If firefighters can't use ladders as they are risky, should they fight fires?

Question

A recent report said that one local authority (England) stopped firefighters from using ladders because they were too risky (Health & Safety at Work issue presumably). If this is the case, should they really be going into burning buildings with all the attendant risks, or working with dangerous or potentially lethal chemicals/fumes etc...?

Thanks to Corvinus and Sirjulian for additional info. What I heard actually came from Radio 4.

Answer 1

It is a bit bonkers isn't it. Next they'll be banning them from using water in case they get wet and catch cold.

Answer 2

Stop reading the Sun and read a real paper like The Times. Where you would have discovered that Firefighters have been banned from using home owners' own ladders. This seems quite sensible as who knows what state Joe Public's ladder is in.
Incidentally it was only related to the fitting of smoke alarms, inside houses.
What newspapers don't tell you, eh?

Answer 3

The fire brigade that you refer to is Humberside. I am given to understand that the use of ladders is not banned per se. Firefighters in the Humberside Brigade are only banned from using ladders to instal smoke alarms in households. This is because of the risk of personal injury while using a ladder to instal such alarms, which is not deemed to be a crucial part of their role. This being the case, they would not be able to lodge Personal Injury Claims with the employer in the event of sustaining an injury in this way. In addition, they could be subject to disciplinary action.

Best wishes, J

Answer 4

I know what you mean. Should any of us set out to go to work with all the risks of travelling? Health and safety do not do common sense.

Answer 5

Load of cobblers if you ask me. Health and safety gone mad.. next they'll be telling soldiers they cant carry Grenades or live ammo in case they hurt themselfs..

Answer 6

Jolly old England has gone jolly mad. I said this a long time ago.