Bandar Seri Begawan - The Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Awg Roslan bin Hj Taja'ah yesterday placed strong emphasis on the critical role building owners play with regard to fire safety at their respective buildings.

The urgency of fire safety in buildings necessitates the involvement of everyone - everybody has to play their part and that includes government agencies, the private sector and especially building managers, Awg Roslan said during the opening of a Fire Safety Management Course at the Civil Service Institute.

Explaining that an efficient plan should be incorporated into these efforts, he then lauded the focus of the course, which is to increase individual awareness of an effective safety plan for buildings. It is also the responsibility of every employer to ensure workers are familiar with the proper emergency procedures at their workplace.

The last five years have seen reports from the Fire and Rescue Department indicating the causes of fire incidents as being the result of electrical overload, negligent actions, and lack of knowledge on usage of electrical devices.

The use of fire prevention devices such as a fire extinguisher requires personnel with skills to operate it in the proper manner, hence the course and other relevant courses have the ability to generate an efficient plan of action, as it enlightens participants on the correct procedures.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department Director Awg Yahya bin Hj Abd Rahman noted in his address that his department places priority in educating the community on fire prevention, thus the course has relevant significance in reducing fire incidents and mishaps.

The three-day course incorporates briefings and presentations by experts from the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Fire Safety Manager Association from Singapore.

The opening event concluded with a brief tour by the deputy permanent secretary to an exhibition that showcased safety devices and fire protection systems.

Course participants included personnel from the Ministry of Home Affairs and departments under it, as well as representatives from hotels in the country.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin