Be aware of who is servicing your fire extinguisher

There have been reports of two different companies in eMalahleni that have been doing their rounds refilling or servicing fire extinguisher bottles and working under two legal company’s names.

Recently the WITBANK NEWS reported on such an incident in the newspaper dated Friday, November 23 where the shop owner was robbed of a fire extinguisher.

In this incident the people who arrived at Perfect Water alleged that they were from Speedies and they were wearing a t-shirt with the logo.

Mr Thomas Berry from Speedies Services recently confirmed that this is indeed the situation and he made an affidavit at Witbank Police Station about the situation as it is affecting his business and it could have divesting circumstances on his business in the long run.

A situation was brought under Berry’s attention that a fire extinguisher was serviced at one of his clients.

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A woman contacted Berry and explained that people came to service the fire extinguisher and they had Speedies clothes on. She let them carry on servicing the equipment.

“We, Speedies Services then sent out our guys there and found that it was serviced by another company under false pretences. We do not have any connection between any of the two companies that are operating at the moment in eMalahleni using our name as a service provider at the bottom of their invoices,” said Berry.

Another company in eMalahleni, Speedies Enterprises who services fire extinguishers, also has had his name used by the other two companies and for the owner it is a problem as his company name is been dragged through the mud.

Mr James Speedie from Speedies Enterprises wrote in his affidavit,

“that both Speedies Enterprises and Speedies Services have no joint venture or any agreement with the other two companies whatsoever.”

Speedie continued to say

“we cannot be held responsible for any money or commitments made by these companies. Both these companies make false representation using our names and misleading our customers to make fraudulent transactions.”

Who is checking your fire extinguishers?

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act stipulates clearly: Section 11.2 No service can be done without SANS 1475 accreditation.
According to Speedie these two companies are working illegally and places people’s lives at risk.

“The legal requirement that the company servicing the fire extinguishers holds a current SANS 1475 permit – and the technician doing the work and signing off on the label must also be currently registered with SAQCC Fire. If this is not complied with, it is considered an illegal service which can result in prosecution of the end-user and the building can also be closed down. This is in terms of the OHS Act, the Building Regulations as well as the Pressure Equipment regulations,” said Ms Rosemary Cowan, General Manager for The South African Qualification & Certification Committee for the Fire Industry (SAQCC).