Dear Brother/Sister,
BA Safety Campaign – Briefing Note
Members have been informed previously, by way of all members circular 2021HOC0235MW, of the Union’s successful challenge in preventing the introduction of an unsafe procedure in London Fire Brigade which proposed that firefighters be deployed beyond the Entry Control Point not under air.
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 have chosen not to retract the guidance.
It is a matter of extreme concern that we are now seeing a number of other FRSs attempting to impose the unsafe practice into local policy. At this time, the number of FRSs doing so is small. Cynically, the FRSs in question say that they are revising their policy in this manner as a response to the Grenfell Tower fire and the building safety crisis. We want to stress - the NFCC plan does not provide the answer to the building safety crisis or the problems encountered at Grenfell.
We are facing one of our biggest threats in decades.
It is imperative that members take ownership of this issue, take part actively and continuously oppose its introduction and implementation. It is important to set out from the start that the argument is not about the FBU disliking a solution adopted by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). It is that the NFCC have not identified a solution, but in fact created an additional major problem. This is not a matter of firefighter safety vs. public safety - it is a matter of firefighter safety and public safety. Finally, it’s important to recognise that at the moment the NFCC is attempting to use the Grenfell fire as a Trojan horse to bring in sweeping changes to the use of breathing apparatus. Members should be aware that this issue is not confined to dealing with fires in tall buildings. It is about breathing apparatus (BA) at all fires.
It is self-evident to real fire professionals that the NFCC must now remove their unsafe and misguided guidance as a matter of urgency. We are clear that such policies, if introduced, would be unlawful. The Union will challenge this practice wherever it is raised, utilising all legal, political and industrial resources at our disposal. Although others stay silent, the FBU can never compromise on firefighter and public safety.
Accordingly the Union is:
- Challenging this at national level in discussions with the Home Office, HSE, and NFCC.
- Providing information and advice to local officials who are challenging it at FRS level.
- Taking legal advice in order to be prepared to take whatever steps are necessary on any front.
- Preparing officials and members across the UK should any FRS decide to take steps to adopt the NFCC policy.
To assist with this preparation, this circular provides members with a briefing note setting out the key issues to inform debates at branch meetings.
Yours in unity,
Riccardo la Torre
National Officer
