Inadequate and dangerous crewing levels

The NRC have consistently voiced concerns regarding the dangerous practice of deploying fire appliances to incidents with insufficient crew. Pumps being sent out with less than five riders, and often with just three riders, is becoming commonplace. Added to this, the practice of dual role of the driver and OIC or the driver and BA Team Leader, has also increased alarmingly as our employers continue to neglect the recruitment and retention required to maintain Retained staffing levels on stations.

Conference is aware of the critical shortages in Retained cover across Fire and Rescue Services. The solution to this will not be achieved by the removal of safety critical crewing levels. This practice puts our Members’ lives at risk and the lives of the public we serve. The only solution to the shortage of available crews on Retained stations and appliances is for our employers to recognise that investment is required.

The Fire Brigades Union has been at the forefront of the health and safety agenda and has been the only Union to successfully campaign for our Retained Members.

Conference instructs the Executive Council (EC) to compile information from all Brigade Secretaries, which will provide an up-to-date picture of how widespread these practices are. The EC will then formulate a national strategy aimed at reversing this safety critical trend. This strategy will be published by the end of 2022.