The chief of the Scottish Fire Officers Association has been accused of risking the life of his staff by refusing to limit their work to 48 hours per week. Aberdeen City Council is quoted as saying that he was “playing with matches and trying to exploit fire officers’ health and safety rights”. The Fire Officers Association however claims that 34 fire stations in Northern Scotland could be closed if the EU 48 hour week rule is strictly applied. Fire stations in remote areas are often staffed by part-time crews and costs could double if employees are obliged to go fulltime.