WEST Yorkshire’s Fire and Rescue Service has been applauded by the Health and Safety Executive.
HSE inspector Jeanne Morton visited fire HQ in Birkenshaw to see at first hand how improvements have been introduced over the last couple of years, particularly in the area of manual handling.
Fire chiefs now hope the service could be highlighted on the HSE’s website as an example of best practice.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Allan Hughes said:“During a recent visit to HQ, the inspector said she was impressed with our work and I’m delighted to say she wanted to come back on a proper fact-finding mission.
“Manual handling was, until recently, the most common cause of accidents, but in 2006 we recorded a 50% reduction in major accidents and a 36% reduction in all accidents.
“Early analysis indicates that this downward trend was continued through 2007.”
