SA Firefighter

Andrew i apologise if I offended you. As you know I'm the last person to have a go at volunteers (which I wasn't).However I'm also aware (from our intelligence) that that was the first of 3 possible events for September. I'm also open to different ideas & have worked under centralised control (SA) & local control (NSW) & I have a fair idea which is more efficient Finally have a look over the border - ask yourself this Could your system handle this? Remember their operations will continue for some time. And we are possibly as well Again sorry mate

We had the first Warning order for this event on the 23rd August - no panic find out what crews, gear, threats there are & just wait! And with regular updates as well! So it shouldn't be a surprise for anyone

Correct mate - has been that way since the new act came out (even though its not covered in the Fire & Emergency services act as such) Try the Workers compensation Act & regulations for the official view. SES is not in fact specifically mentioned but:-
103A—Special provision for prescribed classes of volunteers
(1) The Crown is the presumptive employer of persons of a prescribed class who
voluntarily perform work of a prescribed class that is of benefit to the State (and the
Crown therefore has the liabilities of a self-insured employer in relation to persons of
that class).
Therefore just like other government entities SES is deemed to be "self insured". I specifically covered this aspect when I did my "Workers compensation for Claims Administrators course" in 2006 & other Workers comp training sessions.
I hope this helps
cheers

I guess Andrew & everyone else, what Numbers is saying is going "full noise" to a job when as you said yourself - it will be hurry up & wait is stupid!
Sapol (or in fact a fire appliance - if it was closer) could warn of the hazard until a trained & properly equipped team arrives on scene(which ever service).
The real problem is that P1 is overused.
And I have real issues with people who's only qualification is a drivers licence, driving a medium to heavy vehicle P1 to any job (doesn't matter which service) - until drivers are properly qualified to to do this task then no one should be driving P1 especially in metro/built up areas.
We have a real simple system Respond (full noise, life property threat & a gold licence) & Proceed (normal response - for every other task & for those without a gold licence regardless of the task). Having completed the "respond" (Drive vehicles under operational conditions - not the 4x4 )course  which includes video of NSWFB & Ambulance service driving Respond in Sydney & completing a very tough assessment with a Fed cop I have realised just how much of a risk I was taking driving trucks at P1 in SA (even though I have had years of experience driving heavy vehicles including defence advanced driving -just my thoughts cheers 

Mate he is only having a dig (as you quite rightly guessed) - the days are gone when we can work people 24 - 7 even in CFS! cheers

Bunyip - yes I'm aware of that but for the sake of accuracy (which individuals on this site crave), self insurance only refers to Workers Compensation - as defined under the Workers Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1986(SA). A lot of large employers use self insurance in SA (including mine). So as I said yes you are correct SA government does cover its own liability thru SAICORP, however "Self insurance" is Workers Comp only. I hope that cleared it all up
cheers

Self insurance is for Workers comp - not general insurance.
cheers

  thanks Boardy - very funny

Unfortunately that's what happens when an incident happens. The details cannot be released until all of the authorities involved have completed their investigations & decided whether the matter will result in an enquiry or court appearance. To release full details of any incident prior to this would be prejudicial to the case. The comment from bajdas is that Safework SA has investigated - from personnal experience it take several months to find out if they are prosecuting or not! And thats on a major incident - it is the way their system works
Of interest here there has been a major review of all Rescue from heights & depths(vertical rescue & disaster rescue techniques) going on for some time with some bans in place for some types of training (until the changes are implemented), some major recommendations to some of the techniques used (including banning some), major changes to the equipment required etc. I did forward the information to someone in SESSA as a matter of interest, so I guess some of that may reviewed by them as part of this!
cheers

I gather Crash you work in the public sector - say what you like & can't be sac ked The point I was trying to make is if you want a truly professional service then if rules are broken the there should be repercussions, & a mature attitude to all of the emergency services by all instead of this constant sniping - as some of those who I used to manage found out! And the only reason in the old days some councils went down that path was a)cost & b)special interests - just like an ex - emergency service minister a few years ago
It was misguided & now other towns have to cover when it all turns to crap! And if you think I'm talking scheiße then you haven't been around too long Theres a lot more to storm & flood than you might think! And then there is disaster management as well, so while some of you will bitchnwhinge until the cows come home - guess what? it won't change SES will be around for a while yet cheers

Isn't it amasing what a little internal politics can do to a unit/brigade? And some people who have a big ego or think they can run a unit better? Just a small group of disgruntled individuals almost destroyed that unit. And my understanding of the situation at the time, it wasn't the SES that was the fly in the ointment re: dual response  other things:wink:
Back to Murraybridge a great unit & I was sadden to hear of their potential demise - I am glad it was just rumour & possible empire building (again).
Finally when are you guys going to be happy with what you have? Every time I come on here its another round of "lets get rid of the SES".Halfarsed rumours & accusations & other bollocks! For filtered sake! do you really think you would benefit at all? No of course not! The organisation would still exist to satisfy disaster requirements - just like it does in every other state & any money saved would go into general revenue not CFS coffers. And all up its only worth a few million anyway - not enough to buy every brigade new appliances & buildings to rival SAMFS! Maybe the government should start looking at where all of the money actually goes in CFS & a different funding model that makes towns and councils a bit more accountable. Anyway thats all I've got & again I'm glad to MB is still active

Now that is filtered funny brightened up my otherwise filtered up day - good post!