Training is mandatory for safe and effective fire department operations and is an on-going requirement to maintain skill levels. Training is crucial and one of the most important functions within a fire service. There cannot be a gap between training requirements and training delivery. Any such gap would adversely affect the safety and effectiveness of the firefighters and their ability to deliver emergency services. A great deal of time and effort are needed to properly train personnel. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to provide training to employees.
Duties of employers
25. (1) an employer shall ensure that,
(a) The equipment, materials and protective devices as prescribed are provided; (b) The equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition;
31 (c) The measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace;
Idem
(2) Without limiting the strict duty imposed by subsection (1), an employer shall, (a) Provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker;
The Carleton Place Fire Service has implemented a fair and accountable hiring process that consists of six (6) steps;
Application Completion and Submission
Candidate Physical Aptitude Test
Written General Aptitude Test
Interview – Fire Service Interview panel
Candidate to provide References, Medical Clearance, Police Background Check, and Driver’s Abstract
Successful completion of the recruit training program
All new Carleton Place Fire Service volunteers complete a recruit training program that provides them with the basic skills needed to respond to incidents and perform essential tasks. This training is based on the “OFC Curriculum” (currently being replaced by the NFPA Professional Qualifications for Firefighter I and II). The first part of the training covers 23 subjects and requires about 4 months of weekly training. During the next 8 months recruits receive monthly training on additional subjects.
Other mandated training includes:
Ontario Incident Management System 100
Accessible Ontario
Workplace Harassment
WHIMS
Ontario Health and Safety Awareness
Other training as may be required by legislation
Certification in First Aid, CPR and automated defibrillation
Hazardous Materials Response (Awareness Level)
Additional training such as acquiring a DZ license is also required before firefighters are permitted to perform specialized tasks such as driving and operating large apparatus, vehicle extrication, ice and water rescue or other specialized operations. Certification in First Aid, CPR and automated defibrillation also must be maintained.
32 The frequency of training is important to provide opportunities for volunteers to attend and complete the many subject matters being covered. As the complexity of the job increases the amount of training also increases. For each service authorized by Council there are training requirements that take additional time and added costs. When firefighters are required to attend external training opportunities, they receive compensation of $150.00 per day. The challenge of providing sufficient effective training is one of the most demanding aspects of operating a fire department.
Delivery of Training Programs
Training sessions are held every 2nd and 3d Thursday for a minimum of 2 hours to maintain skills
of the members on a variety of subjects. The 4th Thursday features repetition of that month’s
training and the first Thursday of every month is reserved for the monthly meeting. In addition to the regular weekly station training, speciality training such as medical first responder, aerial operations, ice and water rescue and auto extrication takes place on a number of weekends throughout the year on an ongoing basis. If available, derelict structures slated for demolition are utilized for live training drills on subjects such as fire behaviour, forcible entry, ventilation, fire control and salvage and overhaul. To improve practical “hands-on” training, consideration should be given to future construction of a training tower that will allow more realistic and varied training within the municipality.
The Carleton Place Fire Service currently has 7 members certified as “Trainer Facilitators” through the OFC. As a result of the OFMEM adopting the NFPA training standards, the existing trainer facilitators will require addition training/ certification to deliver the NFPA curriculum.
In addition to the Ontario Fire College located in Gravenhurst which our firefighters attend on an ongoing basis we are fortunate to have an approved satellite training facility located in Leeds and Thousand Islands Township. They schedule many of their course offerings over weekends and evenings in order to provide more flexibility in accommodating the needs of volunteer firefighters.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1) That our fire service promote collaborative partnerships with other county fire
departments to share in training courses and provide instructors as an effective means to conduct training activities.
2) That consideration be given to construction of a Training Facility at the proposed
33 and reduce the need to travel out of town for many basic training evolutions that are difficult to achieve at the present time. This would also enhance the ability to offer additional training to other fire departments and generate revenue.
3) That the department expand the use of computer based or on-line training for the theory portion of many courses. This will assist in allowing volunteers to study and complete assignments from home or in the fire station, at times that are convenient for them. It will also allow the instructors to focus on practical “hands–on” training.
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