Decree gives Fire Authority more teeth

November 20, 2009 01:47:02 PM

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Fiji’s National Fire Authority (NFA) will have increased powers to enforce compliance with fire safety regulations at both corporate and residential level through provisions of a new decree that also gives the authority access to insurance companies’ books.

The National Fire Service (Amendment) Decree 2009 gives NFA officers the right to audit the accounting books and returns of insurance companies and brokers suspected of not paying NFA the legislated quantities of fire service levies within the required period.

It also provides for a major increase in fines against companies ($20,000) and individuals ($5000) for obstructing NFA officers or failing to comply with the National Fire Service Act. Both fines were previously $500.

The decree’s other provisions allow the NFA to:

● inspect and certify premises, whether residential, commercial, industrial or otherwise for compliance with the National Building Code (made under the Public Health Act), Health and Safety At Work Act 1996 and any other written law or regulation or which empowers the Authority to enforce

● obtain information and data necessary to provide certification or reports

● strengthen NFA’s structural inspection, compliance and enforcement roles

● develop strategies to manage transport and storage of hazardous material issues and where appropriate issue a public notice for the closure of premises, if the owner of the premises fails to comply with the provisions of the Act.

NFA acting chief executive officer Jone Koroi said the approval of the decree by Cabinet gave the authority more provisions to protect the country from the detrimental impact of fires.

“The decree also required the Reserve Bank of Fiji to issue a return prescribing particulars to NFA for a class or classes of insurance providing all risk coverage or for all such insurance placed outside of Fiji as and when they are placed and renewed,” Koroi said.

A national coordination committee will also be chaired by the permanent secretary of the line ministry to assist and coordinate water supply, fire safety and mitigation and emergency services for disaster management, and to provide for planning and managing of fire safety and investigation as well as emergency services for disaster management and prevention.

The NFA would be the secretariat of these committees, Koroi said.

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