It is pleasing to see that the Branch has again been able to run an examination centre in Dubai and thanks are extended to Johnson Controls for providing their TechXchange Conference Room at Dubai Internet City as the venue. The March 2018 examinations held on Thursday 8th March and Friday 9th March 2018 have attracted 22 candidates sitting 39 papers. It is pleasing to see the number of candidates sitting multiple papers particularly in relation to fire safety and the full breakdown of papers taken is detailed below:
- Level 3 Certificate Unit 1: Fire Engineering Science – 1 Candidate
- Level 2 Certificate Fire Science, Operations and Safety – 2 Candidates
- Level 3 Diploma Unit 2: Fire Safety – 13 Candidates
- Level 4 Certificate Unit 1: Fire Engineering Science – 1 Candidate
- Level 3 Diploma Unit 6: Fire Service Operations and Incident Command – 7 Candidates
- Level 4 Certificate Unit 3: Fire Service Operations and Incident Command – 2 Candidates
- Level 3 Diploma Unit 1: Fire Engineering Science – 7 Candidates
- Level 3 Unit 5: Leadership and Management in Fire and Rescue – 3 Candidates
- Level 3 Diploma Unit 7: Fire Investigation – 3 Candidates
As a reminder the IFE offers six qualifications which are mapped to National Occupational Standards and full information relating to these and associated syllabus’ can be found on the IFE website: http://www.ife.org.uk/IFE-Qualifications-with-Syllabus-Links. Based on the success of the examination centre in Dubai the branch will be providing support again in October 2018 for any candidates wishing to participate in the examination programme.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
In our last update it was highlighted that the SIGs provide the opportunity to members to share their experience and learning with like-minded fire professionals with each group offering the opportunity for knowledge exchange and worldwide networking.
A Founding Members Steering Group in the UK led by Rob MacDonald (Assistant Chief Fire Officer Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue) is developing a SIG dedicated to Rescue Engineering. Initial thoughts are that this group would focus on the discipline of crash rescue and extrication with a view to developing into other rescue engineering areas in the future. The group will provide a focus for IFE activities in relation to rescue engineering; identify and monitor existing research and guidance; and raise awareness of issues affecting rescue engineering.
The group will develop close links with existing Rescue Organisations and be instrumental in promoting the concept of rescue engineering, it’s recognition by the sector and its accreditation by the IFE.
The Steering Group are looking for founding members of this group to help with the development of the terms of reference and it’s wider membership. It is hoped to hold an inaugural meeting on the 21st March after the IGA/Board meeting to draft the Terms of Reference, identify key stakeholders and agree the next steps forward. The aim would be to have the SIG established for the Annual General Meeting in October 2018. From a branch perspective we are keen to support this SIG initiative and hope to support bringing best practice to all emergency response teams globally. If anyone wants to become actively involved in the SIG please express your interest at the earliest opportunity.
Detailed within the GCC UAE Branch Business Plan, we have highlighted areas of particular interest to provide more focused regional groups based on the model of the SIGs. As part of the expansion plans for the branch it is intended to create local specialist working groups that draw upon the expertise of our members that are working and living in the region. The following working groups have been highlighted following an analysis of market support requirements in the region and it is felt these will assist in bringing best practice to the region:
- Aviation
- Rail
- Fire Safety and Risk Management
- Fire Investigation
- Training
- Crisis Response and Disaster Management
- Operational Response including Vehicle Extrication (liaise and work closely with new Rescue engineering SIG in UK)
- Retail including Malls
- Complex Buildings
- Fire Code Development and International Best Practice
The primary objective of the working groups will be to support and enhance local Civil Defence and other Government and professional organisations realise international best practice in the region. It is proposed that the branch will discuss joint working arrangements with other internationally recognised organisations to support the working group(s) activities and further enhance the IFE’s reputation across the Middle East.
Centenary Update
As we have entered into the centenary year you will no doubt have seen the new logo that is available for use throughout 2018 only – this will be seen on IFE materials/website/email signatures etc. As requested in the centenary sub-committee meetings, HQ have available some pop-up banners which can be loaned for use at any centenary events. HQ have also recently launched limited edition centenary merchandise. This includes a professional stamp, centenary lapel pin and commemorative coin (see http://www.ife.org.uk/Online-Shop/Centenary-Merchandise/).
As part of the centenary celebrations held at the Leicester Central Fire and Rescue Station on 9th January 2018 the IFE launched the new Firefighter Safety Database.
Firefighters Safety Database
The IFE Firefighter Safety Database is designed to enable firefighters and others to learn from past experience where that experience has resulted in injury or loss of life to firefighters, or where critical learning points have been identified.
Supported by the National Operational Guidance and National Operational Learning programme, all UK Fire and Rescue Services, willing international Fire and Rescue Services and other organisations, we hope and believe the database will become a world-leading safety resource.
The information in the database does not apportion blame, imply judgment or make any accusation of wrong-doing. It exists solely to promote understanding of what happened at major incidents and so help prevent injury or loss of life in similar future incidents.
The cases described here are wide ranging, diverse and the sort which could confront any firefighter at any time anywhere in the world. Firefighting and rescuing people from fires is inherently dangerous, but by learning from the past we can help mitigate the risk.
It is often the case that repeated, closely related lessons recur in incidents and events of all types, so if firefighters and others involved in fire-fighting, rescue, fire engineering and building design understand how dangerous incidents escalated (or indeed were managed well), the information presented by that case study has the potential to help improve decision making and thereby make a positive difference to firefighter safety.
The database will expand over time. Phase 1 presents information on post-WWII incidents in the UK where firefighters have died. Future phases will cover “other incidents of interest” and “international incidents of interest”. It is recognised that there are gaps in some reports and any assistance in gathering further relevant information is welcomed. The success of the database will be proportional to the amount of information contributed to it. Although some historical information is available from Fire and Rescue Services, user contributions will represent a valuable further source of information.
All information on the database has been quality assured by the IFE Firefighter Safety Special Interest Group. If any visitors to the database notice any errors please let highlight these straight away, so that any necessary corrections can be made.
Where information (including images) is known to be protected by copyright, we have sought to identify the owners of those rights and obtain their consent to its use. If we have inadvertently breached any copyright please let us know immediately so that we can put matters right.
Fire and Rescue Services and other organisations have donated and supplied freely a wide variety of information including images, reports, powerpoints, and other useful learning materials. Please source reference this if you use it, eg. for research papers, projects, presentations, links to site etc. where appropriate including to this site.
The IFE expresses no view as to the validity of the information presented on this database. It is for readers to absorb, use and learn from it as they see fit.
Very many people and organisations have helped us in the development of the database and to them the IFE and National Operational Guidance extends its sincere gratitude. More importantly, if lessons are learned and lives are protected, their contributions will have been amply rewarded.
For more information, go to www.ife.org.uk/branches/GCC-UAE
Top image: The IFE Board of Directors and International General Assembly meeting, held in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK in March.
About the Author
Branch President, GCC Branch – The Institution of Fire Engineers.
