The first of two new fire and rescue service operational guidance generic risk assessments (GRAs) has been published, and offers guidance on turning out and arriving at the scene of an accident, and flashover and backdraught fires.
The GRA guidance reflects modern good practice and changes in health and safety legislation, as well as occupational health and welfare management.
The Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight said, "The new generic risk assessment guidance should inspire the confidence of both the service and the public. The fire and rescue services will now be in a stronger position to improve firefighter and public safety, and improve interoperability between fire rescue services as they are all working to the same guidance."
Fire Minister Shahid Malik said, "Everyone in the fire and rescue service community from strategic managers to front line firefighters will clearly find this important reading. Others who work closely with the fire and rescue service at emergency incidents will also find it of use when creating their own incident safety guidance."
The new guidance, which replaces risk management documents that were originally published in the late 1990s, will be issued at a rate of two topics a month until the end of 2010. The next topics in the series to be published in the coming months are:
