During the national emergency, many in the Fire Sector will be concerned regarding what work should or shouldn’t go ahead.
The government advice is most importantly to all “Stay Home-Stay Safe-Protect the NHS”. This is for an initial three-week period as all play their part by limiting contact with others to reduce the virus’s opportunity to spread. There are exceptions which have raised multiple questions within the wider sector.
Key worker status
The Home Office Security Minister highlighted that fire safety personnel have a role. Where their work is essential to national infrastructure, he noted that they would be considered as key workers in regard to supporting their children with school places. This offers some sense of the government focus. Importantly it did not define all fire safety personnel as receiving this status.
Judgement and sensible interpretation are needed in any decision to go ahead with tasks with an aim of minimizing social contact wherever possible. Should the decision be that attendance is critical then the strictest rules on personal hygiene, individual travel arrangements, PPE and social distancing must be planned and followed.
The situation is continuing to evolve, and further clarification is being sought and will come from the government.