Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to take steps to help ensure adequate recording of occupation, or former occupation, of firefighters in (a) health and (b) similar records, including on death certificates.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to introduce (a) facilities and (b) contracts for appropriate and effective PPE and workwear cleaning across all Fire and Rescue service and duty systems.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to introduce effective decontamination policies and training across the Fire and Rescue Service.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to improve (a) recording and (b) monitoring of firefighter exposures to contaminants.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to introduce legislation that will ensure that firefighters affected by disproportionately high cancer rates receive protection and compensation.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of annual health monitoring for all firefighters, including after retirement.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure the (a) monitoring of and (b) correct compensation for cancer among firefighters.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance. The Home Office will consider the recently published study that covers Scotland to understand its conclusions. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.
The “Fire and Rescue National Framework” also directs that all Fire and Rescue Authorities should have a people strategy which covers “health and safety, wellbeing, disabilities, and support (including mental health and physical support)”.
In addition, The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s Health and Wellbeing lead has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office will support these initiatives.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to initiate public information announcements across appropriate media warning of the danger of walking or playing on ice over waterways and ponds.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is not responsible for water safety.
Fire and Rescue Services may make local decisions to publish water safety information according to local circumstances or need.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the findings of the study on Scottish Firefighters Occupational Cancer and Disease Mortality Rates: 2000-2020 published on 10 January 2023, if she will hold discussions with (a) trade unions, (b) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (c) other Cabinet colleagues on cancer mortality among firefighters.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance and employers must be mindful of the academic research in this area.
Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. This includes working conditions inside fire stations where there are strict requirements for decontamination of personal protective equipment following incidents.
The Home Office will be studying and considering this report carefully.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of cancer among firefighters.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The health and safety of firefighters is of great importance and employers must be mindful of the academic research in this area.
Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. This includes working conditions inside fire stations where there are strict requirements for decontamination of personal protective equipment following incidents.
The Home Office will be studying and considering this report carefully.