FireFighter Sacked

[Gumbo]

A fireman has been sacked in Grampian for being obese, now the union is balloting all members for strike action.

I think the question here is, as Taxpayers do we have the right to expect people whom our lives may depend on to be physicaly up to the job ???? The same could be said for Police Officers etc, the Fire Board have said they have offered every possible help to the person involved to lose weight, but he has refused should he be sacked or not ??

 

[SteveW77]

I don't care if the person who puts out the fire in my house is fat or not, as long as they are there when needed.

I must confess to being on the large side myself, but this has not influenced my veiw in any way.

Steve W

 

[weejock]

If this chap has either failed or refused the offers of help from his employer surely they have a duty of care to first the fireman himself, his workmates and the general public that he is to serve by ensuring that he is fit and capable for the task his job demands.

I am making the presumption that he was not the usual couple of stones overweight but a good 10 or so that the Fire Brigade felt the need to take this course of action.

Whilst I have never been a fireman I can imagine that from time to time they have to enter through some weird entrances and I feel that if he was stuck he may endanger other people.

It is a bit like a wheel chair user demanding to be allowed to join the paratroopers. Some jobs you have to be up to the physical challenges of them.

 

[RogerP]

I remember seeing a documentary about life aboard a RN Aircraft carrier and one episode featured a lad who failed a fitness test.

He wasn't the slimest and by the time he passed the test he was still a big lad. But the difference is he actually did something about improving his fitness to keep his job.

If this firefighter refused to help himself and thus put others lives at risk as a result then they did the right thing.

you would think that the physical demands of being a firefighter would encourage them to be as fit as they possibly can be , and , as most fire stations I've seen have some form of fitness equipement there's no excuse really.

 

[AnthonyNornIreland]

To be perfectly honest, and straight to the point, more than likely the reason he was sacked was due to the fact that his brigade where looking at the possibility of having to pay out a few bob to his family, if he died on duty.

if any one feels the need please go to the FBU website to read the stories about pension cuts, injured fire fighters having their pensions removed altogeather because they are now deemed fit to do "some sort " of fire brigade related job.

Its disgusting.

 

[Angus1]

Its also one step towards the reality the rest of us live in.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Perhaps Grampian have been told their employees aren't diverse enough, could they be all white or all male? Maybe the government agencies are putting pressure on them so they have the need to get rid of some to create vacancies for a Diversity Recruitment Drive ;O)

 

[AnthonyNornIreland]

Perhaps Grampian have been told their employees aren't diverse enough, could they be all white or all male? Maybe the government agencies are putting pressure on them so they have the need to get rid of some to create vacancies for a Diversity Recruitment Drive ;O)

Perhaps your not too far off the mark,if only you had heard some of the stuff I have...............

enough said.

 

[Lutz]

I don't know how obese the chap is, but circumstances can dictate that a fireman must be relatively athletic, if only to get through the front door or up a long-reach turntable ladder. If he is unable to do that, he has no place in the active fire service.

 

[LMH]

As far as I am aware, all serving fire fighters have to have an annual full medical with the fire service doctor. They also have to undergo a series of tests relating to fitness. Time per day is allocated to pt.

If they fail that fitness test/medical, then depending on how serious the problem is, or the nature of the problem, they can be taken off operation duty and given a period to increase their fitness. Obviously, it it's a very serious issue like cancer or similar, then they would be removed from operational duty and probably take sick leave.

However, if a ff's manager has concerns about a watch members fitness or health, then that manager has an obligation to raise it with the person concerned and if appropriate, the fire service occupational health department.

I can't comment on the Grampian allegations as I know nothing about that particular case and if people are getting information from the media, it won't be 100% truth I can assure you of that. To answer Gumbo's question, yes as a tax payer, I expect a member of the emergency services to be not only physically fit but able to carry out that particular job.

One thing I have found working in the Fire Service (not as a ff but as a manager) is that Chinese whispers is rife.

LIsa

 

[Dustydog]

Gumbo

If what has been reported is true and I expect the FF management went through all the due procedures etc and the FF was still too obese to do the job properly then , yes he deserves the sack.

So why then do the Unions have to have a ballot for strike action?

I thought FFs all had to do regular kep fit exercises. Maybe this FF needs to run and down a few mountains each week.

Cheers

Alan

 

[sconny]

I am serving firefighter in Durham and this is my view.

Having gone through the awful strike a few years ago I learnt one important thing.

Only believe half what you read in the press anr the other half treat with caution.

I only read the fat firefighter story briefly and the first thought and that of my work mates was , it's only half the story, there will be a lot more to it than that it's just the press decide what grabs your attention and print it.

We do have compulsary over 40's medicals and are now looking at annual medicals.

I have known guys with real medical issues who will very obviously never go on the run ( a fire engine ) again but the brigade would not lert them go untill they were advised by a specialist.

Don't believe the hype !!!!

It's the gutter press, this is someones life .

Regards

John

 

[Guest]

I'm avid it's difficult to have any sympathy for him.

He works for the public sector - and should know by now the criteria for becoming 'unsackable'

*****Part of post edited****

Attacks on differing groups of people just to try and make a worthless point will not be tolerated.

Damian(Moderator)

You've got to go with the flow if you want to get ahead....

 

[MalcolmL]

According to the local press, there have been "discussions" with this gent over the last three years. Apparently he had been told he required to lose three stone and hasn't done so. The Fire Service says it has followed procedures previously agreed with the FB Union.

 

[Guest]

I don't see why a particular point of view should be described as 'worthless'

It might not be valid to you - but by describing it as 'worthless' you are guilty of imposing your subjective assessment on everyone else.

There are quite a few comments in here that I, personally, consider to be 'worthless' - but I respect the right of others to make them.

 

[Damian]

I don't see why a particular point of view should be described as 'worthless'

It might not be valid to you - but by describing it as 'worthless' you are guilty of imposing your subjective assessment on everyone else.

There are quite a few comments in here that I, personally, consider to be 'worthless' - but I respect the right of others to make them.

Just the kind of reply I expected!

A post is made, bringing in totally irrelevant other minority groups, which is bound to give rise to more off topic replies.

The post is edited, so lets blame the Moderators!!

There are, indeed, many worthless comments dotted about the forum, but they are not removed as they are not potentially offensive.

There is a difference

 

[Guest]

I don't see why a particular point of view should be described as 'worthless'

It might not be valid to you - but by describing it as 'worthless' you are guilty of imposing your subjective assessment on everyone else.

There are quite a few comments in here that I, personally, consider to be 'worthless' - but I respect the right of others to make them.

Hi Damian

I genuinely do understand that you have duties to perform in your role as Moderator - but you seem to have become incredibly PC (no pun intended) recently.

In modern Britain we seem to be developing a caste system - one in which 'Minorities' are being elevated to an almost deified status, immune from criticism or censure.

Luckily for indigenous Britons it is only a matter of time until *they* become a 'minority' in the land of their birth - and can look forward to being treated with reverence by the rest of society.

When that happens, it goes without saying that the new majority will be anxious to give the new minority all the preferential treatment that they, themselves, currently receive.

Doesn't it?

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Well said Selwyn. The PC brigade have their tentacles in every walk of life in this country now, even in little forums like this one :O(

Social engineering someone once called it. This is the reason I could never be a Moderator, I have principles that I need to keep and cannot be swayed by seeming to be important in looking after others morals nor could I delete posts that were the truth.

 

[davedee]

I wonder if the mods have a weekly tally - a post deleting league table maybe. If they do, I bet I know who's at the top most weeks!

Dave

 

[RayS]

If you read the subheading for this forum it encourages readers to express views and let off steam about general caravanning issues. So far I have not detected any particular connection to caravanning, apart from one posting from a fireman which although interesting did not have any caravanning content. I suggest there are more appropriate forums - not on PCV - for such matters

 

[RayS]

The heading of this forum asks readers to express views and let of steam about general caravanning issues. So far I have failed to find any specific caravanning issue in this thread - apart from one contribution from a fireman, and suggest that PCV is not the most appropriate place for this discussion.

 

[RayS]

Before you all ask why I had to say the same thing twice, it was down to a glitch on my ISP - but the message stands.

 

[davedee]

Hi Ray. You are,of course, right;this is not a caravan-related topic. But it's not the first and it won't be the last time someone starts a thread like this under the 'General' heading.

It's one of those things,Ray. Maybe the format of the new Forum will be different,making it less likely. I don't know. But does it do any harm? I don't think so.

If it's such a problem, couldn't the thread be redirected to 'Chit Chat' after the first posting? It's a bit late in the day now.

Dave

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Exactly Dave. If the RayC's only complaint is that it's under the wrong heading then all can't be that bad :O)

If the site hasn't the technology to move it just copy/paste it over to Chit Chat.

Don't do it again Gumbo else you'll get another slapped wrist .... heh! heh! heh!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Exactly Dave. If the RayC's only complaint is that it's under the wrong heading then all can't be that bad :O)

If the site hasn't the technology to move it just copy/paste it over to Chit Chat.

Don't do it again Gumbo else you'll get another slapped wrist .... heh! heh! heh!

Oops, meant RayS ... typo .... see, so backward you can't even edit your posts.