Provide and maintain appropriate vehicles

Fire and rescue authorities need to plan for, provide and maintain appropriate vehicles and their associated equipment, for attending the anticipated range of operational incidents.

The Health and Safety Executive’s publication, Providing and using work equipment safely – a brief guide, provides an outline of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and describes what an employer may need to do to protect employees in the workplace.

Further information may be found at:

• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland)
• The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations
• Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
• The Highway Code – Annex 6: Vehicle maintenance, safety and security
• The Highway Code for Northern Ireland – Annex: Vehicle maintenance, safety and security
• ROSPA – Road Safety Resources for Employers
• ROSPA – Fleet Safety
• NFCC Fleet setting standards
• Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) inspection manual
• Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (Northern Ireland)

There are also British Standards publications that relate to fire and rescue service vehicles:

• BS EN 1846-1:2011 Firefighting and rescue service vehicles. Nomenclature and designation
• BS EN 1846-2:2009+A1:2013 Firefighting and rescue service vehicles. Common requirements. Safety and performance
• BS EN 1846-3:2013 Firefighting and rescue service vehicles. Permanently installed equipment. Safety and performance

Drivers should be aware of the potential distraction of the technology on-board vehicles, either fitted as standard or retrofitted to provide access to fire and rescue service information. This may include:

• Mobile phones
• Cab lighting systems
• Radios
• Computers, such as mobile data terminals (MDTs)
• Satellite navigation systems (satnavs)