Members are advised that contrary to Regional Update 78/2008, the Auckland Local has not agreed to initiate the use of the 405 or 408 forms.

Some time ago, the Local agreed to a trial of the 408 form in the North Shore Fire District at East Coast Bays and Albany Stations. The results of this trial were to have been analysed by an Auckland Local Representative and a Fire Service appointed representative. This process has not been followed, no analysis has taken place and consequently the Auckland Local instructs its members not to take part in any proposed training for either the 405 or 408 forms until such time as the Local’s representative advises the Local Committee that the proposed building surveys (405) and the Fire Safety Survey (408) forms are acceptable for union members to work with.

The Auckland Local has great concerns that it has not even been advised of the existence of the 405 form which we see as “street scanning” by another name. The proposed process will require members to rate the risk of premises from a “front seat” assessment of a building, which we are deeply concerned will result in some buildings being rated considerably less of a risk than they should be, with the consequent reduction in response and increase in the danger to firefighters.

There is also the danger that should an officer assess the risk of a building as low and then an incident occurs which causes injury to a member of the public or firefighter, the subsequent inquiry will lay the blame squarely at the door of the officer who did the initial 405 risk assessment. We find this completely unacceptable.