Advice and information on safety during FBU strikes

The Fire Brigade Union have now called off the strike planned for this weekend

The next London FBU strike runs from 10am Friday 5 November until 9am Sunday 7 November.

1. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating lack of training of AssetCo staff, who are used as 'cover' during FBU strikes - read more here.

2. Click here to read ASLEF's advice on safety concerns during FBU strikes.

3. The FBU has provided us with the following information:

Fire Brigade capabilities during periods of strike action by members of the Fire Brigade union on incidents on the underground network in London

Thank you for your concerns regarding periods of industrial action (strike action) by Fire Brigade Union members in London. From the information you provided me, I feel obliged to bring to your attention the inaccuracies that your management have received in this matter from the London Fire Brigade.

The operational procedures relating to incidents on the underground have been developed over a number of years ensure the fastest and safest response. These operational procedures involve dealing with the widest type of incident, from a small fire to a major catastrophic incident, all of which have happened in some form or the other in the past.

All these various scenarios have been pre-planned for, to ensure maximum capability at any call to the underground. Fighting fires in the underground requires specialist skills, none of which the contractors being employed by the fire brigade during periods of industrial action have. Their skills level is very basic and in truth basic would be an underestimation. London fire-fighters spend six months in basic training before being sent to an operational station, and then spend a further two years training, before they are deemed to be competent. We understand that the contractors have had no more than one to 2 weeks basic training, and will only fight fires from a defensive point of view. In other words they will not attempt to make rescues or fight any fire internally, which obviously presents a specific risk if a fire occurs within the underground network.

Also when Fire Brigade Union members are taking industrial action there are only 27 of these basic appliances available, and during last week's industrial action on the 23rd, by 1400 in the afternoon there were only 11 appliances available across the whole of London rather than normal 300, there were only 66 untrained contractors available rather than the 1200 plus professional fire-fighters during normal periods of working.

There will be no crews available with GAS tights protection PPE suits or other specialist equipment to an incident in tunnel network during periods of industrial action.

None of the specialist fire rescue units (FRU) will be available during periods of industrial action. These units carry 90% of the equipment required for dealing with incidents in the underground network. Without these appliances being available, rescues and incidents in tunnels will not be able to be dealt with. Incidents below ground level would be near impossible to be dealt with without the availability of these crews and appliances.

There will be no urban search and rescue (USAR) equipment or crews available in London either, during periods of strike action in London, should a terrorist or other major incident occur, this equipment is specifically designed to deal with incidents involving chemical or biological, as well as specialist decontamination equipment for members of the public and your members if such an incident were to happen.

Therefore if you are carrying a risk assessment you must have the full knowledge that there will not be support of the Fire Brigade to assist should an incident occur.

The picture I paint is not a good one, and I completely understand that you have to take into account all of the above to ensure the safety of the public and your members. It is with deep regret that fire-fighters are taking this action.

Gordon Fielden
Regional health and safety coordinator
London FBU Regional Chair