Nearly 150 Bedfordshire firefighters injured on duty in three years, new data shows
Nearly 150 Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service staff have been injured while on duty over the past three years, new figures show.
According to official data for England (year ending March 2024), there were 2,408 ‘on-duty firefighter personnel injuries’ recorded.
Of these injuries, around 40% occurred during operational incidents such as fires, rescues, and other emergency attendances.
In 2023/24, 56 Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service staff were injured whilst working, the lowest number of injuries in the past three years.
Over the past year, the service has seen an increase in staff injuries, bringing the total to 90
As a result of these injuries, staff have lodged three claims against the service since 2022, leading to £26,689 being paid out in compensation.
Typical injuries include burns, smoke inhalation, musculoskeletal injuries, slips and falls, and impact injuries caused by collapsing structures or falling debris.
Several national reviews have highlighted that reduced staffing levels, increased incident complexity, and ageing infrastructure can contribute to higher-risk environments.
Accident Claims Advice also obtained figures on the main injury causes logged by the Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service across its overall service area over the past three years.
Handling, lifting, and carrying were the most common causes, resulting in 49 injuries, followed by other accidents, which led to 35 injuries.
Adam Taylor, Fire Brigades Union national officer, said: “Too often firefighters are not being provided with the basic equipment and training they need to keep themselves and the public safe.
“Without proper PPE, firefighters face an impossible choice between heat stroke and exposing themselves to burns, either from flames or the sun.
“We urgently need investment to sort out this problem. We also need national standards on equipment and training, as well as response times and crewing levels.”
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has 14 strategically located fire stations, plus its HQ, which houses control and training facilities, to serve the community across the county.
The service’s training centre recorded the most staff injuries, with 45, followed by Luton, which logged 34.