18.01.2007

Taking health and safety a step too far

Firefighters on Humberside have been told that they should stop using ladders, according to this report carried in The Times newspaper.

"Given that going up ladders to rescue people from blazing buildings is what firefighters do for a living, the news has been greeted with more than a little incredulity by the firemen of Hull and its surrounding area.

The fact is the warning does not cover the use of the long telescopic ladders that are built into their fire engines. No the concern is the climbing of small stepladders to install smoke alarms in people’s homes, a free service offered by the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.
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Firefighters don't just fight fires

The local fire brigade has been reviewing its stepladder policy after local officials of the Fire Brigades Union pointed out that a firefighter on a stepladder two metres off the ground may be contravening the Work At Height Regulations 2005.

Fire officials are considering whether to insist that crews who install alarms should work on some form of platform rather than a ladder.

Sean Starbuck, regional chairman of the FBU, said: “The use of stepladders to fit smoke alarms contravenes working-at-height regulations, which were introduced by the Government. We have raised the issue and the Health and Safety Executive has agreed that a review is needed.”

Humberside firefighters have installed around 15,000 smoke alarms in private homes over the past year and the brigade has stressed that the service will continue. No decision has been taken yet on the safest way for its staff to reach people’s ceilings.

Statistics are not available for the number of firefighters who have been injured in falls from stepladders."