UFBA Conference 2022 – Connections

Make-up of MOU review team

With the upcoming review of the MOU between FENZ and St John, can you confirm that the review team will include representation of those brigades that provide First Response services, in particular, those that have variations such as us in Omarama who are part of an enhanced First Response Trial that attaches us to Orange and Green calls as well?

The team working on reviewing this MOU is going to follow a standard process, which includes seeking formal feedback from key stakeholders, like the UFBA, other unions and associations. We will also take submissions from those brigades that wish to provide feedback.

There will then be a further feedback opportunity on the final draft through key stakeholders before the document signed by the respective organisations.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) in First aid at medical emergency response with St. John ambulance

Waiving the necessity to attend St. John Refresher Courses

There is discord amongst volunteer personnel having to either take time away from work or spending weekends attending first aid refresher courses via St. Johns Ambulance especially given there is a co-response to medical emergencies as per FENZ/St. John Memorandum of Understanding.

Daily we respond to a variety of medical events, not only purple calls, where often FENZ are the first arriving emergency personnel and perform medical assistance prior to ambulance arrival.

There are also trained co-responders within some brigades, and ambulance officers who are also FENZ volunteers.

In our local communities we often know the ambulance crew who are friends.

It is not uncommon for the ambulance personnel that are also the trainers/instructors for the re-certification course. They each recognise their individual skills.

Given that we respond alongside our St John partners, one would think the frequency of response, and the skills maintained, would be enough to recognise current competency reducing the requirement for re-certification courses.

RCC is recognised within universities and training establishments, as a means to prove skill and knowledge, and by NZQA as a tool for awarding of National Unit Standards. I’m sure the frequency of response would be more than adequate to allow for RCC to occur.

Recording, reporting

There could be the perception by St. Johns that some FENZ personnel don’t respond enough to warrant RCC. A simple way to check would be to run reports through SMS medical response events to check who responded. A matrix could be used that analyses the number of calls each individual attended. A threshold minimum number could be applied to ensure that each person reaches that threshold to recognise current competency.

Cost saving

This could potentially be a cost saving given the current financial climate FENZ is faced with. This would be unfortunate for St John as their training delivery is a major source of funding for them.

Time commitment

We are all aware of the time commitment that FENZ volunteers give to their communities. This is one way of limiting that time spent away from home given that we are always utilising these skills.

It is not something that should be taken likely and would require careful consideration, however, I believe this is an ideal opportunity to take advantage of a regular skill.

We appreciate the comments, however, the recertification process is set out by WorkSafe, not by Fire and Emergency, St John/WFA or Red Cross for workplace first aid requirements.

Our people attend this training to ensure they are equipped to manage a sick or injured colleague – either on station or on the incident ground. Their skills and level of training also means that through the implementation of the MOU with both St John and WFA, they can also attend particular medical emergencies in the community while responding alongside our ambulance partners.

Please note St John is no longer the medical co-response training provider for our people. This is now Red Cross.

We also have a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process in place for our people who hold either a St John/WFA qualification (or advanced medical qualification) so they can apply to be RPL’d meaning they do not have to attend a Fire and Emergency co-response course if their level of training is deemed to be appropriate.

For those that do attend our co-response training, we also have the ability to provide a letter to their employer (on FENZ letterhead) which outlines what is covered on our course with the aim of preventing compulsory attendance at their own workplace first aid course.

Mileage allowance for diesel

With the high cost of diesel, the rates for a vehicle with a 2001-3500cc rating we get 089c for petrol and 083c for Diesel and for a vehicle with 3501cc and over are 119c for petrol and 109c for Diesel. On top of the Diesel we also have to pay RUC. Us that use Diesel powered vehicles are not getting a fair g, are FENZ going to readjust these allowances?

Fire and Emergency has no plans to readjust the mileage allowances. We use the AA rates, with new rates effective from 1 July 2022. The AA calculations take into account RUC charges for diesel vehicles.

Click on the link for information about the update to mileage rates.

What work has taken place in closing the disconnect between urban and rural volunteers and brigades?

Such as:

• Standardized PPE
• Standard rank structure
• Cross crediting for rural volunteers wanting to slot into the TAPS program.
• A skills maintenance system like OSM that can be adapted for rural
• Clear nationwide prerequisites for rural courses

Communication was received from the UFBA that work has begun on payment for long duration fires. Do you have an update on this?

We’ve produced a number of things to unify urban and rural volunteer brigades. With an organisation the size of ours there are some things that will take longer than others.

Of note, anyone can access our current uniform options and we have a recognition of prior learning system for people wanting to cross credit for the TAPS programme. 

We’re progressing work on the Incident Capability and Payments Alignment project which will address the need for a standardised approach to paying for deployment.

We’ve also been looking at both role, rank and positions across Service Delivery to understand what is needed and where.

We have been discussing a skills maintenance system like OSM with the UFBA and see advantages in having something like OSM available for our brigades. We are working through next steps to consider what can be developed and how we can support brigades to implement a new system. The UFBA are involved in this work and are able to provide further insights and advocacy on brigades' behalf.

In total, we are making progress and will continue to work on how to unify our urban and rural volunteers and brigades.

SFF and QFF courses

My name is Mark Tancred. I am the UFBA rep for Onewhero Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade.

I am sure this is one of many emails about the same thing. There are a number of personnel in our brigade who have been working hard over a number of years to gain QFF and SFF rank. We give up our valuable time on weekends and after hours to do the relevant courses to obtain the necessary qualifications to gain those ranks. We have a couple of members who were led to believe that they were only one course away from becoming a SSF.

Now FENZ in its infinite wisdom have decided that people need to go and do the SSF or QFF courses, which are at least one week long.

Most of us have full-time jobs, kids at school, etc. etc., as much as we would love to go and do the courses we just cannot afford to take the time off work to attend. And if forced to make a choice between going or staying at a FF rank some people will actually leave their brigades.

It still seems like there is a big divide between the full-time personnel and the volunteers. And and even bigger divide between urban and rural crews.

Our question is a simple one, What is the UFBA's position on this and is there a likelihood of an outcome that will be acceptable to all parties?

We appreciate the time given up for training and recognise the challenge. We’re looking to move towards a more flexible modular training design to better support our volunteers. This approach will provide learning opportunities that are timely, appropriate and based on organisational and community need. As we move through the People Branch Reset and gain approval for the Training and Development Strategy we plan to progress this mahi.

In terms of the Volunteer Qualified Firefighter and Senior Firefighter programmes specifically, they both have a week-long practical course element. This isn’t new and has been a long-standing part of the programme.

Operational support representation

Thanks for the opportunity to prepare and present questions to both the FENZ and the UFBA leadership during the conference this weekend.

Attached is a paper I have prepared for FENZ ELT to consider and to respond to during the event.

Operational support representation paper [PDF, 443 KB]

I appreciate it is not a ‘simple question’ and I don’t expect it to be read in toto; however, the question could be introduced as something summarily like 'when will Operational Support see improved representation and support from FENZ NHQ, particularly in the areas of training and progression, fleet, and equipment, noting that there are more than 1200 Operational Support personnel nationwide and we continue to feel neglected and undersupported?'

The paper includes further detail, context, and relates directly to the submission I made to the UFBA AGM and Conference in 2020, and more recently to engagement with UFBA senior leadership at their Wellington ‘connections’ evening.

I look forward to seeing these important issues raised in front of the wider FENZ audience. Early indicators are that the concerns raised in this paper are widely supported by Operational Support Firefighters across New Zealand.

I also hope that by copying UFBA in this submission, this will give the UFBA an opportunity to include Operational Support issues in their agenda as they continue to work productively with FENZ for improved services, particularly from (and for) volunteers within Fire and Emergency.

We acknowledge and appreciate the effort put into preparing a comprehensive report alongside this question. We need time to consider the report in further detail and want to acknowledge that our Operational Support personnel make an extremely valuable contribution to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, not only in response to fire and other emergencies, but also in risk reduction such as public education at events.

We know we have more work to do in the fleet, equipment, training and progression space for our Operational Support personnel and we look forward to considering the insights you have presented in your report.

We understand that a follow-up conversation has been held with the DCE, Service Delivery Operations Russell Wood on this matter and that he has scheduled a visit to the Wellington Operational Support Unit to further discuss and understand the issues you have raised.

Portaloos at events

Hi there our brigade has a query about the possibility of getting Portaloos to any decent event as we have a growing number of female members and given its 2022 they shouldn’t be expected to squat behind a tree! 

It would be fair to say if the command unit rolls to an event it should probably arrive with a couple of trailer Portaloos in our opinion also. 

In major events we will supply Portaloos, such as at the Waiharara fire. OICs should be monitoring these requirements and making local arrangements as appropriate.

Fifty-year medal presentations

One held in Luggate last weekend

• No Board member representative
• No SLT member representative
• No SDLT member representative

Do we have a policy around who should attend on behalf of the Board and Organisation??

Do we think the non-attendance of any of the above groups is disrespectful of the recipient??

There has been a recent change to improve our process for significant milestone medal presentations. We do endeavour to have where possible either a Board and/or senior representative from Fire and Emergency. In this particular case due to the timing we were unable to attend, however, recognition was given with a personalised letter from the Board Chair.

We assure you we are extremely grateful for our volunteers, particularly those with long service like this.

There was no intent to be disrespectful. It was just unfortunate in terms of timing and availability.

Fleet management

Why can this not be managed on an Area Basis to maximize benefit to Area Logistics?

In terms of fleet management, we’ve interpreted this to mean why don’t we fix appliances on an Area/local basis. If that’s the case, we have a range of solutions in place for fleet maintenance ranging from service providers that look after appliances from only one brigade, to those that look after all appliances in a province.

We consider things like where providers are based, their level of experience, location of relief appliances, potential efficiencies from centralisation, response time and efficiencies from having specialist fire appliance technicians becoming familiar with our appliances.

Asepti BA Wash

Why is Asepti BA Wash continuing to be supplied and used when the toxicity (as per SDS) is 'Harmful to aquatic life' with long lasting effects, along with 'Causes serious eye irritation'?

In terms of Asepti BA Wash, the active ingredient in this product (Dräger Asepti BA Wash) is Alkyl Dimethyl Benzl Ammonium Chloride, commonly found in household cleaning products to kill bacteria and viruses. The active ingredient used by Fire and Emergency is highly diluted (1.25% or 12.5ml/litre or 125mil/10 litre) and biodegradable.

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product states that in its undiluted form, the product can cause the harm referred to in the question, but this is not the case when the product is diluted as specified in Fire and Emergency’s BA washing information sheet.

The risk of harmful reactions from Asepti BA wash is negligible if it’s used as directed in its heavily diluted form at 1.25%, and exposed to a BA mask for no less than 10 minutes before being thoroughly rinsed and completely dried.

In addition National Notice 075/2021 (27 October 2021) gives guidance as to how to dispose of used, diluted Asepti BA wash, and notes that it can be safely disposed of into town sewerage/wastewater treatment systems but not into septic tanks where it will interfere with the tanks bacterial ecosystem. In its diluted or undiluted form Asenti BA wash is a chemical and putting any chemical into stormwater drains, rivers, lakes or creeks is prohibited under the Resource Management Act.

Fire mapper

Fire mapper is an incredible tool for especially Wildland firefighter's and could have potential to be fully utilized in preplanning in regards to water supplies in rural communities that are not always on Google maps. How come this great tool not accessible to brigades?

We’re pleased that people are finding Fire mapper useful and know that there’s been a request to have it added to our mobility solution on some engines. This is still being considered and we’ll update you on this when we know more.

In addition, we are looking at a range of situational awareness tools that can be used to support our emergency responses. There are also opportunities that could come from the Government’s Public Safety Network a new communications service for Aotearoa’s frontline emergency services responders to be rolled out from mid-2023.

Questions for the ELT panel

When can we expect an updated Fleet Cascade Plan and Appliance Delivery schedule?

Are volunteer OICs and 2ICs of brigades expected to perform the role of CFO and DCFO respectively within their brigades? It is not clear through existing policy or arrangements what this looks like or how expectations are set.

When will the review of the Model Rules of Association recommence?

Why has FENZ stopped awarding the LSGC medal and clasps to Brigade Support and Non-Operational support members, despite the warrant for the medal not excluding them?

In terms of a Fleet, we’re aiming to have an updated delivery schedule and cascade plan published in the New Year.

Regarding Volunteer OICs and 2ICs, no, we do not expect volunteer OICs and 2ICs to perform the role of CFO and DCFO.

Historically the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) positions were a statutory role under the Fire Service Act 1975. Brigades that have an OIC and 2IC operated under the previous Fire Districts that had a CFO and DCFO that were Area Management in the case of composite brigades, and Volunteer Executives in the case of Auxiliary Brigades. The Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 removed the statutory role of the CFO and DCFO. Brigades with OICs and 2ICs are brigade leaders and manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the brigade, however, they are operated differently as they are part of a composite or auxiliary brigade.

In terms of Model Rules, you will no doubt be aware that when Fire and Emergency New Zealand was established in 2017 merging 40 separate agencies into one organisation, many of its personnel came across on a range of different terms and conditions.

It’s important that Fire and Emergency work though these variations and establish a common understanding and fair approach to compensating volunteers. This will take some time to develop as it’s a complex and multi-faceted issue.

In the meantime, we are focused on establishing a fair and more equitable organisational approach for long duration incidents as it needs more immediate attention. While there is one reimbursement arrangement for urban volunteers, current volunteer payment entitlements for rural volunteers are complex and variable.

There are 34 different rural volunteer payment schedules for reasons varying from incident attendance to pager allowance and meeting attendance, often covering multiple brigades. These can be further split into 74 separate payment arrangements. Achieving consistent compensation arrangements for all volunteer personnel has the potential to impact volunteers in different ways and so requires careful planning, volunteer involvement and consultation to make sure we get it right.

Lastly, Fire and Emergency has not stopped awarding The New Zealand Fire Brigades Long Service Good Conduct Medal to Brigade Support and Non-Operational Support personnel. The criteria of The New Zealand Fire Brigades Long Service and Good Conduct medal has not changed.

To be eligible, applicants must be an operational member of a Fire Brigade or a Fire Service in accordance with the Eligibility and Reckoning of Service clauses of the Royal Warrant. 

Essentially this means that those eligible are frontline operational personnel who respond in person to emergencies. Non-operational support roles, such as corporate administrators, brigade secretaries, treasurers and bar managers, are not. 

The Royal Warrant was drafted in 1976 at about the same time the New Zealand Fire Service was created. The medal was introduced for operational personnel, i.e. frontline personnel who respond in person to emergencies. At that time there were no non-operational brigade support roles. 

In the early 2000s, when brigades began to bring in people to provide support, the Royal Warrant was not updated to include or refer to these non-operational brigade support roles. 

Awarding the medal to frontline operational personnel is also consistent with other Royal Warrants providing medals in organisations such as the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service. 

For more information, please see the Long Service and Good Conduct Award guidelines.

International Year of the Volunteer

Following the UFBA Hui I have a question regarding the International Year of the Volunteer.

Why have they stopped being issued? 

This is a simple but effective way to acknowledge the ongoing commitment that we as volunteers make to FENZ and our communities.

The United Nations International Year of the Volunteer (IYV) was in 2001, and it was subsequently recognised in 2011 – ten years on. It is our understanding that the UFBA issued IYV medals in 2001 and IYV+10-year medals in 2011.

In late 2020, Fire and Emergency reached out to the United Nations to ask if there was any ongoing programme in place, including a 20-year celebration in 2021. However, the United Nations’ response was that they had not decided if and how the anniversary would be marked, and that they had no further information to share. We checked in again with them sometime later and they were still unable to provide a further update. 

Given the United Nations was unable to commit to future recognition of this event, we did not continue to promote it. As the UFBA have issued the medals in the past, it would be worth checking in with them directly, as they may be able to provide further information. The best contact email address is servicehonours@UFBA.org.nz.