Members should refer to the National Safety Notice 062/2014 issued on 16 October, and also refer to the Auckland Level 2 Investigation Report on 14 July 2014 regarding medium pressure hose kinking and air supply interruption.

A recent event in Christchurch highlighted this again though not through carrying anything on the shoulders.

Members should be aware that there is a risk in the wearing of the current B.A., which is life threatening.

The ease with which the air-line to the face-piece crimps/folds has been shown by four separate incidents.

New replacement hose has been fitted to all professional firefighters’ Sets. This hose is no long term fix as it is the same as the hose it replaces.

New hose has been ordered, but in the period between the proper new hose arriving and being fitted to all B.A. (a minimum of 8 weeks), firefighters and their officers need to be aware of the risk posed by the failure of these sets and make operational decisions accordingly.