The Union has been involved with the new BA reference guide and the new E Learning package outlined below and supports its implementation.
In order to support the effective training delivery, a number of Regional workshops are being run during June.
There will be up to three facilitators from each area attending these workshops and they will be provided with a common understanding of the key points in the learning package and be able to deliver to members with a consistent approach.
Implementation of BA Reference Guide
The new Breathing Apparatus (BA) Reference Guide is now available on FireNet.
The BA Reference Guide is a best practice document for breathing apparatus in the NZFS and you are required to read and implement the key changes, as soon as possible.
In recognition of the BA Reference Guide being a comprehensive document, the KEY changes relate to:
- Restricted access / confined space
- Start up and shut down
- Air Management
- Incident Controller / OIC Fire
- Aerial Appliance entry control
- Stage two entry control
- Search procedure
- BA Rescue techniques
- Repeaters (for telemetry set wearers only)
A BA electronic learning package will be delivered to all stations and brigades from 9 June, and will support three key areas of change to BA operating procedures. These are:
- Entry control procedures for the first arriving appliance
- Breathing Apparatus Emergency Team role
- New Mayday procedure
Section 3 – Entry Control Procedures, addresses significant changes to operating procedures. To support this learning, facilitated training sessions will be conducted in your Area between June and September.
All operational staff are required to attend a BA training session and consolidate this learning before the new operating procedures go live in your area. Two On Station SMS tasks have been created to support this process:
- Facilitated BA e-learning
- BA training package consolidation
The operating procedures in the new BA e-learning package will take effect when outlined by your Area Manager. All areas are required to be using the new procedures by 1 October 2015 at the latest.
The new BA Reference Guide and the support provided for the BA electronic learning package, have been endorsed by the NZPFU and UFBA.
A summary of all changes in the new BA Reference Guide is contained in the link on Fire Net.
