Personnel who work in the Fire and Rescue Services in Great Britain are employed by the Fire and Rescue Authorities. HSE are the enforcing authority for the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 imposes four key responsibilities on Fire and Rescue Services which are:
- community fire safety
- fighting fires
- dealing with road traffic accidents and,
- responding to other emergencies, such as flooding.
The injury and ill-health rates for the Fire and Rescue Service are above average and there remains scope for improvement through better management of health and safety as part of good management practice generally.