Fire service bans playing of sports on duty to protect firefighters

Derbyshire’s
fire service has banned its firefighters
from playing games on duty because of the risk of sporting injuries and
associated sick leave.

According
to the Times, team games such as
football and volleyball in Derbyshire’s fire station drill yards have landed
more firefighters in
hospital in recent years than accidents occurring on call-outs.

The
newspaper said that there is concern that relatively minor injuries from the
games, which are supposed to help keep firefighters
fit, are leading to lengthy periods of sick leave and even expensive
compensation claims.

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The
average length of leave taken after sports-related injuries in Derbyshire is 17
days.

Quentin Reade