Integrated Risk Management

A Simple Guide

Why is it different to what we do now?
The UK Fire Services are required to prepare plans for emergency responses based upon outdated standards developed in 1947. These standards are based upon a fire risk assessment of buildings and take no reasoned account of people or the ‘real’ life risk in society. They do not consider or prepare for other incidents such as road traffic accidents, chemical incidents, trapped persons and flooding. The new plans will consider all life risks in the community and develop effective community safety plans based on reliable data.

Who will develop the Plan?
It is a statutory duty of the Fire Authority. The work in Durham and Darlington will be carried out by Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service in consultation with all other agencies, the community and neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services.

Click on the PDF icon below view a chart showing the IRMP Team.

IRMP Team (10kb)

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How is the Plan being developed?
Introduction
Since April of this year the Fire Service has been developing an Integrated Risk Management Plan on behalf of the Fire Authority. The Fire Service has adopted a collaborative approach to this work, in association with the other north-east Fire Services, and this arrangement has created opportunities for the pooling of ideas and the sharing of good practice, which has benefited the process. The outcome of this work will be that each fire authority will produce a fully Integrated Risk Management Plan, for their respective Fire Authority areas, based on locally identified needs.

The Process
Stage 1 : Risk maps of the Fire Service area have been produced, this has involved the risk assessment of the following:

• Dwellings;
• Other buildings;
• Special service incidents;
• Major incidents; and
• CCBRN sites (New Dimension sites)

• Interventions/Operations;
• Prevention/Legislative fire safety; and
• Prevention/Community fire safety

• What do we do now?
• Why do we do it?
• How well do we do it?
• How can we do it better?

Stage 3 : These options have been presented to a further task group, the composition of which is made up of Principal Officers from the four north-east Fire Services, who have selected those options for improvement that are to be adopted, subject to Fire Authority approval.

Stage 4 : The draft IRMP is now being produced, as well as detailing the options chosen and the subsequent changes that will be introduced, it will explain the methodologies used by each particular task group when conducting its research plus the evidence gathered to underpin the options for change. A further task group is developing performance indicators to ensure that the effects of the new policies and working practices are fully assessed.

Stage 5 : The draft plan will be completed and placed before the Combined Fire Authority for approval by mid October. A period of consultation will follow where all stakeholders such as the general public, community organisations, businesses, local authorities, other agencies, other emergency services, the work force and trade unions, will be given the opportunity to comment on the plan. Information will be available through the media, Council briefings, publications and leaflets.

How will the affect the safety of people in Durham and Darlington?

Society will be safer for us all. The Plan puts people first, looking at the risks arising from all emergency incidents and the options for reduction and management. Introducing this more flexible, locally determined risk-based approach will lead to:

• More effective targeting of resources to improve community safety and protective and prevention measures; and
• More dynamic, flexible, and appropriate levels of emergency response to incidents, effectively targeted to save lives and reduce injuries.

No. This risk assessment is required to be an objective risk assessment of the whole of Durham and Darlington, based upon the life, injury, property, commercial, environmental and heritage hazards present in all areas and at all times of the day. The final Plan could result in savings, but could equally result in a re-distribution of resources or even require financial investment.

Where can I find out more information?

If you want to know more concerning IRMP please contact the IRMP Team

Fire Service Circular 7/2003 - Fire Authority Integrated Risk Management Plans, and Draft Guidance Notes 1 & 2

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