» Welcome » Health and safety at work
Welcome to the 16th edition of our fire and security newsletter, Infinite Beyond.
This edition is a time for reflection, to look back and see how far we have come, not just over the last 14 years, but just this last year alone.
This really came apparent after attending the Great Yorkshire Show with the team in July, everyone rallied together and made it the best one yet – thinking we couldn’t top the previous year with enquiries, this year, it blew it out of the park!
We have now contacted all of those who enquired and working around the clock to get quotes out and converting them into action.
Our new Rapid Response service which launched just before the GYS has snowballed, unbelievably, and we are gaining some great feedback for the service. Alongside this our new partnership with Key Safe is also collaborating well.
Businesses and employers have a duty of care to employees, customers and anyone else who visits the workplace.
Health and safety rules and regulations vary from business to business and risk assessments should be carried out to identify any reduce any risks. Here we look at a few common risk reduction methods across a variety of sectors.
Manual Handling: Proper manual handling techniques are essential for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. By following correct procedures, you can reduce the risk of injuries and ensure the well-being of yourself and your colleagues.
Before the end of this year, we see the team growing once again, as the business is expanding at rapid pace, but we are ready and determined to succeed, providing the ultimate peace of mind to all our customers.
In this edition, we have featured Calmwater Bay Waterski & Wakeboard Club as our case study this time and in ‘Meet the Team’ you will be getting to know Megan, one of our customer service advisors.
Enjoy the autumn theme as you count the Halloween cats, for your chance to win the prize of an Afternoon Tea for Two at The Strafford Arms.
Chris Gillis Managing Director Infinite Fire & Security
» Visit the website
Find out more about our services, follow the blog for the latest news, check out our case studies and more...
PPE: Using PPE is not just a matter of compliance with regulations; it is a matter of personal safety. By wearing the appropriate PPE, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury or illness while on the job. PPE acts as a last line of defence when other control measures are not sufficient to eliminate hazards.
Examples: Safety Helmet / Goggles / HiVis / Safety Boots
COSHH: COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. It is a set of regulations put in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with hazardous substances in the workplace. These substances can range from chemicals and fumes to dust and biological agents.
Use of Ladders: Selecting the right ladder for the job, inspect it before using. Climb and descend the ladder with caution. Use stabilisers if required.
Hygiene: Good hygiene requires everyone at the workplace at all times; Examples: Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing / Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth / wash and dry your hands before eating and after using the toilet.
Correct Posture at Desks:
1. Keep feet flat on the floor or a footrest
2. Do not cross your knees, legs or ankles.
3. Keep a small space between your knees and the seat of the chair
4. Your knees should be the same height as your hips
5. Relax your shoulders.
Maintain Equipment: Ensure that all equipment is regularly serviced and that any repairs are promptly taken care of. By checking the condition of the equipment on a regular basis may mean that you can spot faults before it becomes a real issue.
Keeping a well stock
First Aid Box: No matter how small or big the business, it is very important to have a properly stocked first aid box. Having someone monitor its contents on a monthly basis is important to log if anything needs ordering to keep stock levels up and to check that the equipment is in date / sterile.
Have regular fire drills:
While they can be inconvenient to do, regular fire drills are essential as they allow for new and existing employees to become familiar with your organisations emergency procedures. A fire drill should be carried out as least once a year.
» Rapid Response & Key Safe Services
DID YOU KNOW….
You can now have the Ultimate Peace of Mind with the added protection of our Rapid Response service?
Infinite Rapid Response locates and dispatches the nearest available security responder, cutting down on delays associated with manual intervention.
The quick response time ensures a more efficient and effective handling of security incidents, providing a higher level of protection for your business. Knowing that help is just a click away can bring peace of mind to both employees and clients, creating a safer and more secure environment overall.
RAPID RESPONSE AT A GLANCE:
Nationwide Coverage
Fastest response time in the UK market with over 2500 responders
Patrol Scheduling
Request and schedule patrols for vacant sites or properties directly through the App
Full Transparency
From dispatch to guard arrival
User-Friendly App
Available on both iPhone and Android
24/7 Control room
Providing human oversight for each and every call out
Immediate Assistance
Press the in-app panic button for instant help at your site, home or out and about
Already Monitored?
Why not incorporate your existing system with our new Rapid Response Service?
• Our software can integrate with your monitoring station and automatically dispatch a responder in less than 30 seconds
• Our in-house integration and development team can work with you to understand your detailed requirements and deliver a bespoke solution to provide the best user experience for your business, home or assets.
• This is a flexible and powerful remedy in deterring and reducing the impact of crime.
• Full detailed reports are sent direct to you following any attendance.
One of our key safes are required for the responder to attend and we’re proud to be partnered with The Key Safe Company. See overleaf for more details about our Key Safe Service
» Key Safes
Alongside the Rapid Response service, we have partnered with The Key Safe Company.
Established in 1996, they are a leading provider of high-quality key sharing solutions. The Key Safe Company was the first to introduce the concept of property access via key safe into Europe, which was adopted as an industry standard for delivering service excellence and business efficiencies.
Thanks to our new relationship, we can now supply and install the Key Safe box at
your location, giving our Rapid Responders access to your property in the event of an emergency.
Our skilled engineers will perform the installation; you can select the best place. Simple key holding service: In the event that you require access to your property for investigative purposes, our Rapid Responders can take on the role of your key holder. All key safes are insurance-approved and police-preferred product (Secure By Design, or SBD), confirmed by an impartial certifying body for attack testing (LPCB).
» Meet the Team In each edition we give you the opportunity to get to know our amazing team. Here’s Megan from our Office Team...
Hi there, I’m Megan, part of the customer services team here in the office at infinite HQ. I’m committed to delivering top-notch support and ensuring our clients have a great experience. When I’m not helping out, I’m working behind the scenes to keep our socials and website updated with the latest news from Infinite.
Outside of work I enjoy going to festival and gigs, I can be at one or two a week. Festival season is my favourite, although you won’t find me camping!
‘‘ ‘‘
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
If you could have a super power, what would it be? Read minds
If you could be an animal, what would you be? A goat
What is your favourite genre of music? Pop Punk
What is your biggest pet peeve? Loud breathing
Key Safe Options
» Introducing our finance options
Nowadays, a lot of companies rent office supplies and cars, but did you know that fire and security alarm systems can also be leased?
Cost spread over time:
Rather than facing the challenge of a significant upfront expenditure, our financing options allow you to distribute the cost of fire and security systems over an agreed period. This approach eases the financial burden, making it easier to fit essential safety measures into your budget without compromising on quality or performance.
Flexibility:
Financing offers a range of payment terms tailored to your specific needs. This flexibility ensures that you can align your payment schedule with your cash flow, whether on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. By adjusting the terms to match your financial situation, you can effectively manage your cash flow and allocate resources where they are most needed.
Opportunity for growth:
With financing, your business can access the latest fire and security technology without depleting your capital reserves. This approach frees up funds that can be reinvested in other areas, such as expansion, new projects or
innovation. By leveraging financing, you can drive growth and maintain a competitive edge in your industry.
Easier budgeting:
One of the key advantages of financing is the predictability it brings to budgeting. By breaking down the total cost into manageable, regular payments, you can easily forecast and plan your finances. This stability allows both individuals and businesses to stay on top of their financial commitments and avoid unexpected strain on their budgets.
Enhanced leverage:
Financing enables you to acquire fire and security systems that might otherwise be out of reach due to budget limitations. This
increased financial leverage allows you to invest in high-quality assets that enhance your security infrastructure, providing long-term benefits and peace of mind.
To further simplify your financial management, our financing options can include the costs of Maintenance Agreements. This all-inclusive approach ensures that your systems remain in top condition, reducing the risk of costly repairs and downtime, and providing continuous protection for your business.
Choosing to finance your fire and security systems not only provides financial flexibility but also empowers your business to grow and thrive in a secure environment. Explore our finance options today and take the next step toward safeguarding your future.
» Another great show!
WHAT: THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW WHEN: JULY 2024
The week we had at the Great Yorkshire Show was monumental success for us, with a footfall of 140,000 visitors and a four-day sold out event, enquiries were flocking in.
2024 saw us to a successful fifth year of exhibiting and was our best one yet. Thank you to everyone who came to visit us!
Despite the terrible dark skies and rain fall on day one of the show, it still turned out to be a great success for us, both new faces and returning customers visiting our stand wanting a site survey to see how we can help them achieve security goals.
We proudly presented the latest technology from Dahua Security Camera and Ajax Alarm Systems, offering live demonstrations of just how brilliant the technology we choose to use really is. We also showcased the launch of our new Infinite Rapid Response service and secured by design key safes.
As we were targeting Farms and Rural type properties, our stand really caught the attention of anyone who owns a Farm, Rural Home, Rural Business, Outbuildings, Stables etc with the simple words “No Power, No Internet, No Problem”. We then continued to wow them with how we can make it possible, when they didn’t believe it could be!
They came to Chris for help and within the space of 30 minutes Chris had used our cameras to help find the perpetrators ‘‘ ‘‘
Something that we are really proud of, which made us stand out to the crowd and had our name shared throughout the whole show is down to our brilliant Managing Director Chris Gillis.
During the show, a stand opposite us was broken into and had some very expensive items stolen. They came to Chris for help and within the space of 30 minutes Chris had used our cameras to help find the perpetrators. A huge show of appreciation was given to us by helping spread our name far and wide, showcasing that what we do means something.
We’ve been working hard since we’ve been back, our surprise packs went out in the post to all those who enquired at the show - we hope that you all received them!
We’re really excited about meeting new and familiar faces and designing systems to meet your specific needs. The show has been exceptionally rewarding, and we are eagerly looking forward to what the next year will bring!
» The Grenfell Tower Fire
On 14th June 2017, a high-rise fire broke out in the 24-storey tower block of flats in London at around 00:54 and burned for 60 hours.
72 people died, 2 more later in hospital, with more than 70 injured and 233 escaping. It was the deadliest structural fire in the UK since the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform disaster. It was also the worst UK residential fire since World War 2.
The fire started from an electrical fault in a fridge on the fourth floor. This spread rapidly up the building’s exterior, bringing flames and smoke to all residential floors. The fire was declared a major incident with more than 250 London fire brigade firefighters and 70 fire engines. Over 100 paramedics and also specialist paramedic from the hazardous area team were called to the scene.
By the time the firefighters began extinguishing the kitchen fire, a column of flames was quickly making its way up the side of the building. At 01:15, a firefighter discovered smoke in Flat 26 (directly above Flat 16), another discovered a resident who had fled smoke on the fifth and sixth floors, and outside large quantities of debris
Due to fire doors not closing and sealing properly, smoke began to spread from affected flats into the lobbies.
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began falling from the burning façade.
The flames spread up the side at a “terrifying rate”. By 01:18, 34 of 293 residents had escaped. Due to fire doors not closing and sealing properly, smoke began to spread from affected flats into the lobbies. At around 1:33, residents began calling 999 for assistance as they were trapped within their flats. At some point, the smoke began to enter the stairwell, although the stairs were passable this quickly became dangerous.
The firefighters encountered thick smoke, zero visibility and extreme heat
when they climbed above the fourth floor. Furthermore, some residents had moved location to escape the smoke. As the fire rapidly spread around the building, witnesses on the ground reported seeing trapped residents switching the lights in their flats on and off or waving from windows to attract help, some holding children. Eyewitnesses reported seeing some people jumping to their deaths, and four victims were later found to have died from “injuries consistent with falling from a height”.
These deaths were classed as ‘suicides’, despite being a direct consequence of the fire. At least one person used knotted blankets to make a rope and escape from the burning building. By sunrise, firefighters were still busy fighting the fire and attempting rescues on the inside. At 04:14, police addressed the large crowd of onlookers and urgently instructed them to contact anyone they knew who was trapped in the building. Only two further rescues took place, with one resident being rescued at 06:05 and the last being rescued at 08:07.
The fire continued to burn on the tower’s upper floors. It was not brought under control until 01:14 on 15th June and firefighters were still damping down pockets of fire when the Brigade issued an update on 16 June. The fire brigade also used a drone to inspect the building and search for casualties. The fire was declared extinguished on the evening of 16th June.
A total of 151 homes were destroyed in the tower and surrounding area. People from surrounding buildings were evacuated due to concerns that the tower might collapse.
Source: Wikipedia.org
» Focus on tech
MotionCam Outdoor
In this edition of Focus on tech we will be looking at the MotionCam outdoor which requires the Hub2.
This model integrates specifications of the outdoor PIR, and provides a camera with IR backlight to notify users of an intrusion to the users mobile immediately.
MotionCam Outdoor
Wireless outdoor motion detector with a photo camera to verify alarms. MotionCam Outdoor recognises intrusion from the very first steps on the territory and confirms it with an animated series of photos. Visual verification helps to instantly ascertain the situation, saving users from concerns, and security companies from unnecessary patrol dispatches.
• Photo by alarm
• Pet immunity up to 80cm tall
• 3 step digital algorithm to prevent false alarms
• Motion detected
• Alarm Raised
• Evidence Captured
• Anti-vandal system
MotionCam Outdoor PHOD
Wireless outdoor motion detector that takes photos by alarm, by schedule, by scenario, and on demand.
• Photo by alarm
• Photo on Demand
• Photo by Scenario
• Anti-vandal system
• Remote Control and Set up
• Up to 3 Year Battery Life
MotionCam Outdoor is equipped with two independent PIR sensors, the signals of which are analysed by a two-step LISA algorithm. When both sensors detect motion, LISA performs correlation and spectral analysis of the signals, which help to instantly distinguish real threats from interferences. Whenever MotionCam Outdoor detects motion, LISA analyses and compares signal forms from two sensors in real time. If forms are similar, the alarm is activated.
In case of any doubts, system users can check what is happening at the facility. No need to wait for an alarm. Just open the app, select the detector, and you’ll see the situation in the yard in a few seconds. Outdoor motion detectors operate in a complex environment full of natural sources of false alarms. MotionCam Outdoor allows system users and monitoring station operators to see in seconds whether the alarm is real, so they can respond accordingly.
» Case Study: Calmwater Bay Waterski & Wakeboard Club
Located at the former Farnham Quarry on Boroughbridge Road in Knaresborough is where you will find Calmwater Bay Waterski and Wakeboard Club which is proud to be BWSW (British Water Ski & Wakeboard) affiliated.
Calmwater Bay is a warm and welcoming family club, ran by a great team of volunteers to keep the club active and provides a great place for family, friends and members to meet up, chill out and learn new or practice existing skills.
Simon Waring owns and runs Calmwater Bay, also alongside this another company - Wake & Ski Boats UK based in Wetherby, this business is the ultimate one stop shop for anything Wakeboard or Ski related, whether it’s a boat, ski ropes or wet suits, this place is where you need to go. Wake & Ski Boats UK has a dedicated showroom and workshop premises, and with over 25 years experience in the industry you are sure to find expert advice.
“WHAT THEY SAID:
I approached Infinite Fire & Security back in 2022 as I knew we needed to step up our security systems. Chris came out and listened to my concerns, especially with the site as remote as it is, he came up with a plan of installing CCTV and an Ajax intruder alarm system using a mobile broadband unit so I instantly knew when we had trespassers on site and I can easily monitor this on my phone or laptop.
For more information, find them on Facebook.
We have slightly upgraded too since the original install and the system works perfect for whatI needed.
Recently we have also signed up to the new Rapid Response service which infinite are now offering, this totally covers all bases now with knowing at the touch of a button I can request a responder to check round the lake, jetties and cabins I am totally comfortable that I can look after remote assets.
Simon Waring - Owner
» Crossword
Down:
1. Where is one place that you cannot find pumpkins?
2. What did the Irish carve instead of pumpkins originally?
3. What do you call a fear or Pumpkins?
8. Oktoberfest takes place every autumn in which German City?
Across:
4. What was autumn originally called?
5. What month does Autumn end?
6. Where was Christopher Columbus from?
7. What bug flies south to Mexico for the winter during Autumn?
9. What country started the tradition of pumpkin carving?
10. What do you call a male turkey?
11. Where does the popular rhyme ‘double, double toil, and trouble’ come from?