National Safety Award for fire truck innovation

A project by South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has received a 2007 National Safety Award at the Safe Work Australia Awards in Canberra.

Based on an innovative technology that provides fire fighters inside a fire vehicle with breathable air during a burn-over, the Crew Protection System won the award for the 'best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue'.

Although modern fire-fighting vehicles provide increased protection to their occupants from fire, materials used inside the cabin can potentially release toxic fumes under extreme heat conditions.

The system is specifically designed for rural and regional fire brigades, to provide personal respiratory and flame protection for multiple users in hazardous conditions such as a vehicle burn-over.

The emergency air system supplies one to seven users simultaneously with clean, breathable air, providing a safeguard from toxic gases. The system consists of flame-retardant air hoods, coupled with flame-resistant supply hoses and pneumatics.

It is activated by simply turning on a cylinder valve for a constant flow of clean, breathable air individually supplied to each wearer.

Arthur Tindall, CFS manager for infrastructure and logistics, welcomed the added safety the innovation will provide his crews.

"On the wall of my office I have a photo of a burnt-out fire truck," said Tindall. "Unfortunately five volunteer firefighters lost their lives on that truck whilst protecting the community. I leave the photo there as a daily reminder of my responsibility to volunteers, our unpaid workforce."

Keith Gillespie, national product manager for Wormald Life Safety & Rescue, who helped construct the system, said the award commended the CFS's dedication to ensuring their volunteers' safety.

"We're incredibly proud to have been part of this award. The Country Fire Service came to us with a vision for improving their crews' safety and it was a challenge we were only too happy to take up," said Gillespie.

"Creating the right solution for these extreme conditions has certainly been a challenge; it has taken four years to get it right."