Report emphasises need for protective gloves

The report into a blast at a fireworks factory in 2006 has made a total of 66 health and safety recommendations, including emphasising the need for protective gloves.

Firefighters Brian Wembridge and Geoff Wicker died at the Marlie Farm site in Sussex while battling the blaze and the subsequent East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service publication following the incident has stressed that the implementation of controls for utilisation of firefighting personal protective equipment must be monitored and reviewed.

While battling the blaze, video footage revealed that some firefighters were not using gloves at all times and others did not have their tunic collars raised, while two stated that their gloves had been blown off during the explosion.

This month, another fire broke out at a garage linking the Liverpool and Manchester railway line, which firefighters may have needed protective gloves to tackle as well.

It was thought that the premises could contain cylinders, which led to an evacuation of houses within 200 metres.
 

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