Following calls for a change in the law to enable fire-fighters to respond effectively to dangerous situations, a new Health and Safety Executive policy statement says that while the fire service still has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to protect their workers' health and safety, fire-fighters will not consequently be prevented from doing their job of protecting the public.
The new guidelines follow the findings of a Fatal Accident Inquiry in March where Alison Hume died following a fall of 40 feet down a disused mineshaft near Glasgow. Fire-fighters had been unable to rescue Alison Hume due to a Health and Safety memo which stated that their equipment was for saving themselves, not members of the public. Mrs Hume was eventually rescued by mountain rescue experts but died of a heart attack just before being brought to the surface.
HSE chair Judith Hackitt stated, "Fire-fighters perform a unique and indispensable role. It is part of their job to intervene in dangerous situations to protect people and property. The law expects that they will themselves be protected as far as is reasonably practicable - but in fast moving situations they must exercise their judgement about what is reasonable and what is not."
To see the full policy statement, please click here
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The original publication date for this article was 28/05/2010.
