Herts Fire manager awarded MBE for writing firefighters bereavement guidebook

Health and safety manager Veronica Adlam was inspired to write the guidance after a tower block blaze in 2005, where two Hertfordshire firefighters and a member of the public died.

The document, which is called Death in the Workplace Guidance, has since become an essential handbook for fire services and colleagues nationwide.

Having supported investigations into fatal incidents, Veronica felt there was a gap in support for fire services facing the loss of colleagues in tragic circumstances, as well as health and safety professionals within the service.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s director for community Protection, Darryl Keen said: “Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue service is immensely proud of Veronica whose MBE is so richly deserved in recognition of her many years of hard, diligent and dedicated work.

“We are delighted that Veronica’s abiding commitment to fire service safety has made such a positive impact on the UK fire and rescue services. We are extremely fortunate to have Veronica as a colleague and wish her many congratulations on receiving this prestigious award.”

Commenting on discovering she had been nominated for an MBE for her work, Veronica said: “I was astonished, I had to read it multiple times before it sank in. I thought it was a mistake, but I feel incredibly privileged and humbled to accept this accolade for ‘Services to Firefighter Safety’.

“In my role as the Health and Safety Manager there have been some challenging times, but my number one priority throughout this time has been to improve working conditions for firefighters.”

Veronica has worked for the Hertfordshire service for almost 19 years, joining as the first non-uniformed health and safety adviser.

She rose through the ranks to health and safety manager and is a chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and a member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Managers (IIRSM).