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Bristol Uniforms on PPE for female firefighters
State of FireFIRE reports on the Inspectorate’s findings on
English fire and rescue services
Fire Service leadership developmentThe complex conundrum
of leadership is investigated in our exclusive focus on
tomorrow’s leaders
Improving building safety standardsThe fire sector responds to
the government’s announcement of a new Building Safety
Regulator
The trusted voice of fire & emergency since 1908
Focuson PPE
February 2020 www.fire-magazine.com
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www.fire–magazine.com Volume 115 | Issue No. 1425 | February
2020
ContentsFire & Emergency ResponseDressed for success: The
evolution of PPE for female firefighters 31Roger Startin, Joint
Managing Director of Bristol Uniforms, reports on the development
of personal protective equipment for women in the UK Fire
Service.
PPE Focus: Featuring contributions from Ballyclare, Beeswift,
Firexo and PBI
Professional DevelopmentAsian Fire Service Association annual
conference 40South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service hosted the
Asian Fire Service Association’s annual conference on November
28-29 at the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria, Sheffield
Fire Prevention & ProtectionFire Protection News 47New
measures to improve building safety standards: Housing Secretary
Robert Jenrick announces new measures including a new Building
Safety Regulator. Plus: Response to the government announcement
from the Fire Sector Federation, London Fire Brigade and the Fire
Protection Association
Comment 4FIRE Editor Andrew Lynch reflects on the State of
Fire report
News & Views 5Latest news roundup from around the
country and comment from the National Fire Chiefs Council
Government & PoliticsThe state of the (fire) nation
11FIRE reports on the 160-page document that summarises the view of
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue, based on the
inspection of 45 fire and rescue services in England
Fire Service leadership: A continuing, complex conundrum
14Following publication of the State of Fire, FIRE identifies
a potential turning point for the Fire Service, focusing on the
opportunities provided by operational independence
The final 15 inspections: more of the same? 18Tranche 3 of the
final 15 inspection reports was published just before Christmas.
FIRE examines whether there is anything new to say or if it is
just more of the same
Focus on Leadership Development 21Developing tomorrow’s leaders
today – a modern approach to the leadership conundrum by Sue Evans;
Trust and inclusion central to different leadership styles by
Jagtar Singh and Wayne McCollin; Measuring and developing
transformational leadership by Dr Paul Turner
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11
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On the Cover: Bristol Uniforms Image by WFS, licensed under CC
BY-NC-ND-2.0
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Fire & Emergency Response
“Bristol Uniforms have been a leader in protective clothing
design for women,
helping address issues close to our heart”
Dressed for success:The evolution of PPE for female firefighters
by Roger Startin
Focus on PPE:Featuring contributions from Ballyclare, Beeswift,
Firexo, PBI and Hunter Apparel
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www.fire–magazine.com | February 2020 | 31
Dressed for success: The evolution of PPE for female
firefighters
Roger Startin, Joint Managing Director of Bristol Uniforms,
reports on the development of personal protective equipment for
women in the UK Fire Service
“Bristol Uniforms have been a leader in protective clothing
design for women, helping address issues close to our heart”Jules
King, Chair of Women in the Fire Service
It has been more than 20 years since Bristol Uniforms was the
first UK manufacturer to introduce female standard sizes for
structural firefighting PPE. During this time, the number of female
firefighters joining
the Service has continued to grow. A report recently published
by the Home Office shows that 6.4 per cent of UK firefighters are
now women, compared to just 3.6 per cent ten years ago. As more and
more women consider firefighting as a career, it is essential that
they receive not only equal opportunities in their job roles, but
equal protection from their PPE.
The timeline overleaf outlines the history of women in the UK
Fire Service in the modern era, since they have been formally
admitted into fire brigades. There are, however, plenty of examples
of heroic female firefighters that precede this. Female brigades
carried out firefighting and rescue during World War I, for
example, and thousands of women were recruited into the National
Fire
Service during World War II, although usually (but not
exclusively) for administrative or driving positions.
As a clothing manufacturer for more than 200 years and a
specialist firefighting PPE manufacturer for the last 60 years,
Bristol Uniforms itself has a long history of providing protection
for male and female firefighters at home and abroad. When the very
first female firefighters began to join the UK Fire Service
throughout the 1980s, Bristol supplied bespoke, made-to-measure
sizes on request
from fire services needing kit for female crew members.In 1996,
the tragic death of firefighter Fleur Lombard
highlighted the outstanding contribution made by many women to
the Fire Service in the UK and prompted the government and
researchers to investigate how PPE services different body types.
This led to Dr Mandy Stirling’s anthropometric study in 2002, which
gave a series of recommendations on how PPE should be adapted to
suit the female form. The report was supported by the Fire Brigades
Union who appointed their first female President, Ruth Winters, the
same year.
Bristol had already introduced standard female sizes to the
market by this stage and was reassured that its kit met with the
recommendations, but nevertheless studied the report closely and
used it to adjust and refine its styles.
The Stirling report also led to the introduction of the female
test manikin, SOPHIE (System Objective Protection against Heat in
an Emergency), commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive in
2006. Prior to this, the industry testing centre, BTTG, used a
manikin in a male form: RALPH (Research Aim Longer Protection
Against Heat). In 2006 RALPH was updated and joined by
female-shaped model SOPHIE. Crucially, PPE could now be tested on a
female form to ensure full protection for both male and female body
shapes.
By 2007, Bristol Uniforms completed an Equality and Diversity
offering as part of its tender submission for the Integrated
Clothing Project: the UK’s first collaborative procurement scheme
for firefighting PPE. Our Development Designer, Helena Hobbs,
worked
PPE Focus
Chair of Women in the Fire Service, Jules King. Photo courtesy
of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
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on the research and development for production specifications at
the time, which included developing a co-ordinated range that would
be inclusive not only to women but to diverse faith and racial
groups. Helena comments: “We needed to provide a uniform that would
encompass as many individuals as possible within a cohesive range,
taking into account not only comfortable and protective structural
firefighting PPE, but also inclusive station wear that was cut
modestly to suit women of a range of faith groups.
“The outcome was a full range of clothing for female and male
firefighters, with all female clothing manufactured by Bristol
based on anthropometric surveys and cut from specially developed
blocks to conform specifically to female physiology.”
Bristol’s subsequent PPE ranges for the UK market continue to
offer provision for female and male firefighters, including the
most recent range for the Collaborative Framework for the national
procurement of firefighter PPE, launched in 2017.
1976During the hot summer of 1976, a major drought meant the
Fire Service urgently required new recruits. Josephine Langdon,
aged 25, was the first female firefighter to be formally admitted
to a brigade. She worked part-time in Battle for East Sussex FRS.
Entry tests included carrying an 11 stone man for 100 yards.
2004Gill Newton is appointed as the first female Chief Executive
(equivalent to Commandant) at the Fire Service College.
2000Cheryl Rolph becomes the first non-uniformed woman Chief
Executive (interim) at Cambridgeshire FRS.
1982 The first full-time female firefighters to sign up were
Josephine Reynolds and Sue Batten. Reynolds began training aged 17
and started her role in Thetford in 1983. Batten joined London Fire
Brigade aged 30 and gave 25 years of service.
1980sThroughout the 1980s there were very few female
firefighters. Bristol Uniforms supplied bespoke, made-to-measure
sizes on request from fire services needing kit for female crew
members.
2003Ergotech and Ergotech Action are launched – a new generation
of lightweight PPE, incorporating the latest fabrics on the market.
Twenty-eight sizes as standard for women and 28 for men.
1993Networking Women in the Fire Service (NWFS) is launched. The
network organised successful conferences and seminars, which
tackled the serious issues of the time and brought women together
to share experiences and offer mutual support.
2002Dr Mandy Stirling publishes her Anthropometric study
indicating how female firefighters require different sizes and
designs. Bristol’s existing female sizes are in line with her
recommendations, but small adjustments and refinements are
made.
1996Fleur Lombard from Avon FRS is the first female firefighter
to die on duty in peacetime Britain, at a fire in Staple Hill.
1998Bristol is the first UK PPE manufacturer to introduce female
sizes as standard, as part of its Wessex range. At first, 21 female
sizes are introduced to match the male offer. These are increased
to 28 sizes for both men and women by 2000.
2005Susan Johnson becomes the first non-uniformed female fire
chief when she takes up the role as Chief Executive at County
Durham and Darlington FRS.
© Avon Fire and Rescue Service
© ADP Communications
Josephine Reynolds © of Archant Norfolk
Ergotech Action. Image by WFS, licensed under CC
BY-NC-ND-2.0
Timeline
2002 Ruth Winters is elected as the first female President of
the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).
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PPE Focus
Looking to the Future
Bristol Uniforms’ commitment to the provision of high-quality
PPE for female and male firefighters is ongoing, and the company’s
support for female firefighters has been further demonstrated
through its sponsorship of WFS
training and development events since 2015.The new Chair of WFS,
Jules King, said: “We’ve been very happy
to have had the support of Bristol Uniforms over the last few
years. They’ve been a valued sponsor, putting their brand and
backing behind our work to create change and help build a more
progressive
Fire and Rescue Service. Bristol Uniforms have been a leader in
protective clothing design for women, helping address issues close
to our heart. Ensuring correctly fitting kit means safety is
maintained and ultimately better outcomes all round.”
Bristol Uniforms’ Joint Managing Director, Roger Startin,
concluded: “Ultimately, whether male or female, every firefighter
deserves to have PPE that fits well, is comfortable, offers the
best possible protection and enables the range of movement required
to carry out a physically demanding job.”
20073.1 per cent of
operational firefighters are women
20115.2 per cent
of operational firefighters are women
20196.4 per cent
of operational firefighters are women
20093.6 per cent
of operational firefighters are women
2017Bristol wins the contract for the national Collaborative
Framework for the procurement of PPE, providing a full range of kit
in male and female sizes.
2008Integrated Clothing Project (ICP) contract is won by
Bristol. It offers an extensive range of items, in male and female
sizes, ranging from firefighter protective clothing and station
wear to corporate wear, undress clothing and sports clothing.
2015ICP becomes Central PPE and Clothing Contract and Bristol
undertakes a technical refresh of the PPE range.
2014By now, NWFS has evolved to become much more than a
networking organisation and changes its name to Women in the Fire
Service UK (WFS), to reflect its wider aims to inspire, enable and
develop women in the Service.
2006BTTG, the industry testing centre, introduces SOPHIE – the
new female version of RALPH complying with manikin test standard
ISO 13506.
2020Six out of
54 chief fire officers are
women
2011Bristol launches XFlex – a revolutionary, ergonomic PPE
design with distinctive sports styling and lightweight fabric
combinations. Twenty-eight male and 28 female sizes.
2007Bristol Uniforms produces Equality and Diversity offering
for the Fire Service’s Integrated Clothing Project (ICP). Female
sizing is based on national anthropometric surveys and conforms
specifically to female physiology.
2017Dany Cotton QFSM becomes first woman to hold the position of
Commissioner of London Fire Brigade and is voted in as Chair
of WFS.
2019Jules King of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service becomes
Chair of WFS.
© BTTG © LFB
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