Fire staff on long-term mental health leave up by 30%

Very hard job, I wish them well.

very stressful job, never quite knowing what they will find when
they arrive at a "job"

maybe they need shorter shifts and bigger breaks

good luck to em, and give them the help they need

It was easier to milk it in the old days, back pain. Two of my customers got pensioned off many years ago with back problems. One is still a window cleaner, the other is over 70 and still a landscape gardener.

Stressful, but oversubscribed job. Very popular, often due to shift patterns helping with family life.

The 4 on 4 off was a dream ticket for many. Not sure how much that still exists.

You have to laugh at the Corbyn types who say they want to live in more socialist countries like in Scandinavia.
Where the fire services are run by competing private operators.

'Av googled, like, a list of like countries 'an that, but Scandinavia 'ain't on it. Maybe the 'Corbyn types' 'av hidden it soz they can all emigrate wivout   anyone twiggin'.

Will there be an inquiry into fire service procedures following Grenfell tower ?

My nephew tried in vain to get into the fire service for many years,a cousin was in it and heartily recommended the job to him. The union reps have a vested interest screaming about how hard it can be in exceptional circumstances,I suspect the management are too weak to tolerate 30% sickness rates,that is ridiculous.

Everyone would be glad to see a fireman when they need one.

But it's a closed shop. You never see them trying to recruit - need to know someone to get in. Once in the terms and conditions are very favourable -  good pension, sick pay, etc.

so they should be A T,scary old job at times no doubt

Agreed terry they do not get paid enough imo.

They clearly do get paid enough because there is no problem recruiting. It's not like nursing where supply does not meet demand.

Every snooker hall should have it's own fire station attached.

I recall a study years back about how long people actually worked at the job they were employed for. Firefighters were easily the occupation that worked the least at what they were employed for. I recall an average of 8 minutes a day. I guess someone has to polish the fire engine.

And firefighter is nowhere near the the one of the most dangerous jobs. Which are jobs like logging, fishing, driving and farming. As wikipedia wryly notes,

Firefighters die at a rate of 2.5 per 100,000 workers, which is slightly above the rate for cashiers (1.6)