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MP demands tougher
regulations on CO alarms following MFRS partnership study
AN MP has demanded tougher regulations
to ensure the fitting of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in all rented properties
thanks to work undertaken by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Liverpool John
Moores University (LJMU).
Margaret Ritchie MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in response to a study that
revealed that around 50 people a year die from preventable CO poisoning, with
low income households most at risk.
The study has been running since 2010 and has seen MFRS working in partnership
with LJMU to determine levels of carbon monoxide in domestic properties.
As part of the research around 24,000 properties were visited across Merseyside
between 2010 and 2011, with findings revealing just 11.5% of homeowners had a CO
alarm across the County.
The results have prompted Margaret Ritchie MP to demand an expansion to current
legislation, which only requires landlords in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland to fit CO alarms in rooms with solid fuel burning appliances. Under the proposed regulation landlords would
be required to fit CO alarms in all rented accommodation to mirror Scotland's
current policy, where all fuel burning appliances require a CO monitor.
Mark Jones, Station Manager for Community Risk Management (Prevention) said:-
"We are proud to have been part of this research, which has led to calls for
tougher regulations enforcing the fitting of CO alarms.
The positive findings from this research will also see eight further fire and
rescue services gather data to support the project, which will help government
groups like the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) steer
future legislation.
We hope that the government will now follow Scotland's lead to ensure that
tenants in England are provided with equal levels of protection, and that their
homes are fitted with CO alarms. By harmonizing regulations for carbon monoxide
alarms across the UK we can put an end to the needless suffering caused by
carbon monoxide poisoning."
As a result of the work completed by MFRS and LJMU, as well as other supporting
groups within APPCOG, the following publications have been produced can be found
via this
link
and on this
link.
Crackdown on rogue ice cream sellers
LIVERPOOL City Council is asking people to help them crack
down on illegal mobile ice cream traders this summer. Mobile ice cream vans need
a consent to trade within Liverpool and a number of conditions are attached to
these consents to protect the public.
During the summer holidays unlicensed ice cream traders may be tempted to trade.
People can see if a trader has a consent to trade as there will be a yellow
plate on the rear exterior of the vehicle showing that they are legitimate.
The Council will act on any reports of rogue ice cream sellers and those who
break the rules can be prosecuted or face a Licensing Committee.
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said:- "Rogue
ice cream sellers take trade away from legitimate businesses. They could also be
unsafe as they may not have the correct food registration in place or have had
food hygiene checks. Unlike our licensed traders, their backgrounds are not
checked by the Council."
Anyone who has information about rogue ice cream sellers should email Liverpool
City Council's Licensing team at:-
licensing@liverpool.gov.uk or telephone:-
0151 233 3015 giving details of the vehicle registration number, location and
time seen. |
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1 in 10 businesses unable to
support an employee with a disability or health condition
NEW research has found that 1 in 10
business people do not feel confident that their organisations would be able to
support an employee with a disability or living with a long term health
condition.
Employment specialists Reed in Partnership and leading charity Disability Rights
UK surveyed over 300 people involved in recruitment, human resources or
leadership positions within business on their views of the challenges disabled
people face entering employment for their new report:- 'Disability and
Employment'.
Key findings in the report include:-
► 1 in 10 employees do not feel confident that their organisations would be able
to support an employee with a disability.
► 84% of employers told us that disabled people make a valuable contribution to
the workplace, however 12% worry that disabled people are more likely to take
time off work.
► 1 in 5 employers consider that the cost of modifying equipment makes it
expensive to employ disabled people, and 49% of respondents said that additional
funding for adaptations would help businesses to retain disabled people in
employment.
► 31% said that businesses are worried that disabled people will claim
discrimination if the job does not work out.
The report warns that the Government's commitment to halving the disability
employment gap; that is, the difference between the employment rates of
disabled and nondisabled people; is at risk unless action is taken. The report
makes several recommendations, including:
► Government expands its scheme to support business with the costs of
adjustments, Access to Work, and increases publiCity of the scheme.
► Introduce a 'one stop shop' to offer help and workplace solutions for
people with disabilities and their employers.
► Encourage and incentivise employers to provide training in disability
confidence to their line managers.
► Employers should create cultures in which people living with impairments or
health conditions feel more confident to be open about what they need at work.
Reacting to the report findings, Managing Director of Reed in Partnership,
Martin Fallon, said:- "I'm really proud of the work Reed in Partnership
does to help people with disabilities and health conditions get back to work.
Our Employment Advisers provide tailored support to enable disabled people to
move into sustainable jobs. We see first-hand the huge boost in confidence and
self esteem in someone who has been unemployed for a long time getting a job.
Everyone deserves to be able to participate equally. That is why it is
concerning that 1 in 10 people in business told us their organisation wouldn't
be able to support someone with a disability.
Disabled people are nearly 4 times as likely to be unemployed than non disabled
people. Increasing the number of disabled people in employment must be a
national priority."
Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK, added:- "With 1 in 6
of the population living with a health condition or impairment, employers are
missing out on a huge number of talented people if they don't recruit and
retain disabled people. Disability and health issues are part of being human: we
all need to accommodate difference. Disabled people also often bring assets like
problem solving, empathy and resilience to the workplace because of the
challenges they have faced. We want to see employers work to create cultures in
which people living with impairments or health conditions feel more confident to
be open about what they need at work. We would also encourage senior colleagues
who themselves live with health conditions or impairments to be open about their
experiences and show that disability and health issues are an ordinary part of
working life." |
