Monday, 6 April 2009

Throwing Money Down The Drain. Again….

Firemen who are used to climbing 300ft ladders have been ordered not to climb up small step ladders due to health and safety concerns.

They have been told to use a special telescopic rod when checking and fitting smoke alarms rather than using step ladders.
Hmmm, this smells a little fishy…
The move has been blasted as 'ludicrous' by firemen who say they are trained to climb ladders as part of their job.

One said: 'It is preposterous. Climbing a ladder safely is an integral part of being a firefighter. It is what we do and we receive expert training to ensure we do it properly.

'To now be told we are not to be trusted with a set of step ladders is ludicrous. We will be banned from tackling fires because they can get quite hot. '
I wouldn’t be at all surprised, frankly.

But there may be more to this than meets the eye:
The rule has been introduced by Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service which is handing out 13ft fishing rod-style poles with the aim of speeding up smoke alarm fitting and checks.
And whereare they getting these from….?
Designers of the equipment, Fire Angel, said it was safer for firemen as well as being cost-effective and enabling higher ceilings to be fitted with smoke detectors.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service said the equipment was being rolled out because it was an efficient method of fitting detectors.
Hmmm, sounds more like a cozy little arrangement between a supplier of 13ft telescopic poles and the public sector, rather than any real worries about ‘elf and safety, doesn’t it…?

4 comments:

  1. I am the warden of a religious building (really) and the elfnsafety says I can't use the step ladder to, say, replace light bulbs without "training". such nulletins make excellent kindling for the leaf fires that are almost certainly illegal as well.

    word: fartaxi

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  2. Dr Melvin T Gray6 April 2009 at 10:54

    General duties to make safe working arrangements were tightened in 2005 with specific Regulations for 'working at heights' - in light of 40,000 stepladder accidents per annum. Firemen can still apply for specific exemption allowed under the Regulations for classes of trained worker. I doubt the contract you speak of is oiled in any way Julia, but you can never be certain these days.

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  3. Wait till some fireman loses an eye because the detector dropped off the rod and hit him in the face. Or claims industrial damages due to repeatedly looking up and straining his neck.

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  4. A 300 foot ladder! Woweee. What the hell is the counterweight to that?

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