Safe Work Australia has published a Guide to provide practical information to operators of major hazard facilities (MHFs) in the preparation, implementation and testing of an emergency plan that will meet the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Regulations.

 

To download a copy click here.

 

 

Safe Work Australia today released a fact sheet to provide general guidance for preparing and maintaining general emergency plans. This is intended for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers in fixed workplaces under regulation 43 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations

 

To download a copy click here.

RR+R now has a Facebook page. Please be sure to 'Like' us to keep updated with all things high risk.

The latest on courses, equipment and industry info for land, alpine, underground, aviation, and maritime.

Risk Response + Rescue Facebook Page

 

The Australian Resuscitation Council has released current Guidelines for asthma, snake bite, pressure immobilisation, poisoning, legal issues and precordial thump.

Specifically the guidelines are…

9.2.5 First Aid for Asthma

9.4.1 Australian Snake Bite Guideline

9.4.8 Pressure Immobilisation Technique Guideline

9.5.1 Emergency Management of a Victim who has been Poisoned

10.5 Legal and Ethical Issues related to Resuscitation

11.3 Precordial Thump & Fist Pacing

Risk Response + Rescue are reviewing our learning and assessment strategies to reflect the content of the current guidelines.

 

Risk Response + Rescue are proud to add the suite of compact GoPro High Definition camera’s to our range of equipment for Military, Police and Marine Operational Environments.

 

The GoPro’s range of camera’s have an unprecedented reputation for capturing amazing high quality - high definition video and still photographs for their size and portability.

 

Developed for professional use, but at a consumer price, the HD HERO line of wearable cameras capture full HD video rivalling cameras costing 10x the price and are suited to the harsh and rugged treatment operational environments present..

 

 

GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO is the world’s highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera allowing professional quality 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions  to record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). It is possible to record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours HD video on a 32GB SD card.

 

In addition to HD video, this camera’s also shoot 5MP still photographs at 2/5/10/30 or 60 second intervals of poster-print quality POV photos.

 

Contact our sales and logistic team to set you up with the right system for your operational environment.

 

A new national VET regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), commenced operations today, 1 July 2011. With the exception of Victoria and Western Australia, the State Regulatory bodies have been or will shortly be replaced by the ASQA.  This will allow for a more nationally consistent approach to the VET industry.

 

This change is intended to provide greater national consistency and increased focus on the way Registered Training Providers (RTO’s) are registered, courses are accredited, and how the quality of the system is monitored.

 

The establishment of a National VET Regulator is intended to provide a clear line of accountability and responsibility for the quality of vocational education and training throughout Australia and provide a streamlined and coordinated response to emerging quality issues.

 

ASQA will now be responsible for all regulatory requirements including, accreditation of courses, additions to scope, accreditation and re-accreditation of RTOs, auditing and compliance of the VET industry and governance of the VET Quality Frameworks systems.

 

After 21 years of operation the Vocational Training and Accreditation Board (VETAB) ceased operations on the 30th June 2011. At the same time the Board itself was abolished. Risk Response + Rescue is now regulated by the ASQA.

 

"The training was fantastic. Paul Shrubb made everyone feel comfortable (especially me being the only female in the group). I would recommend this training to all OHS officers, like me, as I now have a real appreciation for the risks/hazards in confined spaces"

 

Jane Minton

OH&S + Risk Management Officer

Snowy River Shire Council

The Australian Resuscitation Council has released new guidelines dated December 2010 relating to basic life support and CPR. There are significant changes to the traditional DRABCD which has now been replaced with DRSABCD. A key change is the prompt to send for help and the commencement of compressions before providing two rescue breaths to a non-responsive/non-breathing casualty.

A major review has been undertaken of Priorities in an Emergency, Unconsciousness, Breathing and the commencement of Compressions.

Steps in resuscitation are now referred to as' DRS ABCD' - check for Danger - check for Response - ‘S’ has been added for Send for help - ‘A’ directs rescuers to open the Airway - ‘B’ directs rescuers to check Breathing but no need to deliver two rescue breaths - ‘C’ directs rescuers to perform 30 Compressions to victims who are unresponsive and not breathing normally, followed by 2 breaths - ‘D’ directs rescuers to attach an AED as soon as it is available • The major change is that in the victim who is unresponsive and not breathing normally, CPR commences with chest compressions rather than rescue breaths. • If unwilling / unable to perform rescue breathing, then perform compression only.

 

The new ARC Basic Life Support Flowchart

 

Risk Response + Rescue has been monitoring the changes closely and will be amending training, assessment and life support protocols to reflect the new guidelines.

 

A summary of the major changes to Basic Life Support Guidelines dated December 2010 are;

GUIDELINE 2 - Priorities in an Emergency • Focus changed to cover a range of emergency situations not just cardiac arrest and includes collapsed and injured victims.

GUIDELINE 3 - Unconsciousness • Focus now on the breathing unconscious victim (the non breathing unconscious victim will now call under Guideline 8: CPR)

GUIDELINE 4 - Airway • Minor error in FBAO flowchart corrected

GUIDELINE 5 - Breathing • References to signs of life removed as these are open to interpretation and feedback from member organisations suggests that the term ‘signs of life’ is confusing. • Focus on unresponsive and not breathing normally as the indicators for resuscitation.

GUIDELINE 6 - Compressions • References to signs of life removed as these are open to interpretation and feedback from member organisations suggests that the term ‘signs of life’ is confusing. • Focus on unresponsive and not breathing normally as the indicators for resuscitation. • If unwilling / unable to perform rescue breathing, then perform compression only CPR. • Pulse check downgraded for health care professionals as it is an unreliable indicator of the need for resuscitation. • New focus on maintenance of CPR quality including recommendations to change rescuers every 2 minutes to decrease rescuer fatigue and maintain depth and rate of compressions. • New section on use of prompt devices in clinical use as a part of an overall strategy to improve quality of CPR. NEW GUIDELINE

GUIDELINE 7 - AED Use In BLS • This is a new guideline recognising the role of AEDs as part of BLS in both out of hospital and in hospital environments. • Clear recommendations that training in AED use should be part of BLS education.

GUIDELINE 8 - CPR Changes as per airway, breathing, compressions and AED guidelines • Increase emphasis on bystander CPR as life saving intervention. • Compression: rescue breathing ratio remains at 30:2 • Steps in resuscitation are now DRS ABCD - check for Danger - check for Response - ‘S’ has been added for Send for help - ‘A’ directs rescuers to open the Airway - ‘B’ directs rescuers to check Breathing but no need to deliver two rescue breaths - ‘C’ directs rescuers to perform 30 Compressions to victims who are unresponsive and not breathing normally, followed by 2 breaths - ‘D’ directs rescuers to attach an AED as soon as it is available • The major change is that in the victim who is unresponsive and not breathing normally, CPR commences with chest compressions rather than rescue breaths. • If unwilling / unable to perform rescue breathing, then perform compression only

CPR. BLS FLOWCHART • Highlights ‘Send for help’ • Enables compression only CPR if unwilling / unable to perform rescue breathing. • in victims who are unresponsive and not breathing normally, CPR commences with chest compressions rather than rescue breaths.

GUIDELINE 10.1 - CPR Training • Regardless of the recency of CPR training or re-training, any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt and should be encouraged • Duration of CPR courses has not been determined. • Prompt / feedback devices can be used in training as an overall strategy to improve quality of CPR. • The optimal interval for retraining has not been established, but need for refresher training for individuals who are not performing resuscitation on a regular basis is recognised. • Recommendation that individuals trained in CPR should refresh their CPR skills at least annually (opposed to undertake assessment annually).

GUIDELINE 10.2 - CPR Instructor Competencies

DELETE GUIDELINE 10.3 - Cross Infection Risks & Manikin Disinfection • No major changes

GUIDELINE 10.5 - Legal And Ethical Issues • Is undergoing a major re-write and will be released in 2011.

The majority of Guidelines in Sections 11 - Adult Advanced Life Support, 12 - Paediatric Advanced Life Support , and 13 - Neonatal Guidelines have been updated to December 2010.

RR+R have recently been successful in their Renewal of Registration as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) including a significant Extension to the Company’s Scope of Accreditation.  This involved an Audit of RR+R’s compliance as an RTO against the Australian Quality Training Framework - Essential Standards for Registration.

 

RR+R was formed in 1998 and since that time the Company has worked closely with various industry sectors and organisations with unique operational risk exposures to attain one of Australia’s most comprehensive scopes of accreditation specialising in competencies and skill sets for high risk operational environments.

 

RR+R’s scope of accreditation now contains over 750 specialised Units of Competency from 16 independent training packages to meet the demands of their clients and specialised industries.

 

The extension of scope will compliment the full range of services currently offered for land, alpine, mining, aviation and marine sectors.

 

Several of Risk Response + Rescue's VET Partners will be rolling out the new competencies from their respective industry training package in training and assessment programs in the near future including; Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (Aviation Training Package), Australian Defence Force - Special Operations Group (Public Safety Training Package),  Newcrest (Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package), Australian Lifeguarding Services (Public Safety Training Package), and Marine Rescue New South Wales (Maritime Training Package).

The National Quality Council (NQC) has endorsed a new design and structure for Training Packages as part of the VET Products for the 21st Century project.

 

The Streamlined Training Packages are the culmination of more than two years of research and consultation by the NQC. The New Training packages will be accompanied by ‘Companion Volumes’ to provide guidance to RTO’s. It is intended the new format will be more user‐friendly and easier to use.

 

In summary;

• The Streamlined Training Packages will be written in simplified language, shortened, and contain appropriately segmented content.
• There will be a greater focus on assessment, knowledge and foundation skills
• Units of Competency will be simplified to be an expression of performance standards only - explicitly listing foundation skills.
• Assessment requirements are to be strengthened and given their own section.
• Required skills will be expressed in Elements and Performance Criteria.
• The range statement is to be renamed RANGE OF CONDITIONS and will reflect context and operating conditions only.

 

The NQC has agreed to a transition period until the end of 2012 for Industry Skills Councils to update all Training Packages.

Work Safe Australia has released the draft model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations and model Codes of Practice for public comment.

Safe Work Australia is currently developing a National OH&S model for Australia intended to result in the harmonisation of all occupation health and safety laws towards a national and effective OH&S system.

The consultation period is open until Monday 4 April 2011 and can be viewed at http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Legislation/PublicComment/Pages/PublicComment.aspx

 

The final draft for the Case for Endorsement of Version 8 of PUA00 Public Safety Training Package has been submitted to all State Training Authorities for endorsement.

 

Version 8 incorporates qualifications, units of competency and Skill Sets developed for the Defence, State and Territory Emergency Services and Police sectors as well as industry wide material. Fire sector qualifications have also been revised.

 

Many of the Units of Competency in the Public Safety Package relate to competency in high risk and changing environments and/or situations with increased threats or exposure to safety, which may be the result of an incident, emergency or operation.

Risk Response + Rescue have a significant number of Public Safety Units of Competency on scope and deliver these across all sectors.

 

Endorsement of and final release is expected in the near future.

At its meeting on 2 August 2010, the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) endorsed the new Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration and the new AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Continuing Registration (the new AQTF).

 

The new AQTF will be implemented in NSW as from 1 September 2010. All applications for Initial Registration as an RTO in NSW which are received by VETAB on or after 1 September 2010 will be audited against the new AQTF  Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration.

Copies of the new AQTF and the User’s Guide to the AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Initial Registration and the User’s Guide to the AQTF Essential Conditions and Standards for Continuing Registration and are available from: www.training.com.au

The ARC Guideline 8.9.6 Envenomation – Jellyfish Strings has been revised. This guideline focuses predominantly on tropical envenomation by the box jellyfish and other jellyfish that may cause Irukandji syndrome.

 

The new guideline highlights that because of the differences in jellyfish species around Australi recognition and management of jellyfish envenomation may vary, however, if the species causing the sting cannot be clearly identified as harmless or due to a bluebottle, the casualty should be treated with a diluted solution of 4-6% vinegar.

 

The Australian Resuscitation Council continually reviews and updates guidelines by consultation with member bodies and other experts and aims to promote uniformity and standardisation of resuscitation and first aid recognition and management in Australia.

Standards Australia has released a new edition of AS/NZS 1891.4:2009, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices - Selection, use and maintenance

This Standard specifies requirements and sets out recommendations for the selection, safe use and maintenance of industrial fall-arrest systems and devices based on the use of safety harnesses, horizontal life lines and rails, fall-arrest devices, and associated lanyards, connectors, anchorages and fittings.
 
The standard provides guidance where fall-arrest systems are placed within the hierarchy of control for fall protection.
 
Principal changes from the previous edition are:
(a) Removal of ‘total restraint’ from the scope of the Standard as equipment provided solely for restraint purposes is not dealt with in the AS/NZS 1891 series of Standards.
(b) Minimum allowable anchorage strength to be 12 kN or 15 kN depending on fall distance.
(c) New terminology for harnesses (full or lower body) and positioning of fall-arrest attachment points.
(d) Inclusion of twin-tail lanyards.
(e) In-service values for the extension of personal energy absorbers in fall situations.
(f) Lower body harness use restricted to limited free fall and restrained fall.
(g) Updated requirements for operator training and assessment.
(h) The term ‘suspension trauma’ has been changed to ‘suspension intolerance (trauma)’.
(i) A belt or waist strap alone in lieu of a harness is no longer permitted for any of the applications in this Standard to protect against a potential fall.
 
Risk Response + Rescues staff are able to assist with compliance with this new standard and many others applicable to areas of our expertise

The 2009 Edition for confined spaces has been released. The revised standard has a significant reformat to the structure, layout and content of the preeding 2001 edition.

Of note, is a change to the title of the standard to Australian Standard 2865 2009 - Confined Spaces. The standard is no longer a joint AS/NZ standard. The primary objective which previously read 'to eliminate or minimise the need to enter a confined’ in 2001, in summary reads ‘reducing the risks to health and safety of those working in or near confined spaces, by prescribing techniques and procedures covering entry to, and working in or on a confined space.' in the 2009 edition.

The wording of the definition of a confined space has changed with guidance diagrams included for clarification. There are options for "alternative means" in relation to the role of a standby person and an expansion of training and competency requirements.

 

In relation to confined space compliance, it is important to check first with your relevant State authority such as WorkCover or WorkSafe as applicable. The newly released standard is only one source in a spectrum of applicable references and in certain jurisdictions the legal requirements of OH&S Regulations exceed the recommendations in the revised standard.

 

Confined spaces are an area in which National OHS Commission (NOHSC) and Safe Work Australia provide clear guidance. In 1995 Australian Standards (now SIA Global) and the NOHSC declared Safe Working in a Confined Space (AS2865-1995) a 'joint standard'. This remains the only recognised ‘joint standard’ to date.

Whilst SAI Global revised the Australian Standard in 2001 and has revised it again with the newly released 2009 edition, these Standards were not 'declared' by NOHSC or Safe Work Australia and therefore AS2865-1995 remains the declared National Standard.

This Standard sets out the principles of respiratory protection, requirements and recommendations for the selection, use and maintenance of personal respiratory protective equipment in the workplace.
 

The main changes to this edition of the Standard are an increased, formalised emphasis of the risk management approach and systems management.

 
This Standard does not deal with military, diving, underwater, aviation, life support respirators or resuscitation applications for respiratory protective equipment or apparatus.

New Fire Danger Rating and public warnings have been introduced in NSW to help save lives in bush fires.

The revised fire danger rating and warning systems are aligned to the nationally-agreed Fire Danger Rating and warning systems being introduced around Australia in the wake of the Victorian 2009 bushfires.

 

A key change is a new top level category - Catastrophic (Code Red) incorporated into the Fire Danger Rating system. The Fire Danger Rating warns of the level of bush fire threat on any given day, based on the forecast weather conditions. It is an early indicator of the potential danger, should a bush fire start.

The new Catastrophic (Code Red) level indicates that when there is a forecast of Catastrophic conditions, there is a very real likelihood of major loss of life and property.

The new category will be added to the Fire Danger Meter signs strategically positioned in bushfire prone communities around the State.

The following bush fire alert messages, ranked on a sliding scale depending on the threat, have been included for public warnings.

Advice
a fire has started - there is no immediate danger;
general information to keep up to date with developments.

Watch and Act
represents a heightened level of threat.

Conditions are changing; you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.

Emergency Warning
you are in danger and need to take action immediately.
You will be impacted by fire.

Emergency Warning is the highest and most urgent warning which will be used when there is a major risk of people being killed in a bush fire.  This message will usually be preceded by an emergency warning signal (a siren sound played on the radio or TV).

 

The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, today announced the Government will enhance the Incident Response Regiment within Special Operations Command.

“The Incident Response Regiment will receive advanced equipment and training to enable them to effectively detect and respond to chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological and explosive threats,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The Incident Response Regiment is able to undertake high-risk search, access and disablement functions in a range of complex environments. The Government will provide additional funding to enable the Incident
Response Regiment to develop a rapidly deployable chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear explosive capability in support of deployed forces. The

Incident Response Regiment will be able to interdact and recover Weapons of Mass Destruction components.
“This project will build upon existing capabilities to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s capacity to respond to emerging threats. It is part of a continuous improvement program that enhances Australia's Special Operations capabilities through regular technology and capability enhancements,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“The proposal will include individual and collective training in a combined arms environment, an increased capacity for Science & Technology Operational Support, command and control enhancements, and new capabilities that support countering a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear explosive threat.”

Source Press release by The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP Minister for Defence
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT 2 May 2009

Risk Response + Rescue are proudly partnered to provide specialist training to the Incident Response Regiment.