Health and Safety

High rise fire in Scotland March 2024 credit Alamy

Firefighters raise safety concerns after flat fire

Firefighters in Scotland have raised safety concerns over cuts to specialist appliances for fighting high-rise fires following a blaze in a block of flats in March. Some 70 firefighters and 12 appliances from across Scotland, including specialist height appliances, were called to the incident in...

Fire union warns government of Grenfell-style risk over weak high-rise evacuation policy

13 Mar, 2024 By Alice Dann

The union representing the overwhelming majority of firefighters has slammed new government guidance on building evacuation, saying that failings have left residents vulnerable to further Grenfell-style tragedies. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended in October 2019 that the government develop...

Emergency protest in Parliament Sq against anti strike Bill

Political fund ballot 2024 - VOTE YES

The law dictates that trade unions cannot spend money on political objectives unless this has been approved by a ballot of members The FBU’s political fund is used for political campaigning and to lobby politicians on behalf of our members at Westminster and in the devolved governments, no matter...

Fire union warns of “criminal complacency” after Wembley cladding fire

30 Jan, 2024 By Alice Dann

At least 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines were called to a cladding fire in Wembley yesterday, 29 January. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: "Firefighters have once again been called to cladding fire which could have resulted in tragedy. “The Fire Brigades Union warned of...

East Sussex FRS BA wear credit Eddie Howland

Labour urged to back plan for justice for seriously ill firefighters

28 Dec, 2023 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

Keir Starmer is facing a call from the Fire Brigades Union to back financial support – alongside funding for health monitoring and prevention measures – for firefighters who have developed cancer and other diseases through their job. In a letter to the Labour leader, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack...

Failed

Riccardo la Torre outlines the latest with breathing apparatus policy, and how the Health and Safety Executive is letting firefighters down Firefighters face one of the biggest threats to health and safety in decades. Under proposals from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), now imposed by some...

Now is the time to make your voice heard

Two days before this magazine went to print, after a wait of more than one year, the Westminster government finally published its plans for the fire and rescue service in England. Because of the FBU’s campaigning work, the government has retreated on many of its most damaging proposals, but dangers...

HSE Inspection Correspondence - BA Safety Campaign

24 Nov, 2023

Circular ref

2023HOC0536RLT

Dear Brother/Sister, HSE Inspection Correspondence - BA Safety Campaign Members of the Fire Brigades Union are facing one of the biggest threats to our safety in decades. Previous circulars have...

Health and Safety Executive report ‘an insult to the firefighting profession’, says union

24 Nov, 2023 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The Fire Brigades Union has slammed a Health and Safety Executive investigation into the use of breathing apparatus (BA) and warned that the watchdog has undermined its status as an independent regulator. The investigation, which was released this week, could pave the way for firefighters to be sent...

Firefighters: “failures at every level of government” led to Bristol tower block crisis

22 Nov, 2023 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union has today condemned “failures at every level of government” leading to the evacuation of hundreds of residents of Barton House tower block in Bristol last week. The council is now carrying out investigations due to last Monday’s report that “in the event of a fire, explosion...

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