“Everyday is unique, as part of a small specialist team I get to make a positive impact. This ensures staff and patients are safe from the risk of fire.”
Alan Hudson is a Fire Safety Advisor with GMMH’s Capital, Estates and Facilities Department. He’s worked for GMMH since 2018.
As a Fire Safety Advisor, Alan supports the Head of Fire Safety for managing all aspects of fire safety and fire prevention as well as developing and delivering fire safety training to staff.
How I got into the role
My previous work experience as a Fire Officer in Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) allowed me to share my knowledge, skills and understanding of Fire Safety within clinical and non-clinical areas to ensure the provision of a fire safe environment for patients, staff, visitors and to facilitate sustained, improved patient care and wellbeing.
What I do
Providing support in all aspects of:
- Fire Safety
- Fire Prevention
- Fire Safety Training development and delivery to all Staff
Providing professional advice regarding:
- Fire Code
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005
- Building Regulations
- All other relevant legislation both within the Trust and for other client bodies.
A typical day for me would include:
- Checking for Datix risk incidents and responding to operational risks/incidents. The experience I gained as a Fire Investigator in GMFRS has proved invaluable.
- I provide detailed analysis of incidents to identify trends and steps necessary to reduce incidents of fire / unwanted signals.
- I provide fire training for staff.
- I attend project meetings and regularly interpret and apply the provisions of highly complex legislation and other associated fire guidance for the benefit of the Trust.
- I carry out fire risk assessments / Reviews in GMMH and Landlord controlled premises.
- As a Fire Safety Advisor, I look to keep the workplace environment free of hazards and risks, certainly as low as reasonably practicable.
The best bits and challenges
Undoubtedly, the best bit is the variety of tasks. As the Trust’s Fire Safety Advisor, I play a key role in investigating all fire incidents, conducting fire risk assessments, delivering fire training and continuous learning – staying up to date with fire safety legislation changes.
The role enables you to grow as you are sometimes forced to stretch beyond your comfort zone, which can help develop new skills and capabilities. The role also provides you with challenging situations that require you to think creatively and come up with solutions. This can help you become more resilient and better able to handle situations. There’s great job satisfaction as overcoming these challenges can be incredibly rewarding and gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Aspects of the role I didn’t expect
I was surprised by the number of fire and false alarm incidents that occur each year. There were 163 fires and 481 false alarms between 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023. All these incidents must be investigated.
Life outside work
I like to keep active; a good test of the legs can do wonders for your physical and mental wellbeing. Being outdoors on the fells can help eliminate fatigue, whilst taking in stunning views.
Career advice
Be passionate about the work, research the role and try to do some volunteering to gain some relevant experience.
