The Fire Brigades Union has formally reported two fire and rescue services to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for a breach of health and safety law involved in policies which would see firefighters sent beyond the bridgehead without their breathing apparatus (BA) turned on.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight and Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue services have both implemented the change, which was first suggested by National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) guidance.
Several other fire services have also been identified as bringing in this policy.
The FBU letter called for the HSE to “investigate our complaint and use its statutory powers to bring an end” to the policy.
FBU national officer Riccardo la Torre said: “It is disgusting that, after the horrors of Grenfell, chief fire officers are trying to send firefighters into high-rise fires without their BA turned on. This procedure is unsafe, unlawful and unprofessional, putting firefighters and the public at greater risk.”
The policy change involves instructing firefighters to go beyond the point of guaranteed clean air with their BA turned off in high-rise building fires.
Firefighters are to turn on their BA only if a gas monitor alarm is activated, and return to clean air.
In its letter to the HSE, the union says this is far too late, contradicts all expert advice and does not allow firefighters time to don their BA or escape to safety.
‘This procedure is unsafe, unlawful and unprofessional, putting firefighters and the public at greater risk’
More broadly, the union argues that this policy is dangerous for further reasons, including that breathing apparatus is designed to be started in clean air conditions, any faults with BA sets may only be discovered after they have been started, and changing conditions may mean firefighters with their breathing equipment off may end up beyond the point of rescue.
Furthermore, the policy appears to run counter to the efforts of the DECON campaign to tackle fire contaminants and their effect on firefighter health.
Recent studies by Professor Anna Stec and the University of Central Lancashire warn that putting on BA too late, or taking it off too early, increases the risk of firefighters contracting cancer and diseases due to their occupation.
The union is also concerned that its officer members who are made to implement the policy could be subject to criminal charges, due to the legal breaches.
The policy has previously been struck down in London, by the fire service’s health and safety advisory panel, due to it being unsafe. The NFCC guidance has not been removed despite the London ruling.
