Fire chief calls for change in UK law
02 March 2011
A Scottish fire official has warned that lives are being placed at risk because of strict health and safety legislation.
The head of the Strathclyde service, Brian Sweeney, explained firefighters are being constrained by safeguards from saving people by the threat of prosecution if they take the wrong action during an incident.
He made his calls for a change in current laws with regards to emergency workers after a woman from Ayrshire died when she became trapped in a mine shaft.
The inquiry into the death of Alison Hume, 44, found the rescue had been delayed for reasons of safety and she had suffered a heart attack after being in the hole for six hours.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Sweeney said: "The introduction of the corporate homicide act and its application to senior officers and middle ranking and junior officers creates an environment where our ability to improvise is compromised."
However, the Health and Safety Executive has insisted a policy statement released last year has been endorsed by fire chiefs and John Duffy, Secretary of the Scottish Fire Brigades Union, insisted legislation should be tightened rather than relaxed.
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