Today, the FBU has written to HMICFRS with reports of an "extremely inappropriate, unacceptable and unsafe practice" being carried out in Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS).
This involves firefighters stripping down to their underwear prior to donning their fire kit in the workplace. The FBU reports this happening in full sight of colleagues, and at times, the public.
Accepted practice is that fire kit is donned over cotton workwear (t-shirt and trousers).
The union reports that this practice has been permitted by KFRS policy and senior management.
Riccardo la Torre, Fire Brigades Union national officer added further comment:
Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s response to these inappropriate practices has been inconsistent and contradictory. Currently, the Service is alleging that no-one is ‘forced’ to undress. However, we know all too well that many workers will not feel able to challenge this practice.
Management should not be endorsing this, full stop.
The blame does not rest with firefighters working under this policy, but with the senior management who promote it.
Recent research by the TUC shows that 4 out of 5 women don’t report issues at work due to fear of reprisal, an issue reflected in this year’s HMICFRS inspections of fire services.
All workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.
Having to resort to stripping down to underwear in the workplace is completely unnecessary and inappropriate. There are other solutions to regulating body temperature which don’t involve this shocking practice – as firefighters from most other regions will attest to.
Wearing cotton workwear under PPE is standard practice in most fire services in the rest of the UK. Not only does this protect dignity, but it can also provide some additional protection, including from toxic contaminants in fire. It’s embarrassing that this is having to be explained.
The FBU has attempted to raise this matter at every level and has received no adequate response, all the way up to the top. This is a disappointing response from a Chief Fire Officer and NFCC leader.”
