This guide has been prepared to give Chief Fire Officers, Firemasters and other senior fire officers an overview of a health and safety structure required for a brigade.

Introduction

• The benefits of effective health and safety management.
• The duties and responsibilities of Chief Fire Officers, Firemasters as employers under health and safety legislation.
• The practical steps which need to be taken to establish a good health and safety management system in order to comply with the legislation.
• How to use the package of guidance, of which this is a part.
• The role of Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Management of Health and Safety

The guide recommends that the way in which to comply with the legislation and to achieve a lasting improvement in health and safety at work is to:

• Integrate the management of health and safety with the general management of the brigade.
• Change attitudes towards health and safety so that they become ingrained into the culture of the Brigade.

In practical terms the steps which will need to be taken to achieve these objectives and to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASWA) are:

• To ensure that there is in place a written statement of the policy, organisation and arrangements for managing health and safety at work.
• To identify and allocate responsibility and accountability to named managers.
• To ensure that all siyliticant hazards are identified, by undertaking risk assessments and that action is taken to eliminate or control the hazards.
• To provide adequate resources, including the appointment of competent staff to advise on health and safety matters.
• To involve employees:
  • By providing adequate information, instruction and training.
  • Through staff consultation and the appointment by unions or others of safety representatives and the establishment of safety committees.
• To establish monitoring systems so that health and safety policies can be reviewed.