2nd Class PCT Flashcards
What defines our role and power?
These powers are located in which part and section of the document
Emergencies Act 2004
Chapter 3 Part 3.2 Section 34
Name the Powers of the Chief Officer
● With necessary assistance or force enter land.
● Close a street or road to traffic.
● Bring equipment onto land or into a structure or vehicle.
● Open a container or dismantle equipment.
● With any reasonable force, remove dismantle, demolish or destroy a structure or vehicle.
● Contain a substance or animal.
● Remove or destroy an animal, substance or vegetation.
● Turn off, disconnect or shut down a motor vehicle or equipment.
● Control, shut off or disconnect a supply of fuel, gas, electricity, water or anything else.
● Use a water supply without charge.
● Give directions to regulate or prohibit the movement of people, animals or vehicles.
● Evacuate people or animals from an area to another place.
● Require a person to give reasonable assistance to a member or an emergency service.
What is are the main function of the fire and rescue service?
Some of the others include?
To protect and preserve life, property and the environment from fire in built-up areas
Fire and rescue’s other functions:
● respond to and deal with hazardous material incidents.
● respond to rescue incidents.
● respond to chemical, biological and radiological incidents
● support other entities in the exercise of their functions under this Act;
Other responsibilities include; operational planning, fire preparedness, fire response and recovery support.
Function of Community Fire Units?
These powers are located in which part and section of the document
CFU’s are established by Chief Officer, can be done at any time, where needed.
Objective: Their function is to conduct prevention, response and recovery. Assist in defending property, use equipment for prevention work and firefighting.
CFU can only function in the area they are established, to ACTF&R standards and protocols and under the direction of Chief officer. (Cannot self-activate on Catastrophic FR)
CFU Function are located in which part and section of the document
Chapter 4 Part 4.2 Division 4.2.2 Section 49 Function of Community Fire Units.
Total Fire Bans are located in which part and section of the document
Chapter 5 Part 5.6 Division 5.6.1 Section 114 Total Fire Bans
Discuss Total Fire Bans
The Commissioner can declare a total fire ban for part or all of ACT, considerations are severe weather, conditions, number or location of existing fires.
Public notice of declaration takes immediate effect (public notification is not mandatory) and will last for period declared. TV, Radio, Print, online are avenues for issuing TOBAN.
Prohibited activities include: Fireworks, open air fires for cooking, warmth or celebration/ceremonial. High risk activities such as open-air gas cutting, welding, grinding, soldering.
Permits may be applied for from Commissioner; MUST STATE; time, date, location, purpose and safety measures. (BBQ’s gas and electric ok, min 3m from flammable structure, need water nearby tap or hose or and must be supervised by responsible adult at all times.)
Can be sectorised around the district
Discuss Fatigue management. what document, part and section
Enterprise agreement 2020-2024 Fatigue management section S5
All employees must report to management if they have not received adequate break between rostered shifts (due to secondary employment or otherwise).
Adequate break time is 9hrs including travel. No employee shall work more than 2x24hr shifts over an 8-day cycle. Speak up if fatigued, you are legally responsible for care of yourself, crew and others.
Discuss Exchange of shift (COS). what Section is it in
Exchange of shift (COS) Section D6.
An employee may request to exchange a rostered shift with another employee of the same level or classification. This is subject to written approval by Head of Service taking into consideration rest period and skills mix for the district. If the person who has agreed and is rostered as a replacement does not report for duty or takes personal leave, that person’s leave is deducted.
3 types of relay pumping?
- Water Tanker Relay
- Open circuit
- Closed circuit
Explanation:
1. Tanker Water is driven to appliance by water truck and tank can be backfilled. Used when no/distant mains supply, usually areas only accessible by light units.
2. Open Circuit Base pump takes water from source and pumps through line into reservoir. Pump draughts from this water and repeats process till discharge point. Equipment intensive process with only real benefit is visual signs of overrunning supply can be seen and compensated for. Good for inexperienced pump operators.
3. Closed Circuit Water from source is draughted and pumped through hose in relay to other pumps collector till the delivery point.
What is the AFA process?
- When an alarm system reaches activation conditions, a signal is sent back to the Fire Indication Panel, this triggers the Automatic Signaling Equipment and notifies the third-party provider of the fire safety system.
- They notify ACTF&R Comcen. Then with the information provided the nearest resource is dispatched via CAD. (Mobile available or station proximity to FIP).
- Indicators of building alarm are, strobe flashing, automatic lighting activating, fire doors release, alarm gong sounding, evacuation tone or message, pressurization of stairs, smoke curtains, extractor fans and unlocking of electronic doors.
- Upon arrival SO’s can confirm this and send arrival to Comms, crew in PPE can check panel and locate activated zone or system and gather information from residents or occupants/warden. Following the block plan and system maps they can inspect the area, locate detector and determine cause and actions required. Ensure you find the head!
Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support… What is CISM/peer Support and who can access it
CISM is offered to staff as mental health support and crisis intervention. Incidents are logged and recorded, staff go through debrief operationally on scene and can request defuse session with professional as a group.
Staff and their families are also able to contact peer support 24/7 who are trained colleagues offering confidential one on one assistance. They act as a conduit between ACTF&R members and EAP provider (Converge).
- Peer supporters are a group of trained work colleagues
- Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Act as the conduit between Brigade personnel and professional services
through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Focus on crisis intervention for employees and their families
- “Defusing Sessions” after a ‘critical event’ involving a psychologist group chat and
followed by a “one on one” welfare check
Discuss WH&S
Work Health and Safety Act 2011(the Act).
This policy applies to all ACTF&R workers and worksites. A worker is any person who carries out work for ACTF&R and includes employees, contractors and sub-contractors, employees of contractors or sub-contractors, employees of labour hire companies, Community Fire Unit members and volunteers as defined under the Certified Agreement. ACTF&R will meet its legislative obligations by complying with the following:
● Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
● Public Service Management Act 1994.
● ACT Public Service Work Safety & Injury Management Policies.
All staff must take reasonable care for their own health and safety, must take reasonable care that any action or omission does not impact on any other persons’ health or safety. Comply with any reasonable instruction to comply with the Act. Follow any reasonable policy or procedure. Report any safety incident immediately to supervisor and record (RiskMan).
What is the Hierarchy of control
Elimination, Substitution, Isolation, Engineering Control, Administrative Control, PPE. (ESIEAP)
Hazard is anything that can cause harm to life, property or health. Risk is likely hood of that harm being done. ACTF&R work in inherently dangerous environments such as structurally compromised buildings, vehicles and exposure to harmful substances. Dynamic risk assessments are used to identify hazards and risk and work to minimize or eliminate them to continue to achieve the result sought.
Discuss Equal Employment Opportunity EEO
Equal Employment Opportunity EEO policy: This targets:
- Women
- Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders
- people with a Disability
- Non-English speaking backgrounds.
Discuss Industrial Democracy
Industrial Democracy: This is the shared authority in decision making process and organisational running. Having the opportunity to contribute at any level with your opinion heard and considered.
This can include uniform committee, WHS and Vehicle/station committees
Discuss what Salvage and Overhaul is
SALVAGE
Preventative, Protective and Recovery.
- Preventative: Doing little damage while working, taking care and being frugal with water, ventilating early and removing items that are at risk.
- Protective: natural evolution, use of covers to protect contents, limiting branches used to control fire, good branch techniques.
- Recovery: mopping up, care when removing equipment, isolating rooms from smoke damage, removing excess water, securing the property from the elements, and theft or vandals.
it:
1. Reduces further heat and smoke damage
2. Reduces water and extinguishing agent damage
3. Protects premises from debris, dirt and breakages
4. Protects premises from rain
5. Protection of furniture, machinery or stock damage
6. Prevention of vandalism and pilfering
When can it be commenced?
Salvage operations can begin as soon as rescue operations have ceased. Should not be deferred until the fire is extinguished
Considerations given to scene preservation during salvage:
1. Permission sought before removing or moving an item if item must be moved
2. Document all details relevant to the item in the blue book
3. Photograph if possible
4. Place all removed items in a designated area
5. Document all actions & observations in blue book ASAP
OVERHAUL:
Ensures all fire is extinguished, locates hidden pockets of fire, wetting down burnt materials and can help determine cause of fire. VITAL PROCESS.
Ventilation:
The introduction of fresh air or removal of hot fire gasses and smoke, increases visibility and lowers temperature. Considerations are: fire activity, is it under control? Have all fires been located or extinguished? Have you gained IC approval? Where will gases and smoke go? (crew/bystander safety). How will you configure fans?
Positive pressure ventilation: Introducing fresh air (positive pressure) into an area to force out smoke and HFG.
Negative pressure Ventilation: Drawing air or exhausting HFG and smoke from an area or room.
Discuss Hazmat
Hazmat: ANZERG or Dangerous Goods Initial Response Guide Green pages have UN Numbers.
Orange pages have Alphabetical chemical names. May have E or P attached, E = substance may behave explosively at high temps.
P=Substance reacts violently at high temps or in contamination with other materials.
9 classes: 1-explosive. 2-gases. 3-flammable liquid. 4-flammable solid. 5-organic oxidizer or peroxide. 6-infectious/toxic. 7-radioactive. 8-corrosive. 9-miscellaneous.
PPE
TO BE UPDATED with new process
Summary:
If PPE has NOT been soiled during firefighting, it can be returned to station and fresh air ventilated for 24-48hrs. If still has smoke odor, launder. If PPE has been exposed to any bodily fluid, it must be bagged and tagged. (If saturated may have to be replaced). If soiled; spray down, remove and put on gloves and P2 in dirty area of incident, spray BA whilst charged and tag in heavy duty plastic bag for BA section cleaning. PPE in dissolvable stitching bag, tagged, in pumper pocket and back to station tagged for dry cleaning. Larger incidents L35 will take PPE to dry cleaner directly.
More detailed
If it is contaminated and in need of decontamination once all duties at the incident are complete.
* Crew to transit to the Dirty Recycle area.
* Notify Command/ BA Control
* For soiled BA sets, hose off loose materials, wipe down BA set and
cylinder, seal set in a plastic bag (without stitching) and tag with incident
details. Wear appropriate PPE (minimal P2 masks and nitrile gloves)
* Dirty PPC is to be sealed in a bag (with dissolvable stitching). Tag bag
with incident details. If the PPC is wet, consider double bagging to
ensure the dissolvable stitching holds
* Firefighting helmets can be cleaned on site using water.
Area clean up to be done using appropriate PPE (minimal P2 face mask and
gloves).
Soiled PPC should be transported to the crew members’ home station by
Logistics 35 or transported directly to the Dry-Cleaning provider. The pumper
crew will be unavailable to respond until re equipped with PPC.
For larger incidents or when emergency laundering is required, Logistics 35
should transport PPC and PPE directly to the Dry-Cleaning provider, or if the
Dry Cleaners are not open, to the BA Section, and the PPC will be transported
by TOSS to the Dry Cleaners at the next available opportunity.
Further Considerations:
At single appliance response fires (e.g. Garbage Hopper, Vehicle) when PPC /
PPE is exposed to smoke and fire products, similar segregation techniques
should be employed to minimise exposure to other crew members.
Soiled PPC and PPE is to be bagged and tagged as detailed above and can be
transported back to station in the dirty box provided for this purpose on
pumpers, or by Logistics 35.
PPC Smoke Logged
When PPC has been exposed to smoke during exposure protection, car fires
or from being inside the building during ventilation operations and is not soiled
from firefighting, it is acceptable to bag the PPC up, transport it to station in the
rear pockets or dirty box of the pumper, and then hang the PPC in the fresh air
to ventilate it. Hanging racks are being provided at stations to assist in this
process. If the smoke logged PPC has an odour of smoke after 24 – 48 hours,
consider laundering.
PPC Soiled and Smoke Logged
When PPC is clearly smoke logged and dirty from firefighting, this PPC should
be bagged, and sent to dry cleaners for laundering. This includes flash hood,
helmet flap and gloves. The bags should be clearly marked with a tag stating
that they are for cleaning after a fire
PPC Exposed to Bodily Fluids
When items have been exposed to any type of bodily fluids, without question,
they should be bagged and sent for cleaning. The tag should clearly state this
on the clear bag.
PPE Soiled and Smoke Logged
Any BA or other PPE that has been exposed to smoke, should be sent to the
BA section for cleaning. These items are to be placed in clear bags, (washing
the cylinder before placing it in the clear bag), tagged and then transported to
No 1 for placement in the soiled equipment box located outside of the BA
section.
OPS Comms Blue Card Commands
All Clear= No threat to life or risk in part of or entire structure.
On-Deck=This is a task/role at incident, crew is in full PPE ready for immediate tasking.
CAN=Conditions Actions Needs; what you observe/face, tactics or actions and resources required.
PAR=Personal Accountability Report; Sent by senior member to state they can account for all under their command.
Recycle=Area away from immediate hazard where crew can replenish before possible re-tasking.
Rehab=Designated area for refreshment and recovery before possible re-tasking.
Discuss the different levels of BA Control
BA Stage 1: On each pumper, up to 4 wearers. Minimum accountability required for BA wearer safety, has 30 min timers and space for remarks (location and crew actions). Usually 1st arriving MD responsibility but can be delegated when appropriate, take to pump panel so easily seen.
Stage 2: This is for larger scaled incidents, between 4-12 wearers and a dedicated ECO. 2 wearers on-deck.
Main Control: More than one stage 2 board active, multiple ECO and Entry points, Emergency siren ready and available, On-deck crews.
Drager - what are the 3 main functions
3 main functions: Oxy Resus, Oxy therapy and Suction.
Oxy resus via bag mask, ensure seal and correct size, pistol grip, head tilt, OPA may be needed (measure from lip-ear or center lips-jaw angle). 30 comp to 2 breaths. Uses up to 150L per minute. DV triggered at -5mB. Hudson mask ensure right size and comfortable fit. Set to 15L/min, supervise.
Can be used for smoke inhalation, shock, bleed, trauma, altered consciousness.
Discuss the drager daily check and contamination process
Daily check: inspect, test function, check inventory.
- Open Cylinder and ensure cylinder pressure is at least 100 bar
- Check function of oxygen therapy outlet by rotating flow control valve
- Connect demand valve and resus bag - squeeze bag and ensure demand valve refills bag
- Check suction device by pressing operating button while covering suction inlet with finger. Air should come out of suction tube
- Close cylinder
- Release pressure by pressing suction button
- Check all inventory
Contaminated process. Clean as best you can, properly dispose of contents/waste (bio bags), heavy duty bag, tag properly incident #-type of contamination-action and reported by. BA section for clean and organise replacement. Follow up email to BA section is appreciated.
