Firefighters have taken offence to Lord Young’s recent interview with The Times, where he stated that firemen could decline to attend a fire claiming it to be too dangerous and hiding behind the workplace health and safety rights provided to them. He added that some sense had to be driven in the system. The government has given him the job of reviewing the health and safety legislation.

FBU (Fire Brigades Union) found Lord Young’ suggestion that workers engaging in emergency services, like firefighters could be left out of the safety legislation if it affected their ability to save lives.

In a memo to union members, Matt Wrack, general secretary of FBU, commented that the claim that too many safety and health regulations were coming in the way of Fire and Rescue Service’s emergency responses could not be corroborated. He said that the cause of firefighter death at work and the improvements needed have been explained in every report. Firefighters attend various types of emergency incidents every single day and there is no evidence of firefighters declining to attend to a particular fire accident scene because of the expected hazards.

He also said that they should be provided good training, equipment and resources to work efficiently. The only obstacle they faced to respond in emergencies were the cuts being made to emergency cover.

No fire fighter deaths in fire incidents were recorded between February ‘96 and October ‘02. Thirteen firefighters lost their lives at duty between 2003 and 2007.

The FBU has made its concerns felt in submissions to Lord Young and have been invited to speak to him on the issue.

The NEBOSH Fire Certificate has been designed for managers, supervisors, and employee representatives who need to ensure that their organisation meets its responsibilities under fire safety legislation. It is of benefit to organisations in enabling them to contribute to the conduct and review of fire risk assessments and fire preventive and protective measures within the workplace.