There has been a slight improvement in the number of sick days taken by fire officers in Tayside.
Latest figures reveal 2,546 days were lost through sickness over 2010-11 the equivalent of more than seven years.
Although this is down by 78 days on the previous year it is still the third highest rate recorded in Scotland.
The drop was welcomed by a spokeswoman for Tayside Fire and Rescue, who said: ”Our rate of absenteeism is 4% and we are actually exceeding this target.
”We have managed to reduce our absence rate from 4.4% last year to 3.3% this year.”
Although Tayside has one of the highest totals of absenteeism in Scotland, this can be partly explained by staffing levels.
In 2010-11 Tayside had 313 fire officers on its books the third highest in the country.
However, what is more difficult to explain is that in Fife, where there are just 14 fewer firefighters, the total number of sick days is 808 days lower than it is across the Tay.
The Tayside Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said it was very difficult to know what the possible reasons for the difference were.
”I can’t comment on the performance of any other region,” she insisted.
Across Scotland over 2010-11 some 29,580 sick days were taken by firefighters. It marks a significant improvement on the previous year when the number stood at a staggering 35,448 days lost.
The Fire Brigades Union was invited to comment on the matter but chose not to do so.