COMMISH’S CORNER

Thinking of Victoria one year on 

Sunday 7 February was the first anniversary of our worst ever natural disaster, when 173 Victorians lost their lives in the Black Saturday bushfires. It was a devastating loss of life and my thoughts are with those who lost loved ones, our emergency services colleagues in Victoria, and with the wider Victorian community. I would like to echo the comments of our Minister, Steve Whan, who said publicly that he was also thinking of the thousands of NSW firefighters from the NSWFB, RFS, National Parks and State Forests who helped their  Victorian colleagues combat the fires. They did an amazing job under very difficult circumstances and I am very proud of their efforts.


Still time to take part in anonymous workplace survey

There are two weeks left to have your say about the Brigades in the Building a Better Brigade - Workplace Culture Survey. Your comments will help us continue to make improvements. Visit the intranet <http://home:81/intranet/html/index.php?module=Content
Express&func=display&ceid=568> to take part in the survey if you haven't already. I have received feedback from some people that they are concerned about the confidentiality of this survey. I would like to reassure you that it is completely anonymous, no individual names or identifying details are collected. The survey is managed by KPMG and the NSWFB does not have access to the KPMG computer system or individual survey responses. When the survey is complete we will receive a report outlining the findings and again, this will not identify individual responses. If you still have concerns about confidentiality you can contact KPMG directly on 1800 118 455. 


Commendations for excellent work

I recently presented Chief Supt Steve Pearce, Supt Greg Wild and Sponsorship Coordinator Chris Fish with a Unit Commendation for Meritorious Service for their work in developing a new corporate brand for the Brigades, which included the new, safer colour scheme for fire appliances, as well as a recognisable 'look and feel' for all NSWFB publications. Chief Supt Pearce and Supt Wild were also acknowledged for their contribution to implementing the national emergency alert system in NSW. Congratulations.


London conference

Last week on behalf of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities' Council (AFAC) I made a quick trip to London and back to be a keynote speaker at an emergency services interoperability forum. During my short stay I also had the opportunity to meet with officials from the Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Unit, Department of Communities and Local Government, London Resilience Team, London Ambulance Service, the National Policing Improvement Agency, and the former London Fire Brigade Commissioner Sir Ken Knight, who is now Her Majesty's Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser. 


NSW to trial bushfire cameras

Next week NSW and Victoria will trial the use of cameras designed to help with the early detection of bushfires. Funded by the Federal Government, three cameras will be installed in Tumoramma Fire Tower within a pine plantation in Tumut. Each camera has a range of approximately 25 kilometres and detects smoke plumes by comparing images from a previous scan in the same location. On detection of a plume, a signal is transmitted to the Tumut forester's office, identifying the location of the smoke plume. Crews would then be sent to investigate. 


Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday 7 March

Clean Up Australia Day is an important date on the environmental calendar and many firefighters will be taking part again this year in what is the 20th anniversary of this important community event. Crews will be helping to clean up parks and waterways, remove abandoned cars and clear large debris from isolated areas. It's a great opportunity to work with the community to improve the local environment and a chance to showcase our expertise. Visit the intranet <http://home:81/intranet/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=
News&file=article&sid=3375&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0> story to find out how you can get involved.


'Tour of Duty' 9/11 run

SO Wayne Gregory from Sydney Communications and SO Nick Beattie of 20 Hurstville appeared on morning TV show Sunrise last week to promote the 2010 'Tour of Duty.' In August, Wayne and Nick will join Australian and US firefighters in a run from Los Angeles to New York to commemorate the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11. It also acknowledges emergency services personnel worldwide for their commitment and dedication. They will cover 7,345 kilometres in 26 days, arriving at the site of the World Trade Centre on September 11. 


NSWFB gets stadium ready to rock 

Fire Safety officers will complete a comprehensive fire inspection of ANZ Stadium ahead of Aussie rockers ACDC performing to thousands of fans on 18 - 21 February. They will ensure the stage, lighting, cabling and fireworks don't compromise egress or other fire safety measures. Two Building Compliance Officers will patrol the stadium during the concerts, with another officer in the fire control room managing fire alarm activations and emergency evacuations if required.


Media template - kids and fire safety

As part of our monthly community safety topics, we have created a new media release template for stations <http://home:81/intranet/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=
News&file=article&sid=3374&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0> to encourage parents and carers to involve children when developing home escape plans. The template can be used by stations for local media coverage. For advice about working with the media, contact your Public Affairs Officer <http://home:81/intranet/html/index.php?module=Content
Express&func=display&ceid=181> .


Advice about heat illness

There have been several recent cases of firefighters being affected by heat and becoming ill. Please review the latest safety bulletin <http://ois/ois_policies/policy_browse_ns.asp?txt
ParentId=121> and make yourself aware of the signs of heat illness and what you can do to prevent it or speed up the recovery period.


Wollongong Communications - rapid response

At 0833 hours on Sunday 7 February, Senior Firefighter John Campbell of Wollongong Communications noticed a small amount of smoke issuing from the vicinity of the yard adjacent to the fire station and initiated a call on the Fires 111 system for 503 Wollongong to attend. From the rapid build-up of smoke and its changing colour it quickly became obvious that the fire probably involved a structure, and the response was increased accordingly. The fire was located in a timber and iron construction garden shed attached to a timber house. While the fire was of a relatively minor nature, it could have been much worse if not for the prompt actions of Wollongong Communications, as no 000 calls were received prior to arrival of firefighters.


Major gas leak shuts down Katoomba CBD

At 1100hours on Monday 1 February, 40 officers and firefighters from 343 Katoomba, 495 Wentworth Falls, 361 Leura, 359 Lawson, 226 Blackheath, 301 Glenbrook and 386 Mount Victoria were called to a major gas leak on a construction site near the centre of the Katoomba shopping precinct. A 100mm high pressure gas main had been ruptured by construction workers, creating a large gas cloud. Due to the risk of fire, crews immediately declared a 250 metre exclusion zone around the incident. This required approximately 500 shoppers and workers to be evacuated from over 30 shops including both a Coles Supermarket and a K-Mart store. The main street of Katoomba and several surrounding roads were closed to all traffic. Weather conditions were extremely hot while crews provided water spray protection to the emergency gas repair crews as they worked to seal off the gas main. A mobile Emergency Operations Kit was deployed from Katoomba Communications to assist with messages and logging of the incident on scene. The incident took just on 2 hours to resolve, and after extensive air sampling the area was declared safe for evacuees to return. WorkCover has investigated the incident which was a repeat of a similar incident at the same location only two weeks earlier.


Extensive localised flooding hits the northern suburbs

Saturday 6 February was a day of torrential rain across Sydney. The northern suburbs in particular were heavily impacted with numerous reports of flash flooding, cars trapped and houses inundated by storm water flooding. The worst impacts were reported from about 1730 hours on Saturday and continued throughout the night until Sunday morning. In just a three hour period, Sydney Communications received over three hundred calls for assistance and at one stage twenty crews were deployed through the northern suburbs assisting with sandbagging, minor motor vehicle accidents, animal rescue, blocked drains, leaking roofs, concerns for electrical safety and salvage operations. The most heavily impacted suburbs were from the Northern Beaches across to St Ives and Pymble up through Hornsby and across to the Hills  District. At 2145 hours 71 Castle Hill was called to a nursing home in Hinemoa Ave, Normanhurst when nursing staff reported that there was extensive flooding on the ground floor of the nursing home. Eleven high-dependency residents had to be evacuated and extensive sandbagging was performed to prevent additional damage to the nursing home. 


4th Alarm at Revesby

A timber yard came under direct threat when a fire started in an adjoining car wrecking yard in Violet Street, Revesby on Tuesday 9 February. Sydney Communications received the first of many 000 calls at 1245 hours and due to the number of calls immediately initiated a 2nd Alarm response. A thick black smoke plume was visible as far away as the northern suburbs of Sydney. 47 Revesby's Aerial Pumper crew were on scene within five minutes. The incident was upgraded to a 4th Alarm with a special call for bulk foam. Several exposures including stacked vehicles and a tyre storage area were of concern but the major concern was the very close proximity to an adjoining timber yard and timber processing factory. Crews quickly set up exposure protection while a direct attack commenced. The firefighting strategies deployed were highly successful in bringing the incident under control within one hour and containing the fire to just one third of the large complex with no damage to other exposures. Crews from 47 Revesby, 34 Riverwood, 8 Liverpool, 21 Kogarah, 49 Cabramatta, 85 Chester Hill, 64 Lakemba, 52 Campsie, 48 Mortdale, 90 Menai, 73 Fairfield, 7 Horningsea Park, 20 Hurstville, 13 Alexandria and Hazmat attended the incident. A great save - well done.


RUMOURS

Rumour: Why can't the hub station concept be implemented immediately at stations that already have two pumpers and the necessary staff, such as Orange and Katoomba, as this will not require additional funding and provide the opportunity for a 'test run' of the concept? Would the proposed hub concept be unworkable as permanent firefighters and Class 3 pumpers are not allowed to leave their fire districts?

Response: As indicated in a previous Rumour Mill, the concept is currently being explored and consultation has to take place with local crews, Councils and the FBEU before implementation. This consultation will include matters such as those raised above. I also want to clarify one unfortunate aspect of a previous response to question in CC on hub stations - it was pointed out to me that it sounded as though the retained crew at a hub station would rarely respond and just be there for occasions when the permanent crew needed "support". This was inaccurate and unintended. Such stations would be dual response stations except where a crew was responding a long way out of area.

Rumour: Is it true that the NSWFB is in breach of the Award by sending firefighters back to stations on light duties on workers' compensation, on a different roster to the station they're attached to - the Monday to Friday Special Roster as opposed to 10/14?

Response: This is not correct; there is no provision under any Award which restricts the NSWFB in its range of available options to provide suitable duties for injured or ill employees. The NSWFB is required by law to provide suitable duties to any employee who experiences a workplace injury under both the Workers Compensation Act 1987 and the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998. If an employee is unable to perform their normal duties due to injury or illness all efforts are made to identify suitable alternate duties for them to complete while recovering. For a variety of reasons including appropriate levels of supervision and access to appropriate resources this will quite often mean the employee must work on a different roster for the duration of the injury or illness. Suitable duties are identified in consultation with line management and the employee on a case by case basis and are those that will provide meaningful work and value to the NSWFB while also meeting the medical restrictions of the injured employee. Suitable duties are often changed or increased as the capability of the employee increases throughout their recovery.

Rumour: A number of firefighters are being directed to claim workers' compensation even though they are not sick or injured - but simply because the NSWFB is failing to follow its own rules and have appropriate PPE footwear provided to the firefighters with slightly different shaped feet. Is it true that this puts the NSWFB in breach of both OHS and workers' compensation legislation, as well as the NSWFB Award, and what will be done about it? How is this fair on the firefighter?

Response: If a firefighter does not report any problems associated with poor fitting boots in a timely manner, there is potential for injury. If an injury occurs which requires medical treatment or time off work, a workers' compensation claim may be lodged. This is in accordance with the NSW Workers Compensation Act 1987. If no injury has been sustained there is no need for a workers' compensation claim. There have been some rare examples where appropriate alternative footwear has not been easily located and a custom made boot has been required. The Health & Safety Branch, in consultation with EDU and a podiatry expert are currently developing a process for the provision of alternative boots for those unable to wear the current contract boot for medical reasons. This will hopefully negate the need for workers' compensation claims altogether.

COMMISH’S CORNER
Commissioner’s e-mail: Commissioner@fire.nsw.gov.au
Cora Sarmiento, Commish’s PA: 9265 2930
PACSU: fax 9265 2882
Commish’s Corner Rumour Mill: 9265 2627
To contribute a story to the intranet, please contact Public Affairs Officers: (West) 9265 2613, (South) 9265 2802 or (North) 9265 2631