Health and safety representatives core function

Conference recognises the vital work that Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Health and Safety (H&S) representatives undertake in fire and rescue services across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

Conference also recognises the support that those representatives receive from National Officers, notably Riccardo la Torre, amongst others, and from regional representatives.

Fire and rescue services however, are not so supportive, and all too often hamper the best efforts of the H&S representatives to carry out their core functions, as laid out in H&S legislation which includes the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.

Conference agrees that this continued flouting of H&S legislation cannot continue. The barriers that some fire and rescue services put in place, often citing Data Protection, is a clear breach of the rights of Safety Representatives to discharge their functions effectively.

Conference calls on the Executive Council to engage with all fire and rescue services via the Chief Fire Officers (or equivalent), via written communication, clearly stating what is expected of the fire and rescue service when engaging with FBU H&S representatives. This work should be completed by September 2023.