At Ashton Fire, we are proud to have a team of experts who excel in their field and bring a wealth of diverse experiences to enhance our fire safety services.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Rebecca Usher, a pivotal member of our team whose expertise in developing and monitoring fire risk management systems is instrumental in navigating the complexities of residential building safety.
Q: Rebecca, could you tell us about your background and how it informs your work at Ashton Fire?
Rebecca: I have been working with risk-based management systems for 12 years, starting as an auditor assessing companies from diverse sectors against ISO standards before joining a property management company. My role there involved ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 45001 (Health and Safety Management Systems), and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems).
My experience working within the property management sector has proved invaluable to my current role with Ashton Fire as it enables me to assist clients accountable for implementing the Building Safety Act with understanding what to expect from the Managing Agents and other agencies they employ to manage their buildings and to effectively support them with the development and/or auditing of fire risk management systems should they need it.
Q: What key challenges do building owners and resident-led organisations face regarding fire and building safety?
Rebecca: Principal Accountable Persons will likely delegate many of the Building Safety Act legislative requirements to those they have already contracted to fulfil compliance and fire-related duties. However, they are still accountable for the overall governance of these activities under the Building Safety Act legislation and, therefore, are obligated to keep a watchful eye on all the stakeholders they work with, ensuring they have the right competencies and aptitudes to fulfil their duties effectively. This involves an in-depth understanding of legislative requirements and approved standards and codes of practice and they may need more resources or skills to audit these.
Also, as part of the requirement to produce Safety Cases, Accountable Persons will need to ensure that robust fire risk management systems are in place. Fire Risk Management Systems, typically aligned to the BS 9997:2019 Fire Risk Management Standard, are a systematic approach to managing safety, including organisational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures and can help Responsible Person(s) to demonstrate compliance with Article 11 (Fire safety arrangements) of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If Accountable Persons (or the Managing Agents they employ) do not already have a risk management system, they will likely need support developing and implementing this.
Q: How does Ashton Fire support clients in facing these challenges?
Rebecca: We help building owners and resident-led organisations fulfil their Building Safety Act duties by developing and auditing fire risk management systems, conducting site audits by competent professionals, and performing detailed gap analysis of compliance with Building Safety Act requirements and associated legislation.
Q: With your extensive background in auditing and compliance, how do you approach the unique challenges of fire safety in the residential sector?
Rebecca: The legislation is complex and in continuous development, which can seem overwhelming even for those skilled at interpreting it. However, it is important to understand that aside from there being a much greater emphasis on accountability and information sharing, many of the new regulatory requirements aren’t that unique. Well-established Managing Agents, for example, should already have effective monitoring and measuring processes in place for managing assets and ensuring fire and structural risk is sufficiently controlled. We encourage our clients to look at what they already have in place and then adapt these to the new Building Safety Act requirements, providing additional support and technical expertise only where needed so they are not reinventing the wheel.
Q: What advice would you give to new building owners or resident-led organisations starting with fire safety compliance?
Rebecca: For those new to managing building safety, it’s essential to understand your building’s lifecycle thoroughly. Firstly, you must establish a comprehensive digital platform encompassing all vital fire safety information. This platform should facilitate the efficient dissemination of information to all necessary parties. Additionally, adopting a robust Fire Risk Management System, ideally aligned with a recognised standard like BS 9997, is crucial. Such a system ensures that your risk management processes are effective and up to date, with adequate monitoring and measurement protocols in place. It also helps in clearly defining organisational roles and competencies, ensuring that fire safety responsibilities are effectively met at every level. At Ashton Fire, we emphasise the importance of proactive management and the implementation of recognised standards to maintain the highest levels of safety compliance.
Q: Could you share your perspective on the importance of collaboration between different stakeholders in ensuring building safety?
Rebecca: The Building Safety Act introduces the concept of ‘duty holders’, i.e. those people or organisations that must fulfil a defined role. For those conversant with the CDM Regulations, these new duty holders will be recognisable. However, the Building Safety Act extends the responsibilities of current duty holders and adds new roles – ‘Accountable Person’ (AP) and ‘Principal Accountable Person’.
Collaboration among these duty-holders is not just recommended; it’s imperative. They must work in unison, sharing information effectively to maintain safety standards. The ‘golden thread‘ of information is a critical component, ensuring continuity and accuracy in building safety records from construction to handover. We place great emphasis on collaborative efforts, encouraging teams to prioritise thorough record-keeping and transparent information exchange. By doing so, we can ensure compliance, mitigate risks, and uphold our commitment to building safety.
Q: How do you stay updated with the latest fire safety regulations and standards, and how does this benefit our clients?
Rebecca: Staying abreast of the ever-evolving landscape of fire safety regulations and standards is a cornerstone of our approach at Ashton Fire. I personally ensure that I am continually learning, attending industry-specific conferences, participating in internal Continued Professional Development (CPD) sessions, and subscribing to regulatory e-bulletins focused on building safety. My background in property management plays a crucial role in translating complex regulations into practical, actionable guidance for our clients. We empower our clients with knowledge tailored to their specific organisational needs by breaking these complex topics into understandable and relevant information.
Q: Lastly, what motivates you in your role at Ashton Fire?
Rebecca: The satisfaction of working with diverse clients, understanding their unique needs, and offering bespoke, flexible solutions motivates me. Simplifying the complexity of legislation for our clients is a fulfilling aspect of my job.
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn
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