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Firefighters Pole-axed by New H&S Regulation

October 29, 2008 on 3:52 am | In Uncategorized |

Perhaps I’m wrong but aren’t these the guys who run into burning buildings when everyone else is running for their lives. But I must be wrong because health and safety officials in the Southport area apparently consider that firemen are no longer tough enough to slide down the traditional fireman’s pole.

It seems that the brave men and women of Southport’s Fire service must now use the stairs when responding to emergency calls. It would seem to me that if a professional firefighter were not capable of sliding down the traditional fireman’s pole, then presumably they would not be capable of performing the multitude of physically dangerous tasks we ask them to do every day.

One retired firefighter with 30 years in the job stated that in all that time he had witnessed one single broken ankle as a result of using the pole. Surely, this should be compared to the seconds saved that result in a firemen saving just one more life by getting to a fire that fraction earlier.

Firemen themselves suggest that a bunch of people heading down the stairs at breakneck speed is liable to be far more dangerous than their traditional route to the fire engine. What’s next, should we stop firemen tackling those dangerous fires in case they burn their fingers or singe their hair?

Whether we like it or not all organisations, even the Fire Brigade, have to comply with health and safety regulations. To ensure that your company is always up-to-date with H&S rules visit Workplace Law and check out their highly regarded NEBOSH general certificate course.