LFB Safety Policy Regarding Water Crossings
Case reference FOI2025/00202
Received 2 March 2025
Published 27 March 2025
Request
Fire Fighter workforce safety policies, particularly in relation to dealing with flooded roads and Ford Water Crossing.
I would like to request information regarding:
1. Workforce Policies on Water Crossings: Does Field Staff have an official policy or guidelines regarding the use of water crossings (RAMS) for your employees? If so, please provide copies of relevant policy documents, training materials, or risk assessments related to employees crossing fords or working in areas with water hazards.
2. Risk Assessments for crossing water in a vehicle. Were any formal risk assessments conducted specifically for water crossings. If available, please provide copies of such risk assessments, including those assessing potential hazards for field based staff.
3. Workforce Training & Safety Measures: Are your employees, including maintenance or emergency response teams, given specific training on assessing the safety of water crossings? If so, please provide details on what training is provided and any internal policies regarding vehicle use in flooded or hazardous conditions.
4. Were any concerns raised about staff or contractors potentially being at risk while using the crossings.
Response
Please see my response to your queries below:
1. Workforce Policies on Water Crossings: Does Field Staff have an official policy or guidelines regarding the use of water crossings (RAMS) for your employees? If so, please provide copies of relevant policy documents, training materials, or risk assessments related to employees crossing fords or working in areas with water hazards.
2. Risk Assessments for crossing water in a vehicle. Were any formal risk assessments conducted specifically for water crossings. If available, please provide copies of such risk assessments, including those assessing potential hazards for field based staff.
For your questions one and two: I have attached the LFB ‘Policy number 0813 - driving Brigade vehicles - NOG (1)’ to the ‘Documents’ section below. This includes sections on assessing all potential driving hazards.
3. Workforce Training & Safety Measures: Are your employees, including maintenance or emergency response teams, given specific training on assessing the safety of water crossings? If so, please provide details on what training is provided and any internal policies regarding vehicle use in flooded or hazardous conditions.
In conjunction with the above policy, I have attached a copy of the National Operational Guidance ‘Emergency response driver and instructor framework’ to the ‘Documents’ section below. This sets out the competencies and training requirements for emergency response drivers in fire and rescue services.
In addition, and slightly separate from the context of your request, LFB Operational staff may be required to conduct operational activity near to bodies of water. I have also attached a copy of the ‘Standard Operating Procedure: PN979a - Water operations’ in the ‘Documents’ section below which may be of interest.
4. Were any concerns raised about staff or contractors potentially being at risk while using the crossings.
The LFB Incident Monitoring Process (IMP) database is used by operational staff to record information about an incident or event where they have made an exceptional observation and wish to report on. I have looked at any comments recorded under the area of ‘All Incident Considerations - Driving Brigade Vehicles (813)’ in the last five years and none of the comments reference “water crossings”.
Documents
This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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