Fire Brigade Pre Learning Flashcards
Can you tell what type of roof a building has from the outside?
No.
Building age is not a guide as new roof may have been added.
Any fire on roof must make you doubt its structural integrity.
What are stairs used for?
For means of access inside or outside of building.
What type of stairs offer the best fire resistance?
Reinforced concrete,
Spalling should not lead to failure if concrete is reinforced, but should be considered
A well ventilated set of reinforced concrete stairs are a good place to base operations.
Give two methods of communication used in the brigade.
Written. (formal documents etc)
Verbal. (preferred) face to face
How soon should grievances be raised?
Within 3 months of the management decision that caused the grievance.
Who has the authority as well as duty to take immidtiate action in the interest of safety?
EVEYONE.
Home office description?
Government department.
Responsible for fire and rescue services act 2004.
Sets out nation framework for fire and rescue services.
National policy, legislation, guidance.
Research and stats.
What is an operational risk assessment?
continuous assessment and control of risk in rapidly changing circumstances of an operational incident
When should non LFB equipment not be used.
When LFB equipment will do the task.
Only used in exceptional circumstances where life is involved.
LFB equipment has been tested and well maintained and safe to use. Safety of non LFB equipment is uncertain
List hazards involving fires and gang nailed roof trusses. (3)
Severly weakened by fire.
Trusssed roof designed to spread whole weight across structure, when one fails, can lead to immediate sudden collapse.
timbers used in gang nailed roof trusses thinner than traditional methods.
Define Hazard?
A situation or object that has the potential to cause harm or injury.
What is the limbic system.
Part of brain that regulates basic bodily functions.
At what temperature will flamming occur in timber?
350 degrees
Two types of knot that are utilised to attach a line to a round object such as a spar or ring?
Round turn and 2 half hitches
Clive hitch
What are the important considerations when selecting the correct equipment?
Will it do the job
Can I operate it safely
Is it safe for others around me
Will the equipment become damaged
Are there any set procedures
What is the items away book?
Records of items of equipment sent away for repair or replacement.
Used for quick reference as well as POMS
Give examples of unacceptable behaviour.
Poor timekeeping.
Unauthorised absence from work.
Misuse of company facilities. Such as email,internet.
Fire resistance can be increased if timber has been treated.
.
What is discrimination?
Oppitiste of equality.
Violates basic hum rights of equal opportunity to succeed
List symptoms of trauma related stress.
Intense feelings. Anger, sadness, shame.
Physical symptoms. Lack of sleep, extreme tiredness, changing in eating/drinking habits.
Physiological symptoms. Nightmares, anxiety, depression
Behaviours. Withdrawn, irritable, impatient
Role The NJC (nation joint council) ?
National Body for negotiation anything related to the fire and rescue services act 2004.
What is community safety?
Working to stop fires and other emergencies happening, giving advice, and help protect people if an incident does occur.
The 3 strategic aims of the LFB London saftey plan are:
Prevention and protection
Response and resilience
People and resources.
These encompass community safety.
Give 2 examples of communication used the brigade.
One way.
Two way.
What is the probationary procedure, how does it effect you?
2 stages.
At training centre.
On station.
meet station manager: Upon arrival. After 1 month. After 3 months. After 9 months.
HR informed upon completion at station, letter sent to me, and then I’m liable to disaplinary and grievance procedures of brigade.
List the ‘British values’ under the prevent duty act.
Democracy
Rule of law
Mutual respect and Tolerance. (Of differences and religions)
Individual liberty
What is a beam over a small opening such as a door or window called?
A lintel
Why is timber less likely to suffer a sudden collapse?
Burning and charring rates are predictable and differ only slightly between wood types.
And the 2 sections that the community safety department is divided into….
Community safety policy team. (Writes policies and does research )
Projects team. (Engages with communities)
Benefits for the individual using the DMM?
4
Encourages to use initiative and take personal responsability.
Consistant assessment of management skills.
Reinforces training and actual experience.
Provides systems to develop and control safe systems of work.
Define, ‘element of structure’
Give examples.
Parts of a building that contribute of the overall stability of the structure.
>Beams
>Columns.
>Walls.
>Floors
>Structure enclosed Shafts. (escape routes)
>Gallery.
Explain areas of responsibility included in the safe person concept?
CALVES.
Am I COMPITANT to carry out task?.
Do I have the ADABTABILTY of changing circumstances?
Do I know my own ability and LIMITATIONS?
Can I remain VIGILANT for mine and others safety?
Am I an EFFECTIVE team member?
Do I have SELF discipline to work within accepted systems of work?
What part of the brain usually takes over at recording the events?
Amygdala
Properties exempt from the conditions of entry?
Crown owned buildings/MOD premisses/government premises.
Navy ships, this country and others.
Embassies.
List sources of info that may be considered when gathering info for the DMM?
Info of task/event.
Info of resources.
Info of risks/benifits.
Info of progress.
List considerations to take when moving on stairs. (6)
Look for fire damage.
Smoke issuing under stairs.
Material stairs are made of.
Signs of spalling/cracking.
Cosider if iron stairs have been cooled rapidly.
Stone stairs can fail suddenly in any fire/heat.
Definition of manual handling?
The movement of a load by either direct or indirect effort of a human.
Supporting a load without movement.
Pushing or pulling a load
Intentionally throwing or dropping a load
Is glass combustible?
No, will not contribute to fire spread,
Radiation heat can pass through glass though.
What is the unit that heat is measured in?
Joules. (Per kg)
surface are of a fuel and volume relevance?
more surface area, the more quickly and readily it will burn.
Personal responsibility of the safe person concept are?:
Competent of completing tasks assigned.
Adaptable to changing circumstances.
Able to recognise own ability and limitations
Able to remain vigilant for own safety and other ls around them.
Be an effective team member.
Self disciplined to work within accepted systems of work.
CALVES
define equality.
Recognising that individual needs are met differently
Making sure people are treated fairly and are given fair chances and the equal opportunity to succeed no matter their individual circumstance, including:
Gender. Age. Disability. Class. Race. Colour. Religion. Sexual identification. Sexuality. Nationality. Political beliefs. Marital status. Having/not having dependants. Trade union membership/activity.
Clove hitch?
Knot used to secure a line to an object,
and pulled at right angles.
3 interrelated systems of risk management?
Strategic.
Systematic.
Operational.
What properties of a wall in the element of structure.
Provides support by carrying loads. (Thicker at bottom)
Separates an area.
Provides protection from external elements
list two function of floors?
To devide building into usuable areas.
To provide support to the walls.
List some properties of concrete.
Non combustible
Weak tensile strength
Strong compression strength
Can spall
Can be reinforced using steel rods
Structural concrete has higher fore resistance and will not usually suddenly collapse
Define emergency?
An event or situation that causes or likely to cause:
Death/serious injury or illness.
Serious harm to environment.
What is bullying?
Behaviour towards an individual that causes alarm or distress, picking on somebody in a detrimental way because of their appearance or behaviour.
Questions that may be asked, and advice given about community safety at the scene of a fire or after a fire include…?
What could they have done to prevent the fire?
We’re there any smoke alarms, and were they sited correctly.
Did they do the right thing upon discovery of the fire?
Did they call the fire brigade in the correct way?
Definition of a line?
A piece of rope, cut to a specific length, for a specific purpose.
Three stages of stress?
Alarm stage
Resistant stage.
Exhustion stage.
List signs of a building collapse?
9
pieces of mortar/stone etc falling from walls
Floors coming away from wall.
Collapse of floors.
columns or beams failing/bending.
Cracks in walls, especially horizontal cracks.
bowing of walls.
spalling of concrete/stone.
collapse or arches over windows/doors/openings.
damage/collapse of walls of a protected shaft.
What is trauma related stress?
Exposure to an event outside of an individuals usual experience, which causes physical, emotional or psychological harm.
List some good equality practices within the LFB as an organisation..
Improving…
Communication within workforce/public
Recruitment, selection, promotion.
Transfer, leaving organisation
Training and development
Career progression
Retention of staff
Resilience planning
Grievance and discipline procedures
Explain how carbon dioxide extinguishers work…
Displaces air in a compartment, reducing oxygen available.
Smothers the fire.
Carbon dioxide is an asphyxiate, and breathing apparatus must be worn when it’s used or being considered.
How to report equality issues in the workplace?
what steps to take?.
Make their concerns known to the accused person in the first instance.
Report to line manager or inclusion team if necessary.
Describe iron/steel and properties relating to fire.
Very strong/load baring.
Neither are combustible.
Looses 2/3 of strength at 600 degrees. May begin to sag or twist.
Can be or protected by solid or hollow construction
Why is it necessary to inform all affected personal of any identified hazard?
To emilinamt risk of any injury or health implications to anyone.
power that prevents obstruction of emergency services?
Emergency workers obstruction act. 2006
What is a risk assessment?
Term used to describe the process where the likelihood and seriousness of an adverse outcome occurring is being considered
What is covered in the “ICT acceptable use” policy?
4
Your responsibility
Computer use and disciplinary action
Accepted use of email and internet
Accepted use of social media
Walls usually fall outwards when collapsing, but may be brought down inwards due to floors collapsing.
.
How often should an appliance operational readiness check take place?
Weekly and monthly.
how does powder/foam/carbon dioxide/fire blanket extinguish fire?
explain.
Class 1 fire?
Carbonaceous. wood/paper/cloth
extinguished with water.
What checks will be necessary to determine a piece of equipments rediness for use?
Visual inspection.
Checking correct operation of moving parts
Checking it can still perform its function
Completeing a standard test
Rectifying and defects if possible.
Who has responsibilities to manual handling safety in workplace?
Everybody
List projects run by the community safety department team?
The education team
Fire cadets (14-18)
Crossfire
Local intervention fire education (LIFE) (tackles anti social behaviour against firefighters) (14-17)
Juvenile firesetters intervention scheme (upto 17yrs)
How lines can deteriorate?
Local abrasion. Cuts/contusions. Exposure to heat/fire. Chemicals. Prolonged exposure to sunlight. Overloading/shock-load.
Name 4 safety regulations, that risk assessments are used to ensure standards are met?
Management of health and safety at work regulations
Provision and use of work equipment regulations
PPE regulations
Manual handling regulations
What are cantilever stone staircases and what are the dangers?
Stone staircase supported only on one side,
Liable to sudden collapse without being cooled or have any extra weight applied to then.
What are the LFB core values, that represent the standards expected of the authority and individual staff?
Fairness
Integrity
Respect
Service
Trust
FIRST
What type of listening would be used when listening to information from an emotional member of public?
Selective listening
Why is it important to have some information in written form?
To provide structured instructions or information. I
Can be referred to. (Policies, procedures) etc
list aspects of the LFBs role in community safety?.
6
Home fire safety visits.
Partnership work.
Informing people at a young age.
Reducing deliberately started fires.
Advising on fire safety in the workplace.
Carrying out inspections of buildings.
What could cause a collapse in a building?
4
Beams or columns failing. Extreme heat/rapid cooling.
Walls or floors Failing. Expansion due to heat.
Collapse of higher floors, falling on lower floors and leverage effect, shock loading.
Cracked or dropped arches/beams over windows/doors/openings.
What is the aim of the home office?
To help reduce deaths, injuries and damage caused by fire and other incidents.
What must be done upon hearing evacuation signal?
4
Repeat signal.
Withdraw from area immediately. (Crews closest to danger withdraw first, others protect escape routes)
leave equipment.
Report to booking in point.
Round turn and two hitches?
Knot tied round object, spar/ring.
Used to secure line to an object.
Long line description?
31 metres long. general use line. Stored in yellow bag. Identification code at end of line and barcode, station number, date of issue. made from polypropylene.
Are walls loadbearing in framed construction?
No. Usually only utilised for weather proofing, and can be made of glass etc
They usually are in solid/traditional masonry construction though
Where can manual handling injuries occur?
Anywhere people are at work.
List the 5 steps of operational risk assessment.
Evaluate the Risks.
Select a safe method of work.
Asses that safe method of work.
Control mesures to remove risk or control risk.
Re asses continually the method of work and Risks.
What are the 9 protected characteristics it is unlawful to discriminate against?
Equality act 2010.
Age
Sex
Sexual orientation
Gender reassignment
Marriage/ civil partnership
Pregnancy/ maternity
Disability
Race
Religion
Powers of entry for a firefighter, contained in FRSA (fire, rescue,services act 2004)
(5)
Enter premises without owners permission.
Enter/move vehicles without owners permission.
Stop a highway.
Direct Traffic.
Prevent persons entering premises/place for safety.
Where can the LEFPA (London emergency + fire planning authority) health and safety policy be found?
Hotwire
Why are standard tests carried out and where are they recorded.
To ensure that equipment is working well, any faults identified, and able to use in any emergency.
recorded on standard test cards. one per piece of equipment.
What is psychological resilience.
The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress.
Describe aluminium in relation to fire.
Night strength to weight ratio.
Looses strength at 100-225 degrees.
Low melting point
Will set alight at very high temperatures
Define stress.
The adverse reaction to excessive pressures or other type of demands placed on an individual.
Benefits for the LFB for using the DMM?
3
Identifies areas for review.
Supports training of officers and management.
Improves knowledge and skills of staff.
List hazards and risks involving fires with sandwich panels?
(7)
Rapid fire spread due to PVC coating.
Large amounts of toxic smoke.
Can produce toxic gasses.
Sandwich panels may fail suddenly.
No structural integrity. Offer no support of weight. And often used on roofs
Steel sheets used can cause falling hazard.
Difficult to extinguish due to outer coating covering inner membrane.
List some causes of work/life stress?
Life based issues, such as break down of relationships, or financial difficulties.
Direct work based issues, such as bullying or harassment
Health and health concerns.
Demands at work
Control or lack of control at work
Feeling of lack of support at work
Lack of understanding of role or task that you’ve been asked to carry out.
pouch line?
4 meters long.
General perps line.
made from plaited nylon.
carried in fireguard pocket.
List ways of effectictive communication. (6)
The six Cs
Clear Concise Courtious Complete Correct Coherent
List four pieces of information that can be gathered to ensure effective use of the DMM?
Info on:
Task or event
Resources available
Risk and benifits.
Progress made so far.
Advantages/disadvatages of water?
Cheap.
Readily available.
Doesn’t damage environment.
Has cooling effect, as well as starvation and smothering effect as steam.
Can not be used on all fires. (flammable liquids/metals/electrical fires)
Good conductor of electric.
London assembly?
Committee elected to hold mayor to account and investigate London issues.
Class 2 fire?
Flammable liquids. Cooking oil/wax/melted plastics.
Not water.
Extinguised by smothering. Fire blanket/foam/carbo dioxide/possibly powder.
may reignite when oxygen reintroduced if not cooled enough. (AIT)
Give examples of conduct or behaviour that would lead to summery dismissal.
Theft
Fraud
Conduct inside/outside work that brings authority into serious disrepute.
Fishermans knot?
Used to tie two line of same thickness together.
Is a roof an element of structure?
No
List hazards involving stairs in fires.
wood
metal
stone.
Wooden, enclosed stair cases can have infected burning underneath and be unsafe for weight bearing.
steel staircases looses integrity at 600 degrees.
cast iron stairs can crack and fail when cooled rapidly.
Stone staircases present serious hazard. rapid cooling can cause spalling and cracking, and can lead to sudden dramatic failure.
some stone staircases only supported on one side.
Stone staircases should be avoided to use in fire.
What is the meaning of an emergency?
An event or situation where…
One or more individuals to die, become seriously injured, or ill.
Serious harm to environment, including health of plants and animals.
Define surface oxidation?
The reaction between a substances surface with the oxygen in the atmosphere surrounding it.
Can be seen as glowing and felt as heat. Is a form of combustion.
London safety plan main aims? (3)
Prevention and protection.
Response and resilience.
Resources and people.
3 sides of the triangle of fire?
Heat, Fuel, Oxygen.
What’s involved in the deciding stage of the DMM?
Gathering all available information.
Identifying objectives
Defining a plan
Considering the results and evaluating
Describe the evacuation signal?
Short repeated blasts on whistle. By incident commander or other personal aware of risk.
Can be made by any firefighter.
FREP (fire, resilience, and emergency planning committee?
Set up to scrutinise how Fire commissioner is performing.
How to check if a wall is bowing or bulging?
By standing at end of wall and looking along the wall.
What is glulam wood?
Layers of timber bonded together using adhesive
Which is the preferred method of communication used in the LFB?
Verbal. Face to face
How and when should safeguarding concerns be reported for all concerns where there is no immediate risk.
within 24 hours.
reported to the officer of the day via the resource managnet centre.
List 2 types of stress?
Work/life stress.
Trauma related stress.
What is a close coupled roof?
Traditional type of pitched roof.
List operational considerations in relation to building collapse?
Reinforced concrete normally have good fire resistance.
wooden floors covered in carpet may lead to undetected fire burning. Only discovered when weight is applied, ie firefighter.
collapsing floor joists may have levering effect on attached walls.
What 4 areas are the 33 borough grouped into?
North east
North west
South east
South west
How to care for a line?
Wash with warm washing up liquid and water.
Dry naturally, hung in a well aired room.
Showed correctly
3 stages of grievance procedure?
Informal
Formal
Appeal.
What is the principal aim of the authority?
Make London a safer city.
Where are the LFBs equality at work policies found?
Hotwire.
What are the characteristics of timber when used as an element of structure?
Oversized to provide sacrificial layer.
The outer chars, but the inner core is relatively uneffected and can retain its structural integrity.
What is a fighfighters involvement in community safety?
Home fire safety visits. HFSV
Community visits, such as home fire safety visits, grouped risk visits, hot strike/reassurance visits.
Stands and displays at public events.
Formal fire safety talks. (Schools/workplaces/clubs etc)
Training care workers to identify hazards in care homes.
Attending tenants and residents meetings.
Anything else that may help deliver the message of community safety to the public.
What are the responsibilities that employers have regards to health and safety?
(4)
Provide Healthy and safe enviroment to work in.
Safe and healthy buildings. (heat/running water etc)
Relevant information and training.
Good working practices.
Give examples of other people a firefighter may communicate with? (5)
The public
Police
Ambulance services.
Other fire brigades/firefighters.
Experts.
3 methods of extinguishing a fire?
Cooling.
Starvation.
Smothering.
Explain how foam extinguishes a fire…
Forms floating barrier between flammable liquid and surrounding air, preventing oxygen reactions with flammable vapours.
Has cooling effect as it contains water.
Cannot be used on electrical fires.