www.leicestershire-fire.gov.uk

The challenge?

a) Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is required to provide an audit trail, to make sure all equipment has been tested and is safe to operate.
b) Equipment that has been deployed across the divisions within the county must be returned to the correct station after use.

Example

Equipment, such as fire hoses, must be inspected on a regular basis as part of the organisation’s commitment to health and safety regulations.
Equipment allocated to a particular station within the group is sometimes deployed to other stations, but must be returned to the station of origin after use.

The Ritchey ID solution?

Ritchey–id has supplied a range of thermal transfer tags and equipment labels, which are used by all the fire stations in the county. The bar coded tags contain information that can be read by a hand-held scanner, which in turn transfers updated information for computer-based storage.

Usage

After scanning a piece of equipment to identify its unique bar code, the operator uses a tick-box system to input new information, such as whether or not the item has passed a safety check.

If the equipment fails the check for any reason, a drop-down box on the scanner screen allows the operator to choose from a number of reasons for the failure. Data on the failed piece of equipment is then transferred into a separate electronic file entitled ‘Repairs,’ where it remains until it is deemed safe to use.

Using a standard PC connected to the internet, the operator retrieves and updates historic data relating to the piece of equipment. This is achieved via a web server developed and managed by Ritchey ID’s business partner, Redkite Solutions, which specialises in producing software for asset management systems.

Ritchey ID has also provided Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services with a printing machine and a set of blank tags, so that staff can print their own replacement tags where necessary.

The printing machine is operated using Windows software, and can collate information remotely via e-mail. Ritchey offers a 24-hour back-up service for replacement parts connected to the printer, for example ink, ribbons etc.

Other benefits of the Ritchey ID system

At Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, some equipment requires weekly inspection, while other items require monthly testing. These differences can be categorised accordingly and stored electronically, thus giving a significant saving in the number of man-hours spent on information processing.
 
User comments

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services spokesman, Mark Redfern says he used to write down information on paper and mark individual items with serial numbers.

However he describes the old system as “difficult to manage.”

“We needed a way of identifying and tracking data that would be able to stand up to the harsh environments we work in, which often involve water, dirt, grease and chemicals. I had some concerns that the bar coded tags would not be robust enough, but happily that has not turned out to be the case,” says Mr Redfern.

“Whenever we’ve encountered a potential problem, our Ritchey ID contact has worked with us to iron out any issues that have arisen. Together we have come up with a solution specifically designed to meet our needs. Our system is relatively simple, and is working very well.”

*Ritchey ID is currently working with more than a dozen fire and rescue services around the country, developing bespoke solutions to suit individual requirements.
 

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services