What will stop when the firefighters strike?

What will stop when the firefighters strike?

Workplaces, trains, stadiums and theatres face safety threat

David Brown
Monday October 21 2002

The Guardian

Employers have been told to review their safety plans amid concerns that many businesses could be forced to shut during a strike by firefighters.

Sir Graham Meldrum, the chief inspector of fire services, is writing to more than 25,000 employers after unions warned that staff could refuse to work because of safety concerns.

Areas most likely to be hit include underground rail networks such as Eurotunnel and the London Underground. Workers at power stations, office blocks and factories could also join the walkout.

Sports stadiums may be ordered to close if there are serious concerns about the safety of spectators. Theatres, cinemas and restaurants could face limited operations. Unions said that staff would walk out if employers could not prove that their health and safety plans had been reviewed to take account of the lower level of service provided by the army's green goddesses.

The move follows a warning by Andy Gilchrist, leader of the Fire Brigades Union, in the Guardian yesterday that the dispute would have knock-on effects.

Janet Asherson, head of health and safety at the Confederation of British Industry, said: "At this stage there seems little evidence of wholesale shutdowns; in fact, a number of organisations have already indicated they will continue as normal." But she added: "Employers take the safety of staff and customers very seriously and many are reviewing their emergency plans, particularly in sectors such as chemicals and oil that have to be particularly aware of the danger of fire."

Underground

London Underground will close 19 stations served by lifts. They are: Belsize Park, Borough, Caledonian Road, Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line), Elephant & Castle, Gloucester Road, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Holland Park, Kennington, Lambeth North, Lancaster Gate, Mornington Crescent, Queensway, Regent's Park, Russell Square, Tufnell Park and Wapping.

The RMT, Britain's biggest rail union, has warned that its members would refuse to work if they had concerns about the safety of the system without full fire brigade cover. It would ballot for strike action if staff who felt at risk were forced to work. The unions have similar concerns about the safety of the underground services in Merseyside, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Mainline rail

The rail industry hopes that services would not be affected following a safety review by Railtrack, the Association of Train Operating Companies, the health and safety executive and Railway Safety, the rail industry's safety watchdog. Rail unions have already raised safety concerns, particularly on lines with long tunnels and services carrying hazardous cargos.

Channel Tunnel

Eurotunnel said it planned to run a normal service. However, the Transport and General Workers union, which represents drivers, has expressed concerns about safety and is negotiating with management. Green goddesses are too big to enter the tunnel and it requires specialist engines operated by the FBU.

Airports

Flights should not be interrupted as all airports used for commercial passenger flights employ their own firefighters, who are not in the FBU. The civil aviation authority said yesterday that it was satisfied with new contingency plans prepared by airports which take account of a firefighters' strike.

Fuel distribution

Unlikely to be affected as the unions be lieve that the green goddesses can successfully deal with a fire in a fuel tanker. Oil refineries employ their own firefighters.

Power stations

Power generating companies intend to operate as normal. BNFL, which operates the nuclear power stations, said it would keep the situation under constant review and would shut down if safety was at risk. Power station workers are considered likely to be one of the first groups to walk out because of safety concerns.

Offices and factories

All employers must complete a workplace risk assessment under health and safety at work regulations. These are likely to include an assumption that there will be a local authority fire service. Union health and safety representatives have raised concerns about workers in multi-storey office buildings who would rely on the fire brigade for evacuation.

Sporting events

The Premier League believes that all 20 clubs should be able to comply with the requirements for a new fire safety certificate. Spokesman Philip French said the clubs "have been working very hard with safety authorities for this particular contingency over recent weeks". A spokesman for the Football League, which has 72 clubs, said: "We are pretty confident that all our games will be able to go ahead, although it always depends on local conditions and the nature of any strike action."

Entertainment venues

Cinemas, concert venues and nightclubs will have to satisfy local authority licensing officers that their safety plans include a contingency for the firefighters' strike. The main criteria is the speed of evacuation, which is unlikely to be affected by the dispute. Emma de Souza, of the Society of West End Theatres, said: "Our understanding is that none of our theatres will have to close during the fire strike."

Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited

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