Major Exam 1

Question 1

Properties of a synthetic fibre rope

Answer 1

Ability to absorb shock loads.
Ability to withstand repeated loads without failure.
Little swelling or immersion in water.
Can be stowed without degradation by rot or mildew.
Has good weight to strength ratio.

Question 2

Offences under the Equal employment opportunity and discrimination principles

Answer 2

Accept or offer a bribe
Discrimination
Harassment
Accepting gifts
Unhealthy, unsafe work practises
Breaching Privacy principles
Unapproved outside work
Misusing confidential information
Unjustifiable absenteeism
Inappropriate public comment
Misusing government resources
Using your position for person gain or gain of friends and family.
Abuse of influence
Giving illegal or unreasonable directions to other employees.
Failure to obey lawful reasonable directions
Swearing
Any behaviour that could reasonably be expected to bring the reputation of ACTF&R or its members into disrepute.

Question 3

6 Sections of ACTF&R

Answer 3

Operations - Responsible for operational planning and emergency responce.

Training and Development - Responsible for design, development and delivery of training to ACTF&R members.

Community Safety - Respsible for AFA management, fire investigation management, community centre management, community engagement.

Specialised Operations - Fleet, technical and operational support and equipment research and development.

Capability Support - Fleet, Change management, facilities.

Special Projects - Health & well being, pumper project, skills maintenance.

Question 4

Employee WHS responsibilities

Answer 4

To ensure as far as is reasonably practicable that the health and safety of other persons is not put at risk from the workers acts or omissions.

Question 5

How long is probationary period

Answer 5

Full length of training and a further 3 months once on shift.

Question 6

All levels of PPC

Answer 6

Level A - Fully encapsulated gas suit

Level B - Splash suit with BA

Level C - Splash suit with respirator

Level D - Structural PPC (with Ba as required)

Level E - Wildfire (respirator/mask as required)

Question 7

PPC cleaning requirements

Answer 7

Dirty PPC:

Generally soiled but not contaminated PPC can be included with general dry cleaning picked up twice a week from all stations.

Contaminated PPC:

Contaminated PPC is to be bagged in dissolvable stitching bags found in resus kit and tagged with contaminated tag and detailed appropriately.

Infectious Waste:

Infectious waste is to be bagged in infectious waste bag found in resus kit and tagged with contaminated tag and detailed appropriately. Then collected bylogistics 35 ute. Then taken to ACT health in mitchell for destruction.

Structural firefighting boots:

Hosed down with water to remove contaminants. Polished to maintain water resistance.

Helmets:

Are to be brushed down and washed with warm soapy water if required.

Wildfire gloves:

To be brushed off ready for use. If contaminated, disposed of and a new pair obtained.

Rescue gloves:

Can be added to dry cleaning.

Question 8

Definition of a Hazard

Answer 8

A hazard is a source of danger.
Anything which has the potential to cause injury, illness, damage or loss of property.

Question 9

Definition of a Risk

Answer 9

Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause injury or illness to a person or to damage property.

Question 10

Define safe work practise (SWP)

Answer 10

Refers to Standard operating procedure (SOP) and standard operating guidelines (SOG). These documents explain how to safety perform specific tasks. Helping to reduce the amount o fworkplace injury.

Question 11

Define risk controls

Answer 11

Elimination

Substitution

Isolation

Engineering controls

Administrative controls

PPE

Question 12

What is riskman?

How can it be accesses?

How to use?

Answer 12

Riskman is the online reporting system for accidents, incidents and near misses.

Found on the intranet under Brigade forms. Incidents should be reported within 48hrs.

Person completes report and forwards to SO.
SO completes their part of the report and forwards to relevant Commander for review.
Commander forwards report to F&R HR Commander who will post the report onto the system.

Question 13

Define RSVPS for radio communications

Answer 13

RSVPS:

Rhythm - speak naturally with normal rhythm.

Speed - speak with steady constant pace. Pause between phrases.

Volume - Slightly louder than normal. Hold mike in consistent position.

Pitch - Slightly higher pitch.

Sentences - Short, use pro words where applicable.

Question 14

All pro words used by comcen and field units

Answer 14

Question 15

Causes of deterioration to a line

Answer 15

External wear - Caused by dragging over rough surfaces.

Internal wear - Caused by repeated kinking or dragging causing grit to be driven into the fibres.

Local abrasion - caused by line being passed over sharp objects.

Cuts, contusions - caused by falling debris.

Overloading - Caused to shock load over line limit.

Question 16

5 Uses of a ladder

Answer 16

Rescue - one of the most important uses, often the only way to get people out of two storey buildings.
Access - both above and below.
Ventilation - access ceiling space of roof.
Crawl-board - on fragile roofing or flooring.
Bridging - from one obstacle to another.

Question 17

What is good firemanship

Answer 17

Firemanship relates to the overall attitude/ ethics and work practises used by firefighters is all aspects of work such as on station, emergency incidents and public relation exercises.
Such ethics include:
Respect the rank.
Remember your part of a team, which is only as good as its members input.
Respect others knowledge and learn from them.
Just because your senior doesn’t mean you know more in every area, other members may still be more knowledgeable due to trades of life experience.
Done take shortcuts, do thing properly.
Don’t leave problems for others, fix it or notify someone of the problem.
Respect the station as is everyone’s home.
Always do what is right.
Use the correct tool.
Care for tool when using.
Keep things clean (tools, station)
Conduct yourself with professionalism at all times.

Question 18

Components of the resus kit

Answer 18

Oxygen cylinder
Pressure reducer
Demand valve (bag refill valve)
Soft resus bag
Suction
Ancillary equipment (bandages, scissors, soft neck collar)

Question 19

Resus kit daily check procedure

Answer 19

Check bag and zips are in good condition
Attach pressure reducer
Open (all the way 1/4 turn back) and ensure pressure of at least 100 bar
Open and check oxygen therapy control valve
Connect demand valve and resus bag and squeeze to ensure correct refill
Check the suction device
Close cylinder
Release pressure
Check all inventory
B.A section inspect and test every 6 months ensure in date

Question 20

Describe an oxygen cylinder

Answer 20

All white with letter ‘N’ on the collar. Sometime have latter ‘N’ or half white half black. Twin pin indexed, so only oxygen cylinder attachments can be used.
Has 2L water capacity. Max bar of 150, must replace when below 100. Air capacity of 300L.

Question 21

BA safe work practises

Answer 21

Always work with a minimum of 2 firefighters.
BA must be worn when there is any doubt of quality and safety of working environment.
BA not to be used underwater.
Firefighter to ensure they have sufficient air before use. Minimum 260bar for work sets and minimum 200bar for escape sets.
Always carry out pre operational checks.
When on BA, BA control must be used.
Always don in fresh air.
Always wear a helmet.
Check pressure gauge frequently.
make mental note of route taken to assist exit.
Allow time to get out.
When supplying air to auxiliary mask wear time is halved.
Remain in verbal contact. Physical contact advised in limited visibility.
When one whistle sounds both members leave.
Upon hearing DSU report to BA control and go to signal to assist.
Never remove BA in toxic atmosphere.

Question 22

21 Points of the BA daily check procedure

Answer 22

1) Check that the set is complete, clean and in good condition.
2) Remove facemask from bag and attach to demand valve.
3) Fully slacken waist belt, shoulder and facemask straps ready for use.
4) Press first breath mechanism and ensure bypass knob is closed.
5) Open the main cylinder valve fully and allow 10 seconds to pressurise.
6) Check the cylinder contains at least 260bar and listen for leaks.
7) Close cylinder and monitor gauge for 1 min. If it drops more than 10bar this is unacceptable.
8) On duo sets, vent with bypass knob and repeat with second cylinder.
9) If system fails, vent air check connections and repeat leak test.
10) Open cylinder valve.
11) Fit face mask, tighten bottom, middle, top.
12) Inhale deeply and check first breath mechanism operates.
13) Hold breath for 10 seconds and listen for leaks. Re adjust to fix leaks.
14) When satisfied hold breath press DV reset and remove mask.
15) Close the cylinder valve.
16) Open bypass and watch gauge ensure low pressure whistle operates between 50-60 bar.
17) Turn off bypass.
18) Replace facemask cover of mask.
19) Test DSU. (replace if faulty)
20) Ensure BA is correctly secured in bracket.
21) Attach tally tag to DSU key.

Question 23

Responsibilities of the BACO

Answer 23

Establishing breathing apparatus main control at the most convenient site for easy access and communication with all entry control points.

Supervising the establishment and control of entry control points.

Ensuring strict control in maintained over all aspects of the BA operation and that BA SOP’s are complied with.

Communications between each entry control point and the BA main control. The BACO shall be primarily responsible for establishing means of communication.

Ensuring each entry control point has the necessary equipment to operate.

Having adequate reliefs available and dispatching them to the appropriate entry control officer.

Having atleast two fully rigged BA wearers standing by for emergency purposes whilst main control is operating.

Supervising the recommissioning of BA and cylinder recharging.

Ensuring the evacuation siren is ready and available if required.

Question 24

Process of reseting the emergency shutoff button when pumping

Answer 24

Emergency shutdown will stop engine and pressure to all deliveries will be lost.
To reset:
Reset emergency stop button.
Return throttle to idle.
Select neutral.
Disengage pump and HP hose.
Turn ignition off and wait 10 seconds,
Restart engine.
Engage pumps.
Select ‘D’ on auto transmission.
Re-commence pumping.

Question 25

Decribe the use of the pressure relief valve

Answer 25

Primary function of the pressure relief valve is to prevent excessive delivery pressure to other lines when a hose line is shut off, or delivery valves are closed.
Is set to prevent excess delivery pressure. Only bleed of a maximum of 200kPa.
Not HP hose reels.

Turn the valve on.

Then rotate counter clockwise until the green light illuminates.

Rotate clockwise until orange light illuminates.

Now the pressure relief valve is set at the correct kPa.

Question 26

Supplementary pump cooling techniques

Answer 26

Open an unused high pressure delivery onto the ground.
Open an unused high pressure delivery into the tank filler.
Open branches regularly.
Connect a main delivery to the tank filler point.
Disengage the high pressure pump when not required.
Throttle back when high pressures are not required.
Supplementary pump cooling (‘P’ series Varley).

High pressure reel use will cool both HP and main pump.
Main pump use will only cool main pump.

Question 27

Ladder use terminology

Answer 27

Slip - to remove the ladder from an appliance.
Elevate - to raise the head of a ladder by under-running.
Under-run - to raise the head of the ladder from the ground to a vertical position by hand over hand elevation.
Extend - to extend the sliding section.
Pitch - to place the head of the ladder against a structure.
Heel in, Heel out - to move the ladder heel toward, or away from a structure.
Foot - to brace the heel of the ladder.
Strike - to move the head of the ladder away from a structure.
Extend to lower - to raise the sliding section so that the pawls are cleared for lowering.
Lower - to retract the sliding section.
House - to place the ladder back on the appliance.

Question 28

First aid procedure for someone unconcious and not breathing

Answer 28

Follow DRSABCD

When decided to use oxygen
Set up oxygen cylinder attach bag and mask
Ensure clear airway
Lay casualty on back
Insert oropharyngeal airway (if appropriate)
Position yourself and provide adequate head tilt
Ensure mask in sealed fully
Squeeze bag firmly but gently, until visible chest rise
Allow casualty to exhale
Constantly reassess airway

Question 29

8 Stages of RCR and definition

Answer 29

PRIGEDRT

Preparation - maintenance of tools and regular training in realistic situations.

Response - safe travel to scene, approach incident quietly and purposfully, position appliance to protect incident. Liase with other services.

Incident management - inner and outer circle assesments, hazard controls, equipment staging.

Gaining access - make rapid and safe access making sure to not make the situation worse.

Emergency care - follow DRSABCD.

Disentanglement - disentagnle to allow extrication.

Removal and Transfer - remove from vehicle. Transfew to ACTAS vehicle.

Termination - final checks and clean up.

Question 30

Main functions of a sprinkler system

Answer 30

Detect the presence of fire.
Locate the area involved in fire.
Raise the alarm, both with the occupants of the building and the fire brigade.
Attack the fire.

Question 31

Types of dry detectors

Answer 31

Heat detectors
Smoke detectors
Flame detectors

Question 32

RCR hazards and how to control them

Answer 32

Safety of the scene

Some form or fire responce is to be places close to staging atrea in the event of fire. Charged line, high-pressure hose, CO2 extinguisher, foam extinguisher.

Crowd control

Request to stay outside the cordoned off area. Police should maintain the integrity of the working area.

Electrical

All persons kept clear until electrical source is isolated. Casualty’s must stay inside and not touch any metal part of the body. Reassure casualty from safe distance and notify ActewAGL to disconnect the power immediatly.

Traffic

Park in ‘fend off’ position. Lay cones and traffic bollards to divert and slow traffic. Available member can direct traffic until police can assist.

Hazardous Materials

If hazardous materials are present the scene may become a HazMat scene first and rescue second.

Biological Hazards

Use PPE stop direct contact. Masks to stop air transfer. Keep area clean and free of food and drink.

Leaking Fuel

Stop the fuel leak (isolate, clamp), Contain leaking fuel, Clean up using absorbents (spongolite)

Stabilisation

Blocking, cribbing, stabfast.

Question 33

Ways detectors false alarm

Answer 33

Faults in alarm systems can be catogorised as:

Transmission signal faults.

Fire panel faults.

Faults in monitoring devices.

Faults in detection devices.

Question 34

Responsibilities of a driver under UDD in a schoolzone

Answer 34

Drive safely to the conditions with a duty of care.

Question 35

Consideration when making up and re-stowing

Answer 35

Making up:

Make up quickly to regain Operational readiness.

Strip one vehicle.

Clean equipment before housing.

Re-stow:

Move essential gear across.

Make note of gear transferred.

Check inventory.

Check condition of appliance and pump operations and equipment.

Check radios.

Question 36

Signs of a reactive driver

Answer 36

Slow reaction time.

Often aggressive attitide.

Lack of responsibility.

Poor observation and anticipation skills.

Question 37

How to access a vehicle

Answer 37

Through the doors.

Through the windows.

Through compromising the body of the vehicle.