All career recruits trained to work safely around water

Published: 09/10/2020 | Operational, Training | National

Working safely around water training is now compulsory at our National Training Centre.

Chris Calveley, Specialist Courses Management Trainer at NTC, says all recruits do the online training first, followed by the practical training.

“They identify parts of the kit, including putting it on and using the throwbag, but they also learn more in-depth examples of some risk mitigation and hazard identification. The trainers can contextualise the risks in communities and tailor the scenarios to that community.

“It’s about keeping our people safe when responding to incidents. We simulate an emergency event where one of the hazards is water – a river, lake, stream, or the sea. We identify the risks associated with the hazard and make good decisions.”

“Our goal is to have 80% of all brigades trained. We have embedded the training into the career recruit course and are working through the next step of bringing the training into the Volunteer Recruitment programme.”

Area managers were given guidelines to help them identify the stations that require water safety kits based on risk. The kits comprise:

1 x kit bag
4 x personal floatation devices that include a knife and whistle
4 x self-bailing helmets
2 x throwbags

There are images of the kit on the Portal

Volunteers and rural brigades can complete the training course as a group. If you have problems connecting with Learning Station on the internet please email: workingsafelyaroundwater@fireandemergency.nz If you need it, you will be sent a USB that you can use to complete the training.

There is more information about Working Safely Around Water and the training on the Portal.