Health & Safety Section
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Minutes of The Health & Safety Working Group
12th May 200919th February 2009
HSE Serve Two Improvement Notices On Hertfordshire Fire And Rescue Service In Aftermath Of Firefighter Deaths At Harrow Court, Stevenage
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Locally
- 8 week hearing protection trial underway at Stn 32 Two new types of ear plugs being evaluated. Equipment regarded as a noise hazard is being labelled with blue stickers.
- Reported near miss Stn 54. Rope pack Quadra found roved the wrong way on 3 occasions.
- Upgrade program of dedicated female showering facilities on Stn’s 01/09/12 underway.
- One member of staff is partaking in a trial of Dyslexia software and other recognised aids.
- Asset Management trial taking place at Stn’s 05/31. Everything on station labelled with bar code. A reader will be provide to ascertain the history, location and due standard tests of equipment.
- BA cleaning procedures under review. A new wiping cloth will be carried on appliances for fire ground cleaning.
- Decanting on station. On a number of occasions, chemicals/cleaning materials have been found in unmarked containers. This contravenes COSHH Regs.
Nationally
- FBU have appointed National Officer John McGhee to lead investigation into the fatal fire at Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire. The aim of the investigation is to learn the lessons of the fire and action any recommendations as soon as possible to help prevent a similar tragedy occurring again.
- The Fire Brigades Union has hit out at what it calls “scaremongering” over proposed changes to the Working Time Directive. New proposals being discussed at European level would end the individual opt out from the 48-hour week The vast majority of retained fire-fighters do not work in excess of 48 hours over the reference period and there will be no impact on them. One in five are self-employed and are exempt from the directive and regulations altogether.
- Regional fire control centre at Taunton will have a minimum of 5 control operators to deal with emergency calls at night from across the whole of the South West. At other times of the day under normal crewing levels there will be 9 on duty, slightly more than one for every fire brigade. Fire Brigades Union says such a low number of staff will put the public and fire-fighters at risk.
Fire Brigade Union publication ‘In The Line Of Duty’ that looks into Fire-fighter deaths in the UK since 1978, now available on National web site, along with other news and reports.
