HC Deb 21 July 1959 vol 609 c112W
Mr. Moss

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the radiation hazards to which they may be exposed, a maximum permissible dose is prescribed for firemen; and what is this dose.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No. It is explained in the Technical Bulletin on Fire Fighting Hazards of Radioactive Materials, issued to fire authorities last October, that the circumstances of firemen fighting fire in the presence of radioactive materials differ substantially from those of persons working in close day-to-day contact with such materials. Existing guidance is designed to ensure the maximum practicable degree of protection for firemen at any fire involving risks from radioactive material, but the question whether further advice on this subject as a whole is required will be considered by the Committee of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 3rd July last.