BadgeIsBack

Yes, what are they? An opportunity for Qld to get one over on Victoria...

cresta57

FM1 or FMS are Fire Management 1 or Fire Management Minimum Skills as it has been rebadged.
Just simple training to impart the necessary skills needed to stay safe on the fireground. Don't we all work to the same Ops Doc now? Do you guys have a version of the FIG book?

Swerv-o

When you talk about BB guns, do you mean Airsoft - the 6mm plastic pellet ones, or the .177 or .22 air rifle versions?

The non-flinching ban on airsoft toys (and indeed just about anything that fires a projectile) is a particular annoyance of mine with living here, especially when it is extended to model tanks with a working gun

Sadly this was the result of the knee jerk reaction of the Howard Government after the shootings in Tassie. Firearms were reclassified to include "a device that is capable of firing a projectile by any means" which pretty much captures anything that fires anything. There has been a lobby to allow airsoft guns to be allowed under permit, as TBH it's pretty good fun with a very minimal danger to anybody.

Firearms regulation and licencing does seem to be particularly draconian here - possession of a catapult is an offence, and you need a full firearms permit to own simple air rifles and pistols. The benefit is that live pistol ownership is permitted, though there are quite a few hoops to jump through.

I enjoy shooting of all kinds, and find this stuff to be a bit of a nanny state pain myself. Can't comment on other states, but it certainly is in NSW...

In general though I find the UK to be just as bad, but I just find that Aus is simply more nanny state in ways that affect me than the UK was, so in my particular circs I have voted for Aus.


S

rasen78

Ireland introduced a plastic bag levy in 2002 and there was a huge reduction in the use of them. But I do remember, many moons ago, when plastic bags would cost 1 or 2p a shot and when shops started to hand them out free, it was brilliant

A town in England (I forget where) has banned them; the shopkeepers all got together and agreed to no longer stock them.

It is now quite the norm to go shopping with reusable bags and some supermarkets give incentives to reuse bags.

BadgeIsBack

Yes we do minimum skills and yes the program was codified nationally after I did it. The modules were re-badged in line with national trg modules.

I think it would amaze the public how little trg that a firefighter gets before being allowed on a truck and arriving on scene. Obviously going into a house requires another few weekends of training in addition!

I get biffed if I return home having failed to use our bags.

My face is black and blue!

Rambi

Everything seems to be in line with A/NZ standards now. Sounds like we just don't use the TLAs as much down here.

BadgeIsBack

There are manuals and Standard Operating Procedures, laid down by the Chief - no less - sort of Queens Regs - but few read them.

In many aspects I'd say the Nanny is conspicuously absent when it comes to the fire ground in Victoria...

cresta57

Our guys don't do building entry period, we leave that to the "Urban" crews, our training is in grass & bushfires. Some brigades have recently been reclassified as IZone brigades, ours is one, it means we attend structure fires & pour water on from the outside until an urban unit arrives to evacuate if necessary. We don't do BA training either & only attend RTA's to provide back up & traffic control, also we set out safe landing zones for rescue choppers.
When I did the crew leaders course a few years ago now we were told that every emergency service now worked to the same operations doctrine [ops doc] We were given a field incident guide book [FIG] it contains the abbreviated version of the complete ops doc & covers just about all things fire brigade related.
Odd fact: All the rescue service uniforms are made in a factory in Gympie, then sent to Perth W.A where we purchase them from. So my uniform is made to measure just 20k down the road then shipped over to W.A & back
Handy for having extra pockets sewn on though

Rambi

I think nanny is absent pretty much where people are sensible enough to do the right thing.

There is an actually ruling or statement somewhere that says firegrounds are exempt from OH&S practice if it is reasonable to do so.

BadgeIsBack

Nanny does turn out with food, drink, and rest facilities though - when it's needed!

Rambi

Funny you should mention that. One of the members wants us to specialise in something. The management don't want to waste the money on something that'll probably never get used. Someone mentioned catering and I was thinking. Jezz, the last thing I want to do in a fire is to be making sandwiches.

I did later suggest specialising in water bombing as we have an airfield about a minute away from the station. Now that would be fun.

cresta57

I've done the air attack guidelines course, it's worthwhile just as a standalone experience
We have active & support members in Queensland, active respond to call-outs, support make sandwiches
Everything here in QLD seems to be abbreviated, not all are TLA's we have things like QRFS, BTSO's & ATSO's as well you know
I must admit it does sometimes grind when we get a training night & the lecture is full of so many acronyms you lose track of what's what

Alfresco

Rambi

I think it's fair to say that Aus is a little behind other countries on the plastic bag thingy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2205419.stm

From memory they were going to be banned/taxed in the UK about the same time as Ireland but Tesco told the government that they would lose their pocket money if they did.

paulry

Tesco has introduced bio-degradable bags. They turn to dust after a year or so - more quickly if left exposed to the elements.