Health and Safety Management Inspections of the Fire and Rescue Service by the HSE

For the attention of:
Chief Fire Officers
FRA Chair/Portfolio Holders
Clerk to the FRA

Health and Safety Management Inspections of the Fire and Rescue Service by the HSE

You will be aware that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) intends to carry out health and safety management inspections in a sample of eight Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) during 2009-10. Those eight FRSs have now been advised of HSEs intention to inspect them.

In planning for these inspections HSE has liaised with the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisers’ for England Scotland and Wales, Audit Commission (England, Scotland & Wales), the National FRS health and safety group and the CFOA health and safety group. Additionally HSE has seconded a serving FRS Area Manager to assist with the pre planning phase.

At the conclusion of inspections each FRA will be given an individual inspection report. At the end of the inspection programme a consolidated, anonymised report will be shared with all FRSs and other stakeholders.

The FRS to be inspected are -

Cornwall County Fire Brigade
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

These services have been selected to be representative of GB FRSs. However, if during the course of the year, circumstances arise whereby HSE decides that it would not be appropriate to continue with an inspection in a particular Service, then the list may need to be altered and another Service included. If this occurs then Services will be advised as soon as this is known.

The inspections will use the framework of HSG65 ‘Successful Health and Safety Management’. Health and Safety Management will be assessed by specific consideration of amongst others the following issues:

• Training and competence in core firefighter skills including Breathing Apparatus and associated procedures; compartment fire behaviour training
• Competence for incident command
• Provision of risk critical information to inform operational decision making

This programme of inspections does not preclude the investigation of other incidents by HSE nor any interventions to follow up previous issues with any individual Service in GB should the need arise during the course of the year.
Further queries should be addressed to Jenny Morris via e mail at jenny.morris@hse.gsi.gov.uk

Ian Copland
Government and Disciplined Services Unit (Fire & MOD)
Public Services Sector
Health and Work Division

T - 0151 951 5794
M - 07879 661500
(VPN - 523 5794)


	02 April 2009
Health and Safety Management Inspections of the Fire and Rescue Service by the HSE
For the attention of: Chief Fire Officers FRA Chair/Portfolio Holders Clerk to the FRA Health and Safety Management Inspections of the Fire and Rescue Service by the HSE You will be aware that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) intends to carry out health and safety management inspections in a sample of eight Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) during 2009-10. Those eight FRSs have now been advised of HSEs intention to inspect them. In planning for these inspections HSE has liaised with the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisers’ for England Scotland and Wales, Audit Commission (England, Scotland & Wales), the National FRS health and safety group and the CFOA health and safety group. Additionally HSE has seconded a serving FRS Area Manager to assist with the pre planning phase. At the conclusion of inspections each FRA will be given an individual inspection report. At the end of the inspection programme a consolidated, anonymised report will be shared with all FRSs and other stakeholders. The FRS to be inspected are - Cornwall County Fire Brigade County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Grampian Fire and Rescue Service Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service These services have been selected to be representative of GB FRSs. However, if during the course of the year, circumstances arise whereby HSE decides that it would not be appropriate to continue with an inspection in a particular Service, then the list may need to be altered and another Service included. If this occurs then Services will be advised as soon as this is known. The inspections will use the framework of HSG65 ‘Successful Health and Safety Management’. Health and Safety Management will be assessed by specific consideration of amongst others the following issues: • Training and competence in core firefighter skills including Breathing Apparatus and associated procedures; compartment fire behaviour training • Competence for incident command • Provision of risk critical information to inform operational decision making This programme of inspections does not preclude the investigation of other incidents by HSE nor any interventions to follow up previous issues with any individual Service in GB should the need arise during the course of the year. Further queries should be addressed to Jenny Morris via e mail at jenny.morris@hse.gsi.gov.uk Ian Copland Government and Disciplined Services Unit (Fire & MOD) Public Services Sector Health and Work Division T - 0151 951 5794 M - 07879 661500 (VPN - 523 5794)