Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has been providing fire safety advice to Sainsbury’s on how to keep the organisation and its customers safe from fire, thanks to the extension of the Government's Primary Authority Scheme.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service says that it has been Sainsbury’s Lead Authority Partner since 2007. In 2010, a Primary Authority Scheme partnership was formed to cover the category of explosives, with advice and assurance for the storage and selling of fireworks from their stores. The partnership was further extended in April 2014 to include the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

This advice helps Sainsbury’s comply with fire safety and explosives legislation, and assists fire safety and explosives officers when they carry out fire audits at Sainsbury’s premises.
The growth of the partnership has led to an Inspection Plan being consented and published by the Government's Better Regulation Delivery Office.

Primary Authority Officer Ian Bell, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, has helped to develop the partnership. He said: “I am delighted that we have worked with Sainsbury’s on a number of key fire safety and explosives areas.

"We are pleased to announce the launch of an Inspection Plan for both topics, which is aimed at streamlining inspections at Sainsbury’s stores nationwide. We look forward to further developing the benefits and opportunities of the partnership.”
The partnership was officially signed to cover the fire safety category by Kevin Gardner, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager for Community Safety, and Neil Lennox, Sainsbury’s Head of Group Safety.

Kevin Gardner said: “Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Sainsbury’s have a longstanding and strong partnership. The extension to include the fire safety category and the launch of an Inspection Plan will only help to build on the good working relationship between us.

“The signing of the Primary Authority agreement not only shows our commitment to helping businesses and supporting the Primary Authority scheme, but also shows Sainsbury’s commitment to comply with the explosives and fire safety legislation and making their premises safe.”

Neil Lennox added: “As a national retailer we are committed to ensuring our stores are safe for our customers, colleagues and visitors, and the Primary Authority Scheme helps us in achieving this.

“In recognising the benefits of Primary Authority across a number of categories, we saw Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as a provider of consistent and reliable advice for explosives and fire safety that would support and enhance our commitment to compliance.

Original source
Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service