Thursday 16 July 2010

Your Association is seeking your input for additions and modifications to both PPE and equipment.

As the Association that represents Rural Fire Brigade Volunteers in Queensland, the RFBAQ is endeavouring to improve the safety and function of all of the equipment and clothing that is currently provided to volunteers within the Rural Fire Service.

In Pursuit of this, your Association is seeking your input for additions and modifications to both PPE and equipment.

A matter that is continuously raised by Volunteers is that the supply of one style of appliance in both the light, medium and heavy categories does not necessarily fulfil the diverse needs of Volunteers across Queensland.

Recently, at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Association conference, appliances were supplied by the Victorian Country Fire Authority and the Australian Capital Territory Rural Fire Service to compliment the appliances on show by the NSW RFS. The vehicles on show stimulated a large amount of interest by both employed staff and Volunteers present from all States and Territories. This showed that brigade needs not only varied by state, but were as localised as from one side of the hill to the other.

The backbone of the QLD RFS fleet is the medium attack vehicle, and this appliance has had a marked change in both appearance and function within the last two years.

The RFBAQ is calling upon you to help in a number of design options that can be made available for all attack appliances, so local Volunteers can order an appliance, that best suits the local communities protection needs.

For example but without limiting to the current cab chassis supplied, (Isuzu 300) we are seeking both design and design suggestions from Volunteers. The RFBAQ will collate these suggestions into a number of needs analysis profiles that will then be made available for further comment and suggestion before presenting to Rural Operations with the recommended variations on the current appliance design.

The initial period for comment and suggestion will run until the last week in August 2010, so that the comments and suggestions will be tabled at out Annual General Meeting in Townsville on the 4th and 5th of September 2010.

All comments and suggestions are to be directed to;

E: equipment@rfbaq.org  

P: 07 5480 1351

F: 07 5481 1911

101A Mary Street, Gympie Q 4570