Health and safety and operational reality in the Fire and Rescue Service

摘要

'What should we do about the Fire and Rescue Service, now for health and safety reasons they don't (a) put out fires or (b) rescue people in life threatening situations?' - Rod Liddle, Sunday Times November 20, 2011. How has it come to a situation where a journalist, albeit one that likes to provoke discussion and reaction, is writing this sort of thing in a national newspaper? It is true that Liddle's words were written in the aftermath of the Alison Hume inquiry where the Sheriff had commented on the FRSs 'rigid compliance' with health and safety rules. I do not intend to comment directly on this case as I was not there and do not want to second guess colleagues and their decisions.