Newly released data has highlighted the physical risks faced by frontline firefighters in Lincolnshire, with figures revealing the scale of injuries sustained while responding to emergencies.
Information obtained by Accident Claims Advice shows that Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service has recorded more than 150 staff injuries over the past three years, all occurring while firefighters were carrying out their duties.
Firefighting is among the most demanding roles in the public sector. Crews regularly operate in dangerous conditions, attending incidents such as building fires, serious road traffic collisions and hazardous material callouts. These environments often involve extreme heat, heavy equipment, unstable structures and exposure to traumatic events.
National statistics illustrate that this is not an isolated issue. Across England, 2,408 on-duty firefighter injuries were recorded in the year ending March 2024. Around 40% of these injuries occurred during operational incidents, including fires, rescues and emergency responses.
In Lincolnshire, 2023/24 saw 37 firefighters injured at work, the lowest annual total recorded over the past three years. However, more recent figures indicate a sharp rise, with injuries increasing to 62 over the last year, suggesting that the risks faced by crews remain significant.
Commonly reported injuries include burns, smoke inhalation, musculoskeletal damage, slips and falls, and impact injuries caused by collapsing structures or falling debris.
National safety reviews have repeatedly warned that reduced staffing levels, ageing fire service infrastructure and growing incident complexity are contributing to higher injury risks.
Further analysis by Accident Claims Advice identified manual handling as the leading cause of injury, accounting for 34 incidents, followed by slips, trips and falls on the same level, which resulted in 17 injuries across the service area.
Speaking about the need for increased investment, 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.”
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service operates 38 fire stations across the county, providing emergency response and fire prevention services to communities, including Lincoln and Boston.
Accident Claims Advice offers support to those who have suffered injuries whilst at work and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim.
They operate a 24-hour helpline, with an online claim form too, which you can access on their website.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.