Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 18/12/2009 09:32

A report detailing an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive into health and safety standards has concluded that Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is well structured with a positive health and safety culture throughout the organisation.

The report follows an inspection carried out in October 2009 and focuses on specific operational topics including training and competence in core firefighter skills; competence for incident command and the provision of information relevant to operational decision making.

The team recognised Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service as a learning organisation and particular strengths were identified in policy and policy review. Mention was made by the inspection team of staff at all levels being open and honest about the challenges CFRS is facing and how communication channels are working well.

Special praise was given to the Service’s training facility at Portreath which was described as ‘excellent’. Decisions made by the Service to provide specialist training which allows firefighters to develop a complete appreciation of all aspects of fire behaviour was also praised as good practice.

The Health and Safety Executive made some recommendations to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service with three priorities identified including a need for the Service to review the provision of resources to deliver its training needs; consideration to be given to how it will deliver skills training and assessments of incident command and a plan for how health and safety training will be delivered to firefighters who may be exposed to new or increased risks because of their role or station being changed.

Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury said: “I am pleased that the Health and Safety Executive has recognised the many areas of health and safety good practice that Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has in place. There is of course, always room for improvement and we will take on board the recommendations made and put together an action plan to detail how we are going to tackle the issues raised by the inspection team.”

Cabinet member for stronger communities Lance Kennedy said: “The Health and Safety Executive has recognised that some of the current arrangements are in significant advance of the Service’s previous position. This, coupled with the Service’s ROSPA level 5 accreditation – the highest level possible – following a comprehensive inspection of health and safety management by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents earlier this year, demonstrates positive progress in addressing the issues raised by the Improvement Board.”

Note to editors

A copy of the Health and Safety Executive report is available on the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service section of the Council’s website.

The link to it can be found below:

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=22496