The disaster we had to have…….
Mr G Wood : No, they can practise their skills up to two metres high. You may laugh but it's a serious thing.
Must admit; I joined in the general mirth when Wood mentioned the ‘two meter’ limit – I thought he’s just misquoted the figure and waited for the correction – Nope; he was serious.
Senator GALLACHER: You believe it's too dangerous to use a ladder in a controlled training environment but it's okay to use it in a fire or to conduct a rescue.
This is OH&S gone nuts and it’s a bloody dangerous nut they’ve dreamed up. Our fire fighters do not get (nod to the gods) a lot of real work – thankfully, they are not routinely called out to rescue folks from the burning wrecks of large passenger aircraft. No amount of training can really prepare a person for the first encounter with what is a truly horrifying event; fire, dangerous smoke, a shifting platform and the possibility of a collapse etc. It is a dangerous game our rescue teams play, for keeps, with very real consequences. The best and I dare say the only chance the fire crews have of not only saving folks, but themselves is through constant, realistic training – then, when it is ‘for real’ the only hurdle to be overcome is ‘realism’.
Consider, there has been a serious event – the full Monty – the rescue effort swings into action; the urgency and the adrenalin need to be controlled – self discipline (training) then the outfit must be gotten into (protective gear) quickly and effectively without anything being forgotten; the plan and the rescue must be decided and actioned (training and practice) then put into effect. The service arrives on scene and then, for the probably the first and only time in the working life of a fire fighter – it is for real. Now is the first time that a fire fighter must carry himself, his gear a rescue saw up to eight meters through the heat, smoke and confusion to penetrate the hull. This is no time to be encountering the difficulties or learning the skills needed to climb a ladder.
Climbing all the way up a ladder is a skill which can only be learned through practice. Carrying heavy equipment up a ladder in a fire situation is, potentially lethal – unless it is an automatic, well drilled skill, learned through practice – constant practice. In the old days (way back) I did a lot of ‘climbing’ in the mountains – carrying my own gear, ropes and etc. through rain, hail, shine and wind – great fun and excellent training. To earn some money to go climbing, I’d take on jobs in the building game. The first time I was confronted by a six meter ladder and obliged to carry a ‘Hod’ full of mortar to the Bricklayers working on top I thought no problem; and off I went. It is about the halfway mark that you realise that this is no easy task. I got lucky – the foreman took me aside at lunch time and gave me some ‘tips’ on how best to manage the load and the ladder together; took another day and a half to get the ‘knack’ of it. Folk fall off ladders for lack of basic training, practice and exposure to the ‘ways of ladders’ under load.
I reckon my Grand Mama could manage two meters with enough gear to wash the windows; but up a nine meter ladder, in full fire rig, carrying a rescue saw, for the first time? Forget it. This chump Woods is not only putting his crews at risk, but the travelling public, by sim[ply denying his troops the rehearsal and practice they must have to be fully effective and confident in all their skills.
Talk about Rome burning while Nero fiddles -
“A working group had been created to provide recommend¬ations on alternatives to the rescue saws and ladder training, and would provide recommendations by May at the latest, she added.”
Oh, I feel so much better for that. It has only taken seven and a half years to sort out their fleet problems, so we can all live in hope. Let’s us all just hope that there is not a major event at an airport near you; the fire engine may just be delayed because they must stop at every red light on the way to the airport.
ASA under the direction of the village idiot is rapidly becoming a laughing stock; and, will remain so until one day, due to the ineptitude, we loose a hull. Perhaps it is time that the government took some responsibility for ‘aviation’ and stopped relying on folk like Carmody, Halfwit and Hood. Hire some people who actually understand the tasks and get it done right – just in case the unthinkable happens. Like it or not Ladies and Gentlemen of the government; you can run, but you cannot hide; not from the results of the ‘disaster we had to have’.
Toot – toot.
Mr G Wood : No, they can practise their skills up to two metres high. You may laugh but it's a serious thing.
Must admit; I joined in the general mirth when Wood mentioned the ‘two meter’ limit – I thought he’s just misquoted the figure and waited for the correction – Nope; he was serious.
Senator GALLACHER: You believe it's too dangerous to use a ladder in a controlled training environment but it's okay to use it in a fire or to conduct a rescue.
This is OH&S gone nuts and it’s a bloody dangerous nut they’ve dreamed up. Our fire fighters do not get (nod to the gods) a lot of real work – thankfully, they are not routinely called out to rescue folks from the burning wrecks of large passenger aircraft. No amount of training can really prepare a person for the first encounter with what is a truly horrifying event; fire, dangerous smoke, a shifting platform and the possibility of a collapse etc. It is a dangerous game our rescue teams play, for keeps, with very real consequences. The best and I dare say the only chance the fire crews have of not only saving folks, but themselves is through constant, realistic training – then, when it is ‘for real’ the only hurdle to be overcome is ‘realism’.
Consider, there has been a serious event – the full Monty – the rescue effort swings into action; the urgency and the adrenalin need to be controlled – self discipline (training) then the outfit must be gotten into (protective gear) quickly and effectively without anything being forgotten; the plan and the rescue must be decided and actioned (training and practice) then put into effect. The service arrives on scene and then, for the probably the first and only time in the working life of a fire fighter – it is for real. Now is the first time that a fire fighter must carry himself, his gear a rescue saw up to eight meters through the heat, smoke and confusion to penetrate the hull. This is no time to be encountering the difficulties or learning the skills needed to climb a ladder.
Climbing all the way up a ladder is a skill which can only be learned through practice. Carrying heavy equipment up a ladder in a fire situation is, potentially lethal – unless it is an automatic, well drilled skill, learned through practice – constant practice. In the old days (way back) I did a lot of ‘climbing’ in the mountains – carrying my own gear, ropes and etc. through rain, hail, shine and wind – great fun and excellent training. To earn some money to go climbing, I’d take on jobs in the building game. The first time I was confronted by a six meter ladder and obliged to carry a ‘Hod’ full of mortar to the Bricklayers working on top I thought no problem; and off I went. It is about the halfway mark that you realise that this is no easy task. I got lucky – the foreman took me aside at lunch time and gave me some ‘tips’ on how best to manage the load and the ladder together; took another day and a half to get the ‘knack’ of it. Folk fall off ladders for lack of basic training, practice and exposure to the ‘ways of ladders’ under load.
I reckon my Grand Mama could manage two meters with enough gear to wash the windows; but up a nine meter ladder, in full fire rig, carrying a rescue saw, for the first time? Forget it. This chump Woods is not only putting his crews at risk, but the travelling public, by sim[ply denying his troops the rehearsal and practice they must have to be fully effective and confident in all their skills.
Talk about Rome burning while Nero fiddles -
“A working group had been created to provide recommend¬ations on alternatives to the rescue saws and ladder training, and would provide recommendations by May at the latest, she added.”
Oh, I feel so much better for that. It has only taken seven and a half years to sort out their fleet problems, so we can all live in hope. Let’s us all just hope that there is not a major event at an airport near you; the fire engine may just be delayed because they must stop at every red light on the way to the airport.
ASA under the direction of the village idiot is rapidly becoming a laughing stock; and, will remain so until one day, due to the ineptitude, we loose a hull. Perhaps it is time that the government took some responsibility for ‘aviation’ and stopped relying on folk like Carmody, Halfwit and Hood. Hire some people who actually understand the tasks and get it done right – just in case the unthinkable happens. Like it or not Ladies and Gentlemen of the government; you can run, but you cannot hide; not from the results of the ‘disaster we had to have’.
Toot – toot.