Health and Safety

Breathing apparatus win as Health and Safety Executive agrees to investigate

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said that it will assess the safety of the National Fire Chiefs Council proposal to allow firefighters to be deployed beyond the bridgehead wearing their breathing apparatus (BA), but not under air. The FBU publicly criticised the HSE last month for failing...

BA Safety Campaign – Health & Safety Executive Complaint

11 Aug, 2023

Circular ref

2023HOC0389MW

Dear Brother / Sister BA Safety Campaign – Health & Safety Executive Complaint Members have been informed previously that the union has successfully challenged attempts in various fire and rescue...

Firefighters’ union demands meeting with Braverman over Bibby Stockholm fire safety

02 Aug, 2023 By Ben Duncan-Duggal

The Fire Brigades Union has today written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to raise concerns over fire safety in asylum seeker accomodation, including the Bibby Stockholm. The barge is currently moored in Portland, Dorset and is earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation. Firefighters would be...

Firefighters’ union slams “chronic management inaction” over ‘stripping off’ policy in Kent Fire Service

24 Jul, 2023 By Alice Dann

Fire Brigades Union slams “chronic management inaction” to safeguard firefighters’ dignity at work, as Kent Fire Service defends ‘stripping off’ practice Kent Fire Chief defends practice, having initially denied it Union writes to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue...

Breathing apparatus safety campaign HSE

19 Jul, 2023

Circular ref

2023HOC0355MW

Dear Brother/Sister BREATHING APPARATUS SAFETY CAMPAIGN HSE FBU members face one of the biggest threats to our safety in decades. We have previously explained that the National Fire Chiefs Council...

Firefighters need 12-month maternity pay to protect mothers and babies, says union

13 Jul, 2023 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union has called for twelve months of maternity leave on full pay for firefighters, citing research finding that exposure to contaminants while firefighting impacts the health of pregnant firefighters, foetuses, and babies. (1) In a letter addressed to the Local Government...

Creative Commons licence - credit Rod Allday

Firefighters union slams “shameful” plan to scrap fire safety for asylum seeker accomodation

29 Jun, 2023 By Alice Dann

The Fire Brigades Union has today attacked UK Government proposals to strip back fire risk assessment rules for asylum seekers' accommodation. According to plans published in May, the government plans to exempt accommodation provided on behalf the Home Office for asylum seekers from needing an HMO...

Asbestos

Asbestos, a “hidden killer”, remains a serious health risk in the UK, with approximately 5,000 people dying each year from asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos can lie dormant for decades, and about 1.5 million buildings in the UK still contain asbestos that could pose a health risk if disturbed. If...

Annual conference 2023 Blackpool credit Mark Thomas

Ready to fight for our future

Elected representatives from every brigade across the union gathered in Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel in May to decide the direction of the union for the year to come. This has been a momentous year. Since last year’s annual FBU conference, the cost of living has skyrocketed. We have had three prime...

Hundreds of London firefighters tested for cancers call for regular health monitoring

19 Jun, 2023 By Alice Dann

Hundreds of firefighters to be tested for cancer and other health issues in London as part of a national firefighter health monitoring research project, commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and carried out by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Firefighters are currently not...

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