SA Country Fire Service (SA)
Category 2: Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
SA Country Fire Service is leading the way in rural fire appliance design with the CFS 34.
Thousands of Australian fire fighters battle bushfires in rural and urban areas each year. Bushfires are inherently unsafe and unhealthy due to the challenge of the work environment which includes heat, smoke, noise and chemical conditions, as well as physiological and psychological pressures on fire fighters. Fire fighter safety is of the highest priority for fire fighting agencies.
Crew protection in the case of burn overs is paramount. The SA Country Fire Service embarked on a journey of continuous improvement with its main focus being to address crew safety and ergonomic issues on appliances. The evolving outcome is the 2006 CFS 34 (meaning 3 000 litre, four wheel drive) which has been innovatively designed and is considered best practice in its field.
Elimination of a burn over hazard is impossible and isolation of the fire fighters from the hazard by placing them behind a barrier, for example reflective blinds/fire protection curtain, is the appropriate control. Engineering controls have been used to construct the In-Cab Breathing System, halo sprinkler system, emergency crew haven fire protection lagging and improved ergonomics.
The designers and builders of the appliance have exceeded what might have been expected in identifying the issues and setting it out accurately. The hazard identification covered basic health protection of the occupants in the vehicle (in the case of burn over), through to manual handling considerations with respect to the ease of retrieval of equipment.
Protection of the crew in the cabin was innovative, original and effective. It offers the crew maximum prospect of survival for the expected duration of a burn over situation.
SA Country Fire Service’s commitment to the occupational health and safety of volunteers is impressive, noting that such appliances may well assist the CFS in attracting and retaining skilled volunteer fire fighters.
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Page last updated: 03/05/2007