BA safety campaign – Fire Brigades Union continues fight to defend public and firefighter safety

BA SAFETY CAMPAIGN - FIRE BRIGADES UNION CONTINUES FIGHT TO DEFEND PUBLIC AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

Members have been informed previously, by way of all members circular 2021HOC0235MW, of the Union’s successful defence of safe working procedures by preventing the introduction of unsafe practice, initially promoted by the London Fire Brigade, which proposed that firefighters be deployed beyond the Entry Control Point not under air.

The union is clear, and has set out in detail to members in a recent briefing, that compromised firefighters cannot save life or prevent life-changing injuries. In short, dead or injured firefighters cannot rescue anyone.

This circular brings attention to the fact that other FRSs have now also attempted to introduce such unsafe measures and the steps the union has been taking in response.

Background – NFCC & London Fire Brigade

The Union argued at the independently chaired LFB Health & Safety panel that the proposals were unsafe, unlawful and operationally flawed. After hearing the arguments the independent chair, an ex HSE inspector who had responsibility for Fire Service matters, unequivocally found that the practice did not represent best practice and should be removed from policy.

The circular also brought the national NFCC guidance to members’ attention which permits the same unsafe practice as was challenged in the LFB. The Union wrote to the chair of the NFCC following the outcome of the panel and requested this guidance be retracted immediately. We are disappointed to report that the NFCC still refuse to retract their unsafe guidance.

Of real concern, and despite the findings of the independently chaired panel, we have seen a number of other FRSs attempting to impose the unsafe practice into local policy-i.e. firefighters being deployed beyond the entry control point when not under in air.

Union success in other FRSs

The union has been successful in bringing common-sense to bear in a number of those cases. Following on from our success in London, local & national FBU officials working together have been successful in halting the imposition of the unsafe practice in a number of brigades through local discussions and interventions, in FRSs such as West Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Humberside we have seen implementation of the practice halted.

The Union has also initiated legal proceedings where necessary. Recently, the union was able to withdraw an application for judicial review against Greater Manchester Combined Fire Authority (GMCA) following GMCA communicating to FBU Officials that they would remove the practice from all operational policy. I am pleased to report this has now been actioned and communicated to all staff, the union welcomes this sensible approach by Greater Manchester FRS. Local officials are now in discussions with local managers to develop an acceptable revised High Rise Firefighting policy.

Some CFOs persist with unsafe, unprofessional and unlawful practice

Unfortunately, a small number of other CFOs have refused to adopt the same sensible, safe and professional approach as FRSs like LFB and Greater Manchester, which are two of the FRSs in the UK with the biggest high rise risk profiles, and they continue to recklessly impose the unsafe and unlawful policy in an attempt to remove decades of BA safety.

As a result the union has been left no choice but to pursue an application for judicial review against the decision of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Authority to continue placing firefighters beyond the entry control point not under air. The union is also challenging attempts to impose the unsafe practice in Dorset & Wiltshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. Members will be kept updated on all developments.

Rather than face up to their responsibilities and accept that their original stance was an error of judgment, these FRSs have produced a long line of slightly-tweaked iterations in an attempt to camouflage the intent and circumnavigate the health & safety, legal and operational arguments successfully put forward by FBU officials.

These different iterations contain the same unacceptable principle in that they all permit the deployment of firefighters beyond the entry control point not under air. The FBU position is clear, such procedures are unsafe and unlawful. The problem lies with the principle, which is a serious safety matter, it is not a matter of language or word craft.

The union will challenge the policy in all of its iterations, in any FRS, by all legal, political and industrial means necessary.

Exposure to toxic fire effluents– risk of disease and premature death

In addition to the immediate risks of death and injury presented by the NFCC guidance, it is disappointing to see World Cancer Day come and go without the NFCC removing their guidance that only serves to increase firefighters’ risk of exposure to cancer & disease causing contaminants. Thanks to research commissioned by the FBU, we are now beginning to understand further the risk posed to firefighters by inhaling, ingesting and absorbing toxic fire effluents. The recommendation in the UCLAN report is clear that BA should never be donned too late or taken off too early. This World Cancer Day we also saw our brothers and sisters in the IAFF Fire union in the US and Canada release advice urging firefighters not to rely on gas monitors to determine donning and doffing of BA – a concept completely contravened by the NFCC guidance.

In summary

The FBU has been successful in stopping the policy, and defending members’ safety, in many FRSs where it has been attempted or imposed so far, but as reported the safety battle isn’t over yet as some chiefs continue attempts to implement it. Officials will continue to challenge the unsafe practice wherever it arises. BA safe systems of work have protected firefighters for decades and were borne from the death and injury of firefighters, the union will continue to defend them by all means necessary.

Buildings cannot, and will not, be made safer by lowering firefighter safety. We will not allow the health and safety of firefighters or the public to be used to paper over the cracks of a building safety crisis created by the failings of government.

Members will be kept updated on all developments, in the meantime please continue to discuss the matter at branch meetings, ensure all up to date information is available on notice boards and follow the campaign on the FBU website.

Yours in Unity,

Riccardo la Torre
National Officer