Theatres told to check fire safety
BECTU has called for risk assessments in London theatres before fire service strikes begin.
Letters have been sent to theatres in the West End, reminding managers that the impending series of strikes by Fire Brigades Union members could put audiences and staff at risk.
The union believes that statutory risk assessments, obligatory checks on working practices and hazards, may be invalid during the strikes, and has called for new assessments to be carried out urgently.
Unless theatres carry out new checks, and put in place any special safety arrangements that may be required to deal with the strikes, BECTU will register formal disputes with each offending company.
Members of BECTU working in theatres are also being reminded that under health and safety regulations, workers are entitled stop work and proceed to a place of safety it they believe they are exposed to serious, immediate, and unavoidable danger.
Letter to West End theatre employers
As you are aware members of the Fire Brigades Union will be initiating a campaign of industrial action in support of their pay claim on the following dates:
- 09.00hrs Tuesday 29th October to 09.00hrs Thursday 31st October (48 hours)
- 09.00hrs Saturday 2nd November to 09.00hrs Monday 4th November (48 hours)
- 09.00hrs Wednesday 6th November to 09.00hrs Thursday 14th November (8 days)
- 09.00hrs Friday 22nd November to 09.00hrs Saturday 30th November (8 days)
- 09.00hrs Wednesday 4th December to 09.00hrs Thursday 12th December (8 days)
- 09.00hrs Monday 16th December to 09.00hrs Tuesday 24th December (8 days)
The government has admitted that fire cover during these periods will be wholly inadequate and that there will be insufficient poorly trained personnel using restricted and antiquated equipment.
We are concerned that the use of inferior appliances and poorly trained operatives in place of the usual highly trained fire fighters will put the safety of our members and the theatre going public at risk.
We are advised that Risk Assessments required under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Management Regulations) may be invalid. We believe that your company will need to review its Risk Assessments for many of the activities that are carried out in theatre. In addition you will need to specify what arrangements will be put in place in case of an emergency during this industrial action.
BECTU would request that revised risk assessments and details of the arrangements that will be put in place to ensure the safety of our members and the public are provided as a matter of urgency. A failure to provide this information may result in a dispute existing between the company and this union.
You should also be aware that we will be advising our members of their legal right under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Management Regulations) to stop work and proceed to a place of safety if they believe they are exposed to serious, imminent and unavoidable danger.
I look forward to hearing from you and trust that we can work together to ensure the safety of everyone involved in theatre during the Fire fighters pay campaign.
Yours sincerely
BECTU