Newcastle International Training Academy awarded JOIFF accreditation

Newcastle International Training Academy has been officially recognised as a JOIFF Accredited Training Provider by JOIFF, the International Organisation for Industrial Emergency Services Management. 

The accreditation, which was awarded by industry experts from the emergency services, recognises training providers who offer high quality training courses, facilities and a great learning experience capable of developing competency of emergency response personnel.

Gerry Johnson and Craig Kelsall, Consultants on behalf of JOIFF, visited Newcastle International Training Academy to undertake an audit of the training provisions and awarded the accreditation later that day. Formally recognising courses such as the Firefighter Bridging and Breathing Apparatus Instructor as trusted high quality training.

Gerry Johnson, JOIFF Auditor, said: “JOIFF are pleased to announce that Newcastle International Training Academy has recently been awarded the status of JOIFF Accredited Training Provider.

“This followed a rigorous audit of three elements of accreditation, including; looking at their establishment, including safety management systems and procedures; instruction, covering instructor experience, qualifications and mentoring systems; and the course programmes, looking at course content, and frequency of updating.

“We look forward to working closely with the management and team of the organisation in the future.”

Gary Wright, Fire Station Manager at Newcastle International Airport, said: “We are delighted that we have become a JOIFF accredited training provider. 

“At Newcastle International Training Academy, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality training. This accreditation highlights the calibre of training provided and is a testament to the team’s hard work.

“We look forward to delivering a wide range of JOIFF accredited courses to our industrial and aviation customers.”

JOIFF is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing the knowledge, skills, understanding and competence of Emergency Services Management by working to improve standards of safety and the working environment in those sectors in which its members operate.

Alabama to add peer support training to firefighter recruit curriculum

The Alabama Fire College, Alabama will be the first state to include peer support counselling training in its fire recruit school training thanks to funding from the Alabama Department of Mental Health and strong support from the Professional Fire Fighters of Alabama (PFFA).

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly called adding behavioural health and peer support counselling training into the recruit curriculum is ground-breaking work: “Fire fighters in Alabama will be trained to not only recognize the signs and symptoms that someone needs behavioral health assistance, but they will also be equipped to counsel someone who is in crisis. Congratulations to the PFFA, its members, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, and the Alabama Fire College making this possible.”

The statewide peer support program has been in development since the PFFA hosted an IAFF Peer Support Training session in Birmingham in 2018. Hoover Local 4035 member Toby Rigsby and Pelham Local 5049 member Jim Terrell were inspired by the training and with the support of the PFFA began working with the Alabama Fire College on the program’s infrastructure (e.g., centralising dispatch, creating a website with program resources and information).

Rigsby commented: “The funding from the state’s Department of Mental Health has enabled us to develop, organise, and expand the peer support program more efficiently. Now, all fire fighters in the state will have increased access to counsellors who truly understand what it is like to be a fire fighter and the challenges we face.”

To date, more than 120 PFFA members have been trained in peer support. Training all new fire fighters in peer counselling will help maintain the number of counsellors needed to meet the demand for behavioural health services in the fire service.

The curriculum will first be given to peer support providers who already have some training. Those trained in the curriculum will then deliver it to the fire recruits.

PFFA President Dave Harer said they were pleased that the Department of Mental Health and the fire college are working with us to meet this critical need: “With more trained peer support counsellors, the Alabama First Responder Peer Support Program will be better able to provide behavioral health assistance, including help with substance abuse, critical intervention, and referrals.”

The PFFA hopes to soon have a peer support regional director in each of the state’s 10 regions. Those directors will manage a team of counsellors in the region able to respond to behavioural health situations at a moment’s notice.

Operational training guide for fire departments released

A new operational training guide for firefighters has been released. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS), and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) joined together to create Training Volunteer Firefighters to Be Combat Ready 

The guide is designed to help fire departments develop a training program that meets the needs of the community and the individual firefighter with safety and relevancy at the forefront.

NVFC said that the guide recognises that training can be a constant challenge for volunteer and combination departments as it requires planning, commitment, and time to make sure it is done correctly.

The new guide is an update and expansion of a training white paper released by NVFC in 2012, incorporating key considerations and specific best practices to form a blueprint for a successful training program.

Authors from the NVFC, VCOS, and ISFSI contributed their expertise and insights to help direct department leaders in creating a strong foundation for fire department operational training.

Chief Brian McQueen, co-author and NVFC board member commented: “So much has changed in the 10 years since the NVFC released the original training white paper. We needed a new document that reflected the advances and knowledge that today’s firefighters need to know to be operationally ready when the next fire call comes. It is through proper training that firefighters can respond safely, effectively, and appropriately when it matters most.”

Chief John M. Buckman III, co-author and member of VCOS, said: “Training is a critical responsibility of all fire departments. Departments must ensure that training is relevant as well as interesting and fun so that firefighters will remain active and engaged. Everyone plays a part. We strongly encourage all fire department leaders to use this guide to make sure their operational training program best serves their firefighters and the community.”

The new guide contains 10 sections that cover the following topic areas: Training delivery and engagement methods; Surviving the job; Why training is important; Roles of the training officer, instructor, and student; Planning training; Training policies and procedures; Assessing firefighters’ capabilities; NFPA standards and OSHA regulations; Developing and implementing training best practices; and first due recommended firefighter performance criteria.

In addition to the core subject areas, seven appendices provide additional resources, insights, and sample documents that departments can use when developing or enhancing their training program.

Training Volunteer Firefighters to Be Combat Ready can be downloaded from the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org, the VCOS web site at www.iafc.org/about-iafc/sections/vcos, and the ISFSI web site at www.isfsi.org.

Alberta reinstates fire service training grants

Alberta’s government has reinstated fire services training grants to help fire departments across the province better protect their communities.

Alberta’s government said it recognises the important work done every day by firefighters and is committed to helping them perform their duties and protect the public. Fire Services Training Program grants are being reintroduced as a key way to support the safety of both firefighters and the public.

A total of $500,000 a year in grants will help fire services personnel gain the knowledge and skills essential to protect Albertans, their property and the communities they call home.

The Fire Services Training Program grants are intended to supplement training supports already provided by municipalities, First Nations and Metis Settlements to their fire services departments.

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said: “Public safety is a priority for our government. While fire services is a municipal responsibility, these training grants can help ensure the availability of emergency services in some rural communities, especially as we work to reduce rural emergency response times.”

Randy Schroeder, president, Alberta Fire Chiefs Association and fire chief, County of Lac Ste. Anne, commented: “On behalf of the members of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association, I am pleased with the return of the Fire Services Training Grant in the amount of $500,000 annually. This announcement serves to reinforce Alberta’s commitment to support municipalities in providing this essential service.

“The AFCA sees this as a step in a positive direction of strengthening stakeholder relations. The AFCA anticipates the needed support will be highly sought after and strongly encourages a long-term program that is monitored, fostered and supported to meet the future needs of our communities.”

Women in the Fire Service partners with Fire Knowledge

Women in the Fire Service (WFS) has announced that it is in partnership with Fire Knowledge in an alliance focused on developing diverse, talented and motivated workforces.

WFS said it has committed to supporting the Practice to Progress Fire Partnership (P2P Fire) through the provision of highly skilled and passionate coaches from its network, who will take on the role of P2P Assessors, supporting selection and career progression coaching.  

Formally launched at the Emergency Services Show in Birmingham in September 2022, the a partnership is with Fire Knowledge UKPractice to Progress, and the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) and aims to support the UK Fire and Rescue Service.

WFS associated professionals, in their new roles as P2P Fire Assessors, will help develop and prepare people at all levels to achieve their goals and to confidently take the next steps in their careers.

This includes preparation for reapplying to enter the service or internal promotion, point-of-entry selection tests, initial wholetime and on-call firefighter recruitment, support for under-represented groups, and promotion into wholetime managerial roles.

WFS Chair, Jules King said: “The alliance will work together to design and deliver training to prepare candidates for initial selection or promotion assessment. Our initial commitment is to provide six assessors who will be trained to ensure consistency, along with six assessors from AFSA. Our highly experienced assessors have been selected to enrich the experience and meet the diverse needs of organisations and individual candidates.”

“We believe that Women in the Fire Service and the Asian Fire Service Association have the power to make a significant difference in driving positive change through this partnership. Something we are all passionate about is providing safe spaces to practice, learn and develop. This is a unique opportunity to allign with other organisations and Services, to share our extensive experience and to work with future firefighters and supervisory managers.”

NFPA highlights digitalisation of skilled trades

In September, the NFPA hosted a panel discussion exploring the role of digital tools in modernising the skilled trades industry.

The discussion was moderated by Katie Twist, NFPA Senior Marketing Manager, and featured panellists Kyle Spencer, Director of NFPA LiNK, Erik Hohengasser, Electrical Technical Lead, and Jonathan Hart, Fire Protection Technical Lead, sat down to discuss industry trends, challenges, and the technologies that are moving the needle for tradespeople in various lines of work.

The expert panellists communicated the critical need for tools like NFPA LiNK. Not only is it crucial for solving industry challenges like preserving generational knowledge, streamlining and simplifying communications, as well as spearheading collaboration, NFPA LiNK provides a competitive edge for organisations who are embracing digitalisation. Key focuses of the panel conversation included:

  • Traditional Industries Becoming Increasingly Tech-Savvy
    • COVID spurred further investments in software, data, and digital transformation to provide industries with new digital tools to combat challenges
  • How Young Professionals Entering the Industry Can Hit the Ground Running
    • NFPA LiNK includes NFPA DiRECT®, which provides a series of features to help users visually navigate real-life, on-the-job situations and educate themselves on the key code content they need to be aware of
  • Physical Code Books Alone Aren’t Going to Cut It Anymore
    • Organizations can greatly benefit from getting in on the new digital wave, the new features digital tools provide (ease of access, comments, note taking, bookmarking, etc.) have drastically improved the efficiency of the workplace

Visit NFPA’s LinkedIn page to watch the recording.

British Safety Council announces workplace wellbeing support

British Safety Council has announced that it is offering any organisation employing up to 500 staff the chance to get free support to improve the wellbeing of their workplace.

Through its campaign on workplace wellbeing, Keep Thriving, the health, safety and wellbeing charity is inviting SMEs and micro-sized employers to apply to attend one of a series of free 3-hour workshops to help them develop a wellbeing strategy.

Any employer with to up to 500 staff can apply here. Applications are currently open until 30 November.

The sessions will be delivered by experts from British Safety Council’s Being Well Together programme and will help employers explore why wellbeing matters to them, their people and their business, and ways they can improve their wellbeing. The session aims to help small, medium, and micro-sized employers to develop a strategy which works and to track and evaluate their progress.

On launching the offer, Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, said: “We’ve been seeing more and more pressures piling onto businesses, especially smaller ones, both following the Covid pandemic and with the rising cost of energy, and as a charity we want to do something to help. That’s why we are offering SMEs and micro-sized employers the chance to improve the wellbeing of their staff, completely free of charge.

“Employers will be able to meet other like-minded organisations to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and best ways of developing a wellbeing strategy and find out how improving wellbeing boosts their organisational performance and reduces the likelihood of accidents and ill-health among their staff. This is a great chance to take a fresh look at how you, your staff and your business can succeed and thrive together.”

British Safety Council is also offering all employers who attend the opportunity to apply for a cash award to fund activity they decide to do as a result, with plans to make up to £10,000 available to one or more organisations.

Exclusive: Realistic fire training with LION

Martin Joosen, Managing Director at LION (EMEA), talks the latest in digital training solutions that can save on cost whilst preserving efficacy

From digital propane to carbonaceous (class A) fire training solutions, the realism of real-life training is a constant factor in training program development. However, with the recent rise of gas prices in Europe and the rising interest in clean systems, new ways of training need to be developed. Down the line, the goal is to reduce resource expenses like gas usage and lower health and environmental risks during training exercises.

This new approach includes a long-term strategic vision and regular and adequate control over resources and their costs. Everyone considers these essential aspects when developing a training program or looking at healthy turnover for private fire training structures.

Training programs and courses are costly to create in time and resources, to put in place and to keep going regularly. Moreover, a vast audience must also be addressed, from firefighters and special intervention teams to security professionals, training schools and training companies. And even if you managed to get all the above together, the logistic and organisation necessary to get the expected return on investment on the training program is not always as high as we would like.

These days, the elaboration of fire and safety training is closer to a “magical” ground-breaking algorithm than the traditional “create and plan” processes we use. Power and fuel supply like electricity or gas are becoming a heavier part of the budget of training centres, public or private, if it has not already the most significant part.

The cost of fire training

A fire point consumes in 10 minutes up to 4.3 kg of propane gas and a rollover uses 1.5kg of propane gas each time it is turned on, therefore we can calculate that a minimum of 10 minutes of fire training using one gas simulator piles up to a gas usage of 5.8kg.

At the end of September 2022, the gas prices are around €1.65 per kg. Thus a 10-minute fire training using one gas simulator costs nowadays €9.57. To this extent, a training session of 12 people with minimal training set-up and only 1 simulator being used will have a price tag of €57.42.

On the other side, we also know that repetition creates “muscle memory,” which is key to a successful training outcome. You must train as often as possible and within a realistic environment, focused on realism, safe use, and cost-effectiveness. So how can you balance regular training and keeping your cost of operations under control?

Digital fire training equipment

Repetition is one of the most critical parts of good training. Digital training simulators are supplied with electricity, facilitating regular exercise without bearing unforeseen costs due to fluctuating gas pricing. Those training simulators also lower the exposure time of the trainees and instructors to dangerous situations or environments with digital systems.

Not all trainees are fire professionals with adequate protection (such as PPE, SCBA) that need to get used to intense flame and heat. Another great advantage is that the training can occur where the fire hazard is. For example, exercises can happen in the trainee’s building, site, or area. Think of the kitchen for a hospital where the most significant risk is. You can also train during summertime when water restrictions and high temperatures forbid you from using water, gas, or wood.

Realism is key

With the first generation of digital training equipment, it was not possible to train with a high level of realism. After implementing user feedback and advice, the new generation of digital products allows you to get familiar with all firefighting techniques; within all environments such as offices, real-life airplanes, and engine rooms.

You can use water or adapted laser-driven portable extinguishers and nozzles. You can also use your own equipment. No virtual reality or simulation, virtual prop that might make you seasick or nauseous, only actual and singular products. You can take the training to the next level, anywhere, anytime.

After several years on the market, digital fire training products are reaching a new level of realism. They can perfectly replicate the responding fire behaviour on used firefighting techniques in most well-known and standard fire classes. You can now add smoke and heating elements and enhance your training scenario and create a combined simulation with the right amount of cold smoke behaving like real smoke.

Give it shot

Do not let hesitations on realism or global instability around gas supply stop you from fire training – instead try digital fire training. Save on your operations recurring costs and keep on training. Take it to the next level. Add LION digital products to your traditional training equipment. At this point, this is one of the most promising answers to the growing concerns and questions surrounding gas prices, fire training, environmental impact, and natural evolution in this challenging world.

Exclusive: Why is fire safety training essential?

LION looks at the many reasons that fire and safety training should not be overlooked, set aside, or reduced to a minimum when planned and organised

We usually think of fire safety training as a meticulous and complicated process. Companies are looking at the impact it will have on their team member’s working day and its impact on their output on the day planned. It is believed that this can be a waste of time when trainees take it as a day or half a day off.

Fire safety officers and trainers can struggle and meet resistance when organising such training drills. They need to be mindful of not losing time trying to get the attention and focus of their audience, trying to get them from point A to B as fast as possible, wasting as little time as possible in a day that will already be too short to cover it all. Having the time necessary to set up a realistic scenario that everyone could encounter in their daily life is also a challenge.

But did you know that you have three minutes to get yourself to safety when a fire happens and, after that, the fire is already out of control? Or that most uncontrolled fires are caused by small objects such as cigarettes and candles? Or that Christmas time is one of the worst times for fires? Christmas lights, candles, and light decorations are hazardous. Fire safety is absolutely critical during the holidays. The bottom line is that a fire can happen anywhere and anytime. When not handled carefully, a fire outbreak can lead to loss of life and valuable assets.

We all know firefighters have one of the most challenging and risky jobs in the world; they risk their lives to save others. After reading all those facts, getting basic fire safety knowledge is the bare minimum we should expect from ourselves. Furthermore, the maximum number of deaths and injuries are often due to fire mishaps resulting from employees not knowing the appropriate fire safety and exit strategies to follow during a fire emergency.

To keep yourself and the people around you safe, you need to have the knowledge to prevent and fight the fire. Having fire safety training is an essential source of this knowledge. Fire safety training also helps you know how to use firefighting equipment such as smoke alarms or fire extinguishers to put out a fire.

Essential training

Fire safety training is crucial and should be provided to employees. It is one of the best investments that a company can make. Fire safety training in the office not only helps keep employees safe but also helps prevent fire disasters. Training like fire safety courses also give employees reassurance in identifying sources of fire within the office, as well as helping them to decide how to deal with fire situations.

The best way to prevent a fire in the workplace is by providing suitable training to all employees. Fire safety training sessions teach employees how to recognise fire hazards to feel safe working in a particular environment. Training should cover some critical points including such as that electrical wires should not be near a heat source or located under rugs and carpets; the emergency exits of the office buildings should not be blocked.

Fire safety risk assessment

A fire safety risk assessment comes under fire safety training that helps the employees recognise what areas of their office building or workplaces need improvement for fire prevention and safety. During the training exercise, they learn to assess their workplace fire safety risk based on certain aspects. This might be whether the office has planned emergency routes, emergency lighting, and sufficient exit. Also, for business that have employees with disabilities this should be taken into account when making any evacuation plans.

All businesses need to demonstrate to their employees the fire evacuation plan and double-check they know where the emergency exits are so that staff or workforce can safely evacuate the office premises in the event of a fire. A fire safety training program is beneficial for the employees to take proper action when detecting fire warning signs.

Training employees on how to use a portable fire extinguisher is essential. Staff should know where the fire safety alarms and all the emergency exits are located in the office building so they can activate them if necessary.

The skills obtained from this training are helpful for quick and efficient response when a fire outbreak. It can also help in removing fire hazards. A lack of proper fire safety training can make even the slightest incident much more devastating.

Training tips

Maintain fire-safe practices regularly. Perform a fire risk assessment and keep it up to date. These are the two most essential thing that everyone should know in addition to how to protect themself from fire and not intentionally causing fires unless in a controlled environment. Fire safety is a major topic that must not be neglected. Choosing the right fire safety training equipment partner is crucial.

At LION, we understand the influence of training and the consequences of lack of training. We are committed to properly preparing anyone who may have one day to prepare for the real thing. We realise that a reliable training partner should be able to propose the right training solution by removing potential risks without sacrificing the realism of the training simulation.

Since developing our first industrial-grade smoke generator, we have committed to utilising innovative technology and high-quality, durable construction in product design and implementation. This passion has led us to develop advanced fire safety and emergency training products.

LION Fire and Technical Training Products and Solutions simulate every fire or emergency response situation facet. The training products, units, structures, and props are constructed accurately to scale. They are built into objects and appliances that would be found in real life. LION focuses on creating the most realistic training scenarios possible, allowing trainees to experience the full impact of an emergency.

Escalating training

LION is more than just a “run-of-the-mill” training equipment manufacturer. We believe there are safer, more cost-effective methods to prepare employees to face dangerous situations. We are committed to helping global fire safety officers in teaching their colleagues fire safety in unique ways. We propose training as an escalating program that supports your team wherever they are on their training journey.

With our vast range of digital, live-fire products, your trainees can become proficient with the basics before building up to live-fire training. We will suggest the best proper hands[1]on training – that most aligns with your training objectives – to build the skills to move them further along this spectrum.

as an escalating program that supports your team wherever they are on their training journey. With our vast range of digital, live-fire products, your trainees can become proficient with the basics before building up to live-fire training. We will suggest the best proper hands[1]on training – that most aligns with your training objectives – to build the skills to move them further along this spectrum.

How does LION work?

We aim to learn from everyone and value curiosity and personal initiative to understand and exceed our customers’ needs. We use teamwork and feel responsible for doing whatever it takes to deliver solutions. Long-term partnerships based on trust, transparency, and collaboration are at the heart of LION’s success and values.

To make sure that we can propose the proper training solutions, we build our own fire and training experience to be able to walk in our customers’ shoes. The unique portfolio we sell pushes us constantly to care that every emergency responder and firefighter that uses our training equipment get the experience they need to be safe and successful on every call.

We are ready for the next generation’s training!

This article was originally published in the October edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

NFCC to host CPD events for Fire and Rescue Service

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is to host a programme of new continuing personal development (CPD) events kicking off with an event held at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service on 29 September 2022.

Led by NFCC’s End Point Assessment Partnership team, the newly-established event is for fire and rescue services in England who have existing apprentices and are either looking for an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) or are looking to release members of staff to assist the assessments as an Independent End Point Assessor (IEPA).  

The first event will be held at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Training and Development Centre on Hitchin Road in Stevenage between 9am and 5pm. Guest speaker Amanda Kirby will join the event to discuss neurodiversity in the workplace and assessment arena.  

Other areas that the event will cover include safeguarding, prevent, new assessment documentation, individualised feedback and Ofqual awareness.  

To book a place, contact Jimmy Clitheroe, NFCC End Point Assessment Relationship Manager, at Jimmy.Clitheroe@nationalfirechiefs.org.uk.  

These events will occur every six months, focusing on various elements of the assessment process.