the Government's commitment to reduce death, injury and damage caused by fire.

It is having a marked impact on the construction industry in many ways from design to build as well as upon existing operational businesses.

Appointed as one of BHCC's preferred suppliers list for fire risk assessments, Turner and Townsend has also recently completed work on Phases 1 and 2 of the City Councils rejuvenation project, making many more public properties accessible to all (complying with the Disabilities Discrimination Act (DDA, 1995)).

DDA audits were previously carried out on Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Hove Museum and Art Gallery and Fabrica, an Art Gallery in the heart of Brighton town centre.

When working on the Cultural Services portfolio the audits placed particular emphasis on providing excellent public access to all exhibits introducing facilities such as ramps and lifts, plus improving WC facilities to assist wheelchair users and people with ambulant disabilities.

Consultation was also provided on improving items such as signage, lighting, decoration and audio-visual facilities to assist people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities.

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