COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS
Commissioner Greg Mullins is on leave. This week’s Commish’s
Corner comes to you from Acting Commissioner John Anderson.
Minister launches Compartment Fire Behaviour Training
I joined Minister for Emergency Services, Tony Kelly, at the State
Training College, Alexandria last Monday to announce our Compartment
Fire Behaviour Training (CFBT) program.
The program has been one of Commissioner Mullins’ key initiatives,
because it reduces the risks faced by firefighters.
A demonstration of the training was given by SO Tim Brown and SO
Peter Markham, with acting Manager Recruit Training, SO Rod Chetwynd,
explaining the process to the assembled media. Thank you to all involved.
Media efforts reaping rewards
I was pleased to note this week that the efforts of firefighters and
the public affairs team are paying off in terms of getting good, accurate
media coverage of our incident responses as well as fire prevention
and safety messages. This week, Dubbo’s Daily Liberal had a
great piece about the CFU in Western Plains Zoo and the Northern Daily
Leader had a story about Assistant Commissioner Murray Kear’s
visit to Tamworth. In addition there have been Camping and Caravan
Safety messages in many regional newspapers. Well done and keep up
the good work.
OPERATIONAL ROUNDUP
If you haven’t had a chance to catch up on the details of the
Ryde restaurant fire, Yennora factory fire, Lismore gas leak and Gunnedah
hazmat incidents this week, please visit the Intranet. If the stories
are not on the home page, you will find them in Past Articles. Please
email the public affairs officer for your region (see contact details
at the end of Commissioner’s Corner) with any incident stories.
Regions South and West bear brunt of NSW storms
Violent storms lashed most of the state yesterday, which brought hundreds
of Triple 0 calls for assistance in Regions South and West. Most calls
related to downed power lines, roofs separated from houses and fallen
trees.
Three storm cells appeared in Region South, with the first Triple
0 calls coming from the Griffith area at 11.54am. The storm then passed
through the Junee/Wagga area around 2.30pm, the Goulburn area around
6pm, while the Kiama/Nowra region experienced a separate storm cell
at approx 6.30pm.
Narrabri (W5) was hit by a similar storm pattern late in the afternoon,
which also brought down trees and power lines. The storm also damaged
the local hospital and forced the evacuation of a major nursing home.
Early this morning crews from Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri resumed
assisting SES crews, who are currently taking about one call for assistance
each minute.
RUMOUR MILL
Rumour: Is it true that there will be
a web cam attached to the ICV so stations can get a live stream at
major incidents to give us a good clue as to what is happening in
the ICV?
Response: Digital in-field video equipment has been
installed on the two Incident Command Vehicles. As well as the electronic
recording and storage technology, this includes a number of different
types of cameras:
· A helmet-mounted camera, expected to be worn by one of the
Incident Management Team officers who has a 'roving commission', such
as the Operations Officer or the Safety Officer;
· A camera mounted on the ICV’s pneumatic mast, for a
bird's eye view of an incident ground;
· A tripod-mounted camera and small stand-alone cameras that
can be used, for example, to remotely monitor a non-active sector
at a major structure fire.
The cameras beam back real-time images to the ICV to allow the IMT
to visually assess the strategies and tactics that are being employed
to render an incident safe. There is investigative work underway that
may allow multiple still images to be transmitted to the ComCen and
the Major Incident Co-ordination Centre via a secure IP address. The
current focus of this project is on satisfactorily transmitting images
back to these sites, and no consideration is being given at this stage
to having a live feed to any other sites.
Rumour: Is it true that with the NSWFB
wanting to recruit more women into the Organisation that they have
had to lower the PAT test standards and is this also the case to get
further firefighters into the retained ranks?
Response: It is true that the Brigade wants to attract
more females; however, all applicants will be required to meet the
same standards in the PAT test. Retained firefighter applicants currently
complete an Occupational Suitability Test (OST); however, this assessment
is currently being reviewed in terms of the value that it adds to
the recruitment process. Retained firefighter applicants are only
required to complete the Physical Aptitude Test in cases where additional
information is required about the applicant's health status after
the medical assessment. The NSWFB Medical Officer uses all the available
health information to determine fitness for duty. This approach has
not changed in many years.
Rumour: Is it true that the positions
for the three new Health & Fitness Officers for the Regions were
never advertised, and were the positions ever opened for firefighters
to apply?
Response: The positions were open for everyone to
apply and were advertised in InOrders 2004/18 (3 September 2004),
in the Public Service Notices and in the national press. There were
more than 100 applicants and the successful applicants were chosen
using the Merit Selection Process.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Doctors appointed to Health Services
There are two new medical officers in Health Services assisting Dr
Maryanne Dawson.
Dr Tania Rogers is a specialist in occupational medicine and a WorkCover
Authorised Medical Practitioner with a postgraduate Masters Degree
in Science and Technology (Occupational Medicine) and a Fellowship
of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal Australasian
College of Physicians. Tania has provided medical services to both
government and private industry and has particular experience in the
health-related aspects of high risk, safety critical work, having
most recently worked as a senior police doctor. Tania has more than
10 years experience in managing and advising on all aspects of employee
health.
Dr Catherine Field graduated with a medical degree from the University
of NSW and then spent several years working as a doctor in different
hospitals. Catherine has been working in occupational medicine since
2001 and currently works part-time at an occupational medicine practice
in western Sydney, as well as with the NSWFB. Catherine has worked
as a locum “assisting BMO” with the NSWFB since 2003,
and in 2004 completed a research project with the NSWFB on Hepatitis
B vaccination of firefighter recruits, which was presented at the
Royal College of Physicians’ annual conference. Catherine has
nearly completed her specialist training to be an occupational physician.
We welcome Tania and Catherine to help boost the already significant
health support services available to all NSWFB employees. They can
be contacted through Health Services reception on 02 9265 2800 or
1800 425 282.
Relief and Welfare Fund Holiday Accommodation
The Relief and Welfare Fund is calling for applications for the holiday
unit located at Forster on the North Coast of NSW. Members are being
offered the opportunity to rent this unit for $200 per week all year
round. If you would like more information please contact the Relief
and Welfare Fund directly on 02 9265 2875.
Tsunami Donation
The Relief and Welfare Fund’s tsunami appeal continues to grow.
As at Friday 21 January, the figure has exceeded $53, 900. A special
thanks to all the stations that have run local appeals and to the
many individuals who have contributed. The account will remain active
until 31 January for those wishing to make a donation. Account details
are as follows:
Account Name: Tsunami Relief Fund
Account Number: 104969
Credit Union BSB: 802 825 (for direct crediting from another financial
institution)
To boost the current balance, The Tuscany Estate in the Hunter Valley
has graciously donated a voucher for a one-night mid-week stay for
2 people including Continental Breakfast. To enter you must make a
bid by Groupwise to both Ray Kelly and Maree James (Maria James on
Groupwise). The highest bidder as at 6.00pm on Monday 31 January will
receive the voucher. All bids will be publicised via GroupWise at
the end of each day. This offer excludes all previous pledges and
donations to the appeal.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Rugby Club update
The NSWFB’s first rugby tournament as a club is looking good.
There are approximately 20 players available for the Bondi Tens. As
the tournament is spread over two days and two shifts, extra players
are needed, so if you are keen for a run, please email John Turner
or contact him at 36 Crows Nest A platoon. Supporters are most welcome
to cheer the team along and join in the Club’s 'esprit de corps'.
Games will be held at Woollahra playing fields from 1pm-7pm on 11
and 12 February and there will be plenty to do when the class rugby
is finished. The Sydney firefighters are holding a fundraising harbour
cruise on the Friday evening (contact Matt Ruse 0410 586 137) and
the Colleagues Rugby Union Club are holding a party on the Saturday
evening as a fundraiser for the club. Tickets for this event will
be available on the day or from Mark Reilly.
The Rugby Club is asking for names for its various teams. Glen Launt
has suggested "the old flames" for the golden oldies and
Kerrie Hudson has come up with "the fire blankets" for the
opens team. If you have any other suggestions, please contact Inspector
Mark Reilly on Groupwise.