Fire service working with HSE to improve welfare standards at three fire stations

PROGRESS on mitigating measures to improve working conditions for retained firefighters at three rural stations in Shetland has been reported to the islands’ community safety and resilience board.

Shetland group commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Matt Mason, told the board on Wednesday morning that short term measures should be in place by the summer.

Bressay fire station has been described as the worst one a union official had seen in 20 years.

Bressay fire station has been described as the worst one a union official had seen in 20 years.

However, when it comes to major investments needed for the Bressay, Hillswick and Walls stations to meet modern standards, the fire chief described the backlog catalogue across Scotland as “insurmountable”.

Last month the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served improvement notices on the SFRS for failing to provide adequate welfare facilities at the three fire stations.

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There are no fixed toilets, rest facilities, showers or changing areas at any of the three rural stations.

All three stations will be visited by the fire service’s chief officer Stuart Stevens and chair of the SFRS board Dr Kirst Darwent this week.

A meeting of the Bressay Community Council heard last month that shower facilities could perhaps be installed at the old school should it prove to be impossible to upgrade the fire station on the island.

Asked by councillor Arwed Wenger for an update on the situation, Mason told the community safety board that his team and the agency [HSE] were working “proactively on this matter”.

“I am incredibly proud with the way the team has responded to the enforcement notice,” he said.

“We have been very, very proactive from a station level right up to senior management in responding to the improvement notice and trying to get mitigation in place.

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“There is no getting away from the fact that we have not met the required standard for those who have been working at these stations routinely, and that is certainly not lost on me or my management team.”

Mason added: “Small improvements are being made so that we can keep our staff safe and comfortable and in dignified working arrangements.

“In the short term we are working hard to put mitigations in place; the challenge remains around finances.”