Firefighters told: Don't climb ladders - because they are too dangerous

[mikeinet 37]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770

If there was so much as a cat stuck in a tree, the firefighters of Ampthill would be up their ladders in a trice.

But now they have been told they cannot even bring down old festival bunting... because that would be too dangerous.

The crews have been barred from cleaning up after their community's Gala Day, which took place in early July.

The annual event is always marked with colourful bunting throughout the Bedfordshire market town.

In previous years officers have pitched in afterwards to help take it down. But this year, nearly four months after the event, the bunting is still in place.

Councillor Mark Smith, the former mayor, said: "The reason the festival bunting is still up arises from the fact that due to local health and safety advice the local fire brigade is unable to take the bunting down."

Councillor Smith has apparently received complaints that the flags are now getting a bit tatty.

On an online forum, where Ampthill residents air their views about the town, some say they are exasperated with the situation.

Resident Charlie Garth said: "I'm sure our brave firemen aren't frightened about falling off a little ladder. They have never looked afraid of heights to me."

Deputy chief fire officer Graeme Smith said: "Yes it sounds like the world has gone mad. Firefighters will climb ladders to rescue people from burning buildings but not to remove bunting after a festival.

"But one is a 999 job where, in order to save lives, we will take calculated risks. The other is a maintenance job which is covered by standard health and safety rules which we would have to abide by, the same as everyone else.

"That could mean closing the road and using a platform to reach the bunting.

"Unfortunately if we went down that route people might ask why we are paying firefighters to use our top-level rescue equipment to remove a few flags, when a local contractor could do the job just as well."

It is not the first time firefighters have fallen foul of health and safety laws.

In August 2006, staff at Devon fire brigade were told to use the stairs instead of sliding down their poles - in case they hurt themselves.

Health and safety officials decided the poles were a hazard despite them being used to shave off vital seconds for 130 years.

As a result, Devon's newest fire station - the £ 2.4million Greenbank station in Plymouth - was built without one - leaving officers flabbergasted.

At the time, Station officer Ken Mulville said: "I would say it takes about a second and a half to slide down the pole, as opposed to 15 or 20 seconds to run down two flights of stairs - but those seconds could be critical."

Gloucestershire Fire Brigade was the first in Britain to ban its firemen from using their poles in 2002 after taking into account European safety directives.

And poles in Cheltenham fire station were sealed behind padlocked doors and firemen's beds moved downstairs so they respond more quickly to latenight call-outs.

In December 2005, fire crews in Merseyside were also banned from going running – in case they injured themselves and claimed damages.

The order was imposed after colleague Gavin Bassie, 38, won £100,000 for injuries sustained when he slipped as he was running at his base.

Firefighters were then told: "All forms of running as part of physical training will be prohibited for all service personnel until further notice."

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Wow, and I thought OSHA was rediculous... poor Brits.