Firefighters to get £420 chairs

The chairs, which cost around £420 each, are being rolled out to fire stations across the region, including Wolverhampton, just 18 months after bosses controversially stripped them of beds to stop firefighters sleeping while on night duty.

It is believed the move to reclining chairs could cost West Midlands Fire Service up to £150,000 to introduce.

The chairs have already been introduced by Greater Manchester Fire Service, which ordered staff to undergo health and safety "training" before using them last year.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Mike Fox said: "It was decided more than 18 months ago to remove beds from fire stations as part of the modernisation of the service.

"The firefighters do an excellent job that is physically demanding and the authority has recognised there is a need for suitable rest facilities that can be used at appropriate times.

"However, firefighters still need to be alert and ready to respond to emergencies at a moment's notice.

"The authority has worked very closely with representative bodies, including the Fire Brigades' Union, to identify and agree on rest facilities that meet these requirements.

"The agreed facility is a type of reclining chair that was designed for the NHS and has been used by a range of organisations for more than 20 years. These will not be used for sleeping but for allowing the firefighters to rest and relax."

Some chairs have already been delivered to stations in the region and a rolling programme of deliveries to other stations, including those in Wolverhampton, is set to follow.

Mr Fox said: "The number of chairs allocated to each station depends on the number of firefighters who will need to use them. Each chair will cost in the region of £420 which the authority feels is a worthwhile investment. Costs are being met from existing budgets."