Risk management training
The NSWFB is committed
to establishing a consistent and clear approach to risk management
across the organisation. To achieve this, we are working with NSW TAFE
to develop a customised program which can be applied in all areas.
Earlier this week, senior managers attended a pilot of the program,
which teaches staff about the important of risk management to the
organisation and the NSW public sector, the principles that underpin
risk management and an introduction to our own NSWFB risk management
tool. Feedback on the program has been positive and we hope to roll
out the program more broadly in the future.
Relief and Welfare Fund – 21st Anniversary dinner
The NSWFB
Relief and Welfare Fund has been providing NSWFB employees with
financial assistance and emergency accommodation for 21 years. To
celebrate this milestone, a dinner will be held on Friday 29 May at
the Bowlers Club in York Street, Sydney. For further information about
the dinner, contact SO
Mark Black or SO
Chris Murtagh .
Fire Prevention Week and Open Day
Fire Prevention Week
was a resounding success, kicking off with McDonald’s Brigade Kids
Day on Sunday 26 April when firefighters handed out thousands of
copies of the new BrigadeKids CD and shared fire safety messages with
families. A joint NSWFB and Sun-Herald/Illawarra Mercury/Newcastle
Herald fire safety supplement also successfully delivered our key
messages about home fire safety, and the Community Engagement and
Development Unit and local firefighters hosted several events during
the week for seniors and cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
On Sunday 3 May fire stations across the state were open to the
public for the annual NSWFB
Open Day. From all reports, the day was a great success, with
thousands of people visiting their local fire station to find out more
about the skills and expertise of our firefighters and to pick up
vital fire safety tips. I visited seven fire stations in the Central
West and Blue Mountains on Open Day. Firefighters had done a terrific
job in helping
families become more aware of home fire safety. Firefighters are
encouraged to provide feedback about the day to continue to develop
this program from strength to strength. Remember though, you don’t
have to wait for Open Day each year. If your station wants to do
something locally, as well as the annual event, go for it!
Station visits
In the last fortnight
I have spoken to firefighters from 24 Brigades who attended the Dubbo
Championships as well as crews at 412 Orange, 216 Bathurst, 380
Molong, 226 Blackheath, 343 Katoomba, 495 Wentworth Falls, 359 Lawson,
102 Regentville, 503 Wollongong, 422 Warrawong, 474 Unanderra and 461
Thirroul.
H1N1 Influenza A – current status
Over recent weeks, the
World Health Organisation (WHO) identified human cases of H1N1
Influenza A 09 (Human Swine Influenza)
(commonly referred to as swine flu) in the United States,
Mexico and Canada. The NSWFB is working with other emergency services
and state and federal government agencies to ensure that contingency
plans are in place should the situation develop locally. An intranet
site has been developed to provide staff with information and
facilitate quick access to our infection control procedures and other
relevant information. Keep checking the intranet site for further
updates.
405 Nowra takes out Round 2 of the Firefighter Championships
On 2-3 May I attended
the second round of the 2009 Firefighter Championships series, hosted
by 284 Delroy at Ollie Robbins Oval in Dubbo. It was a great weekend
for firefighters and the community of Dubbo, with the competition
fiercely contested and firefighters from 280 Dubbo and 284 Delroy
holding Open Day at the competition ground on Sunday. At the opening
ceremony, we were joined by the wife and family of former NSWFB
Captain Ollie Robbins. Ollie was a well-respected member of the NSWFB
for many years, and contributed a lot to the community of Dubbo with
the oval being named after him in recognition of his contribution.
Congratulations to the team from 405 Nowra which was declared the
overall winner, with Kootingal RFS and the team from 465 Trangie
taking out second and third place. 105 Kelso was the ‘in zone’
champion, finishing fifth overall.
Handover of new heavy rescue at 102 Regentville
On Wednesday 22 April,
I joined the Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan, Assistant
Commissioner Mark Brown, Director of Metropolitan Operations, Supt
Garry McBain, Acting Area Commander Metro West, and Supt Michael
Brown, Acting Zone Commander MW for the official handover of a new
$500,000 heavy rescue truck to officers and firefighters at 102
Regentville; the new appliance went into service on 10 April.
CFU program extends to Taronga Zoo
Two new Community Fire
Units (CFU) have been installed at Taronga Zoo. Twenty employees of
the Zoo have been trained to extinguish small fires in the event of a
bushfire in or near the zoo. Taronga Zoo is bounded by national park
on its southern and eastern sides, while the vegetation within the zoo
makes it potentially vulnerable to spot fires.
The CFUs are a vital addition to the Zoo's bushfire
preparedness plan. On Tuesday 28 April, I visited Taronga Zoo for
the official launch of the units, where the Minister for
Emergency Services, Steve Whan, handed over CFU uniforms and met
firefighters from 25 Mosman.
3rd Alarm factory fire at Granville
At 0117 hours on
Monday 27 April, firefighters from 27 Parramatta, 19 Silverwater, 72
Merrylands, 55 Guilford, 65 Rydalmere, 30 Lidcombe, 57 Wentworthville,
59 Eastwood, 9 Hazmat and the Duty Commander from MW2 responded
to a two-storey factory fire in Granville. Crews arrived on scene
within six minutes to find smoke billowing from a food importing
business. Crews used handlines from the front of the factory and a
Ladder Platform was set up at the rear to contain the fire. Firefighters worked for 90 minutes to contain the fire and
battled difficult conditions and a collapsing rear wall. Using a
thermal imaging camera, crews carried out a search to ensure the
factory was empty, with the stop being sent at 0455 hours. The factory
was severely damaged by the fire. Firefighters remained on scene
throughout the day to assist with fire investigation and salvage work.
Mill fire
in Young
On the same morning at
1130 hours, firefighters from 513 Young, 266 Cootamundra, 308
Grenfell, 389 Harden, 472 Turvey Park Hazmat and the Duty Commander
from RS2 responded to a fire in a flour mill in Young. On arrival,
firefighters were confronted with large volumes of smoke issuing from
the premises. The fire started in pallets of dried and bagged feedlot
products. The sprinkler system operated, causing a reaction that
produced harmful smoke fumes and affected three workers who were taken
to hospital. Initial attempts to extinguish the fire also resulted in
a violent reaction. A 200 metre exclusion zone, which included a
nearby shopping centre, was established. A number of customers
reported respiratory irritation due to the smoke in the area and ten
members of the public were taken to hospital. After reviewing the
material safety data sheets, foam was used to extinguish the fire.
Firefighters set up sand-bunding and booms to prevent run‑off
from entering a nearby creek. Crews carried out overhaul and salvage
operations in chemical spillage suits, with Hazmat firefighters from
472 Turvey Park monitoring the area, which was declared safe at 1800
hours.
4th
Alarm factory fire at Belmore
At 0228 hours on
Tuesday 28 April, firefighters from 12 stations responded to a factory
fire in Belmore. The first firefighters on scene reported the rear of
the factory engulfed in flames, with the fire rapidly spreading. The
response was escalated to a 4th Alarm as crews forced entry
into several units that were under direct threat. Firefighters worked
with two aerials and numerous handlines for over 3.5 hours to contain
and extinguish the fire. Firefighters also had to deal with an
acetylene cylinder which was located inside the factory. Hazmat
continually monitored run‑off and atmospheric conditions using
the Area Rae. While the factory was severely damaged, no one was
injured in blaze with more than 30 residents safely evacuated. A fire
duty remained on scene to assist with ongoing investigations.
RUMOURS
Rumour: Is it
true that the pumpers for both 284 Delroy and 417 Parkes have been
relegated to the bottom of the pumper enhancement program, even though
they were promised in the 07/08 Dubbo Electorate Budget by the local
MP.
Response: No.
Parkes Fire Station requires modifications to house the new appliance.
Once this is completed, it will be delivered. Based on the current
delivery schedule both appliances will be operational by early 2010.
Rumour: Is it true that some inspectors in Newcastle, Central Coast
and Wollongong have earned in excess of $150k because of overtime this
financial year?
Response: This is not the case.
Overtime by Inspectors has been required due to a range of
factors, including backing up to relieve officers on leave, and
transitional arrangements due to staffing changes. An Overtime
Reduction Project is currently underway to analyse overtime patterns throughout
the Brigade, and suggest strategies to ensure overtime is managed
effectively. The appointment of graduates from the recent Inspectors
Promotional Program is also helping to reduce the amount
of overtime worked by existing Inspectors.
Rumour: Is it true that a deal has been hatched with the union which
affects the Northern Rivers Transfer List, and this being driven by
some Tweed staff and the union country officer, to place friends and
keep others out? Is it legal to have a IRC decision over ridden by
deals?
Response:
Not true! As all the individuals that are
affected in such an Award change as the Northern Rivers Transfer List
would be aware, such changes require careful transitional planning.
The NSWFB has always valued input by the Union and has consulted
with Union officials in the transition from the Country Transfer Lists
(Tweed Heads & Lismore) to the Regional Transfer List (Northern
Rivers). An In Order outlining the transitional arrangements to the
Northern Rivers Transfer List and relevant Award conditions requested
by the NSWFB, during the Special Case Award arbitration handed
down by the Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission, will be
published in the near future. No “deals” have been done and there
will be no favouritism.
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