Health And Safety

Health and Safety Executive Proactive Inspection Reports

(Hampshire, Norfolk, County Durham and Darlington)

10th November 2008: Firefighting at sea update

Fatal incident at Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire

The Union will conduct a thorough investigation into the fatal fire at the warehouse at Atherstone-on-Stour in Warwickshire. Similarly, investigations will be conducted by the Health and Safety Executive, police and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service. Discussions have already taken place with the HSE, police and WFRS to ensure openness and transparency.

An investigation team led by FBU National Officer John McGhee has been established. It will include regional safety co-ordinator Pete Goulden, brigade safety rep Marcus Giles, Executive Council member Dave Whatton and regional officials from region 7 (West Midlands). 

Support from the FBU’s Officers' National Committee (ONC) may be called upon to give expert advice and the FBU investigation team will also seek external expertise as and when needed.

The key objective 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.

Members will be kept informed of progress.

Marlie Farm:

On Sunday 3 December 2006 an explosion at Marlie Farm, Ringmer, near Lewes, killed Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS), and injured a further nine firefighters, a police officer and two members of the public. Following the tragic incident, a working group from FBU region 11 was established to identify good practice and bad practice for monitoring and regulating activities at Marlie Farm, as well as for the safe management of ESFRS operational activities at the farm. The group will also make recommendations to improve the health, safety and welfare of FBU members and the communities they serve, identifying areas of weakness within the UK’s systems for regulating, monitoring and classifying fireworks. We will present findings on a regular basis through National Officer John McGhee to the Executive Council and may also present them to East Sussex Fire Authority.

Related links:

One year on from Marlie farm explosion deaths: no government action on firework container “bombs”. Read more 

Container  “bombs” warning as firework ship set to dock in Felixstowe. Read more

We Remember (Firefighter magazine). Read the article