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Accessibility Statement

Accessibility statement for Cleveland Fire Brigade.

This accessibility statement applies to content published by Cleveland Fire Brigade on the www.clevelandfire.gov.uk domain.

Cleveland Fire Brigade runs this website. We want to ensure as many people as possible can use this website and access our information. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
  • view the website using any device e.g., mobile phone, tablet, desktop computer;
  • view and understand content where we use colour. We will ensure that colours used have a sufficient colour contrast;
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader;
  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard;
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software;
  • use the language translation box at the bottom right of the page to change the website into 11 different languages (this does not include third-party content like the performance portal);
  • use the ReachDeck icon at the top of the screen to hear an audio version (this does not include third-party content like the performance portal); and
  • users have the option to decide if they want cookies to be

We have designed this website with features that make it easier to use by everyone. We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbiltyNet (https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk) has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

Most of this website is complaint with the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard. However, we know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • PDFs and other documents older than September 2018 are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • A known issue with the ReachDeck toolbar where at 200% zoom most of the options in the accessibility toolbar, such as the play and pause buttons, are no longer available. (WCAG 1.4.4 Resize Text)
  • A known issue with the ReachDeck toolbar where at 400% zoom or on a small screen (320×256) most of the options in the accessibility toolbar, such as the play and pause buttons, are no longer available. (WCAG 1.4.10 Reflow)
  • ReachDeck does not extend to third-party content such as our performance portal

We are currently making improvements to the Accessibility of this website to reduce these issues.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format such as an accessible PDF, large print, easy read, or audio recording please either:

  • Email: communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk
  • Telephone: 01429 874035
  • Write to us at: Communications Team, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Training and Administration Hub, Endeavour House, Queens Meadow Business Park, Hartlepool, TS25 5TH

We’ll consider your request and get back to you within ten working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us by using the information above.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS). You can find more details on the website here: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Cleveland Fire Brigade is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance Status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to ‘the non-compliances’ listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

  • PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software, this does not comply with the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.

We will ensure that any new documents added are accessible.

We are also working to reduce the number of PDF and Word documents on our website and are aiming to make as many as possible available itself in HTML format or online forms. However, due to the nature of some of the content being either prohibitively lengthy or presenting complex financial information or performance data we may not have the resources to convert. Therefore, we are prioritising:

  • documents which have essential information about how to access our services;
  • forms which can’t be submitted online; and
  • documents which are regularly downloaded

We are currently reviewing all documents on the site and plan to rectify these issues by April 2025.

  • The ReachDeck tool is causing two issues for users who may be accessing the website and using 200% / 400% zoom or viewing on a small screen. Most of the options appear to be no longer available in these formats. (1.4.4 Resize Text and 1.4.10 Reflow).

We are working with the external third-party TextHelp supplier to rectify the ReachDeck tool issues. This is expected to be resolved by October 2024.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

We are working to fix most of the accessibility problems with this website. But there are some things that we may not fix because the content is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations, and to fix them all would take too much time relative to the benefit of our users.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix every older non-essential document as they are exempt from the accessibility regulations.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are working hard to make our website even more accessible by using plain English. We also aim to make more of our documents available in HTML webpages and accessible word documents.

We regularly check the website for accessibility issues using a range of tools such as SilkTide, Lighthouse, Axe DevTool and Wave.

This website is reviewed weekly by Silktide, a third party organisation, which tests every page on the website for spelling errors, broken links and accessibility issues against A, AA and AAA accessibility standards. Silktide has been set up to schedule a test of the site every seven days, with the reports monitored by the Communication team.

We are always open to suggestions, additions, or the reporting of accessibility programs.

To confirm, we have made the following improvements in July/August/September 2024:

  • Removed the embedded Twitter/X widget as we felt it was no longer necessary to have on our website. We have replaced this with a link to complete a safer homes check. Removing the widget has meant that users don’t have to tab through all the content to access the rest of the page content and ensures that users are able to move away from elements using the keyboard. (WCAG 2.1.2. No Keyboard Trap)
  • Ensured there is a default visible focus on the three cookie banner buttons. (WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible)
  • Removed the full slide link on the carousel feature and made the text bit on the slide into a link which focuses on tab. (WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible) (WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
  • Ensured there is a mechanism to dismiss any additional content available on hover over the navigation dropdown menus without moving the pointer. A user should now be able to close the content on hover using the ESC key. (WCAG 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus)
  • The cookie banner tab comes sooner in the order. We have also added a skip to cookie notice link which will make the tab focus pick up the cookie bar and the three buttons. The ‘skip to cookie notice’ is conditional if it has been interacted with before and a choice has been made it will not show again and will go to ‘skip to content’ button. In essence, it gives a keyboard user a choice to and dismiss the cookie bar a lot sooner. (WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order) However, we will investigate an alternative fix as this is likely to fail WCAG 2.4.11 Focus Not Obstructed which will be a new criterion under WCAG 2.2 from October 2024.
  • Changed some of the buttons to ensure that the contrast passes regulations. (WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum)
  • Reviewing PDF documents and making the decision to replace in an HTML format and accessible read only word version. (WCAG 2.4.3 Page titled)

We understand that maintaining an accessible website is an ongoing project and are working to resolve identified accessibility issues which are within our control. We continue to improve the accessibility of documents and pages, prioritising those that are viewed most often.

We will regularly monitor the accessibility of the website and ensure our team and web developers keep up to date with the latest accessibility best practice.

Along with providing regular training to those administering the site.

We are also talking with suppliers to resolve any identified accessibility issues where we do not have direct control over their product. We will ensure that any future systems we purchase adhere to web accessibility guidelines.

Our future focus will very much be on ensuring newer, current information is accessible. However, we also plan to:

  • Re-audit our content annually
  • Where possible publish on-page HTML content instead of PDFs
  • Look at creating HTML forms instead of document-based forms

In the meantime, if you are unable to access a document, please contact us. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in the timescales outlined above.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 17 November 2022.

It was last reviewed on:

  • 13 September 2024

This website is reviewed weekly by Silktide, a third-party organisation, which tests every page on the website for spelling errors, broken links and accessibility issues against A, AA and AAA accessibility standards.

Silktide has been set up to schedule a test of the site every five days, with the reports monitored by the Communication team.

Reports generated by Silktide can be provided electronically by request.

This website was last tested in September 2024. The test was carried out manually by our Communications Team using a range of online accessibility reporting tools such as Lighthouse, WAVE and AXE. As well as using Silktide for an automated testing of the full website and was in consultation with our website hosts VIA Creative.

We have purchased accessibility testing software from Silktide and plan to use this going forward to help us identify and resolve issues found on our website regularly. Pages are also randomly spot-checked manually using the free version of axe-DevTools and Chrome plug-ins Lighthouse and WAVE. As well as colour contrast checked on WebAIM.

The website will continue to be audited annually and any required changes discovered because of these tests will be implemented within a timeframe which will be declared in this accessibility statement.

Website Disclaimer

Cleveland Fire Brigade makes every effort to keep the information on this website up-to-date and accurate, but we cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage which may happen from using any information included within it.

The Cleveland Fire Brigade website and material relating to government information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided ‘as is’, without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non- infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

We do not warrant the functions contained in the material contained in this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy, reliability of the materials. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of the Cleveland Fire Brigade website.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

If you find anything on this website which you believe to be inaccurate or incorrect and would like us to rectify it, please let us know by emailing: communications@clevelandfire.gov.uk