Stress Training Cuts Fire Crews’ Sickness Levels

By NO BYLINE

SICKNESS levels among firefighters in the Lothians have plummeted after workers were offered better access to counselling services.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service (LBFRS) has now become the first emergency service in Scotland – and just the second public body in the country – to receive the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commendation Award, due to be presented by Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald today.

Measures have been introduced to help staff cope with the stress of witnessing distressing sights.

Nearly three-quarters of managers were trained by occupational psychologists last year on dealing with work-related stress.

The LBFRS has also formed a partnership with the Rivers Centre at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, which specialises in post-traumatic stress disorders.

Overall sickness levels have dropped from 6.8 per cent at the turn of the decade to 5.5 per cent – well below the Scottish average.

(c) 2007 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.