EmergencyWardens -E - news

Emergency Wardens e-news: Feb 2012

1

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note

Silver Award for

Excellence

Chemical Spill in

School Lab

How Should you

R.E.A.C.T™ to

Chemical Spills?

Meet some of our

new recruits

New Product

Offerings for 2013

Customer Satisfaction

Survey 2012

Big turnout at

Mackay Corporate

Triathlon

What do our Clients

say about our

services?

In this 6th

Edition Our Mission

First 5 Minutes is Australia’s leading provider of Emergency

Management Solutions through training and consultancy. For more

than 25 years, our commitment to customer service, quality and deep

technical and commercial expertise has resulted in a proven track

record of successfully delivering valuable solutions that make a positive

difference to our clients.

Our primary focus is to provide peace of mind to our client

organisations by minimizing their risks and maximizing life safety in their

facilities.

Through our R.E.A.C.T™ methodology, we enable our clients to train

their staff to higher level of competencies when dealing with

emergencies. We provide wardens with a simple yet effective

approach which is in line with Australian Standards as well as various

health and safety regulations nationwide.

Our expert solutions, emergency plans, manuals and training programs

are utilised by clients of all sizes, including multi-national organisations,

government agencies, universities, commercial property managers,

facilities managers and building owners.

Our offices and consultants are located throughout Australia and our

local knowledge of rules and regulations sets us apart from our

competitors.

Late 2012 we launched our new self-paced online training system

(SPOT) and introduced the first SPOT skills training module, designed to

supplement our industry leading F5M face to face Emergency Control

Organisation training. This innovation has been provided to all existing

F5M contract clients at no charge.

In 2013, we will continue innovating and creating new solutions to

provide more peace of mind to our existing and new clients in an ever

changing business world.

Together, let us make this year the best ever when it comes to safety

and emergency management on your premises.

Talk to us to see how.

Jay Ramanah, January 2013

2 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

Loretta

Currey wins

Award for

Excellence

Reduce stress and builds an

environment where people

are encouraged to explore

innovative approaches to

their work.

For the second quarter of 2012

– 2013, Loretta Currey, the

Administration Manager for our

Queensland Business Unit is the

recipient of the Silver Award.

Loretta received the award for

Excellence on the back of

continued commitment to

customer service as well as

exceptional work carried out to

support the implementation of

the CMARS project.

She is well respected by her

colleagues and is often know to

be the first one in the office

every morning and last one out

every evening.

Loretta Currey– Administration

Manager, Qld receiving her prize from

Alex de Waal, MD of First 5 Minutes

First 5 Minutes seek to reward

exceptional performance that

supports its values, strategic goals

and vision.

A Reward and Recognition

program was developed to assist

supervisors and managers to build

a culture of Performance by

incorporating reward and

recognition activities into their

management practices as they:

Positively reinforce excellence in

behaviours and performance,

Help build staff engagement,

and therefore increases job

satisfaction,

Lead to higher retention rates of

key staff

“Loretta

always has

time for all

staff and

customers.

She puts

herself second

to help others

even on a

national level.

Her

dedication to

F5M is visible

in her work

and manner.”

Kristin Hughes, Customer Service Team

member , QLD

One of her team members said

“Loretta plays an important role

in the success of the QLD

business unit. She deserves the

award”

When asked about the key

indicators of excellent

performance by Loretta, her

manager Martin Dunn pointed to

the following 3 main areas where

Loretta made a difference:

Successful

implementation of

CMARS in the QLD

business unit

Management of BCC

account

Driving the F5M

compliance review in

QLD

Unfortunately there can only be

one Silver Award for Excellence

winner per quarter for the whole

of First 5 Minutes.

However the following

employees were recognized for

their outstanding performance in

their respective business units.

Lynda Volk (Corporate)

Sam Thornton (SA)

Daniel McMillan (WA)

Nathan Benson (Design & IT)

Louise Powell (VIC/TAS)

3 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

"We've isolated the

substance so it cannot

vaporise any further," Acting

Superintendent Turner said.

He said it appeared a

substance had vaporised

during the science

experiment, causing

breathing problems for some

of the students.

Source: Ambulance NSW

spokeswoman, Fire and

Rescue NSW spokeswoman

R- Response to a raised

alarm / Raise an alarm

Remain calm.

Raise the alarm and inform

people that they should

stay in place and not

move out.

Dial 000 and inform about

the HAZMAT incident.

E- Examine

Identify the type and

location.

Identify a HAZMAT incident

How should

you

R.E.A.C.T™ to

chemical

Spills?

If possible, identify the type of

gas being releases (Toxic,

Flammable?)

A – Assess

Identify risks to life safety.

Identify source of gas leak and

direction of wind.

Is anyone in danger of a

medical emergency (Gas

inhalation)?

Who on site is competent to

deal with medical

emergencies while waiting for

ambulance to arrive? (CPR,

First Aid etc…)

Where are the AED kits and

First Aid kits in case they need

to be used?

Assess building doors and

windows in case we have to

shelter in place

Assess fume propagation

regularly.

C – Control

If time is limited which is most

likely going to be the case,

latest research recommends

Shelter- in – Place (SIP) as the

safest course of action.

Close doors and windows and

air vents tightly.

Move people away from

doors, windows and any air

vents where gas could enter.

Re-assess fume propagation

regularly and allow

emergency services to assess

quality of air from time to time.

Instruct occupants to end SIP

when given the green light by

emergency services.

T- Talk

Keep all wardens informed of

all decisions being taken

Keep informed of the situation

by liaising with Police and Fire

Services.

Keep occupants informed of

the situation at all times.

Chemical

Spill in School

Lab causes

Health

Scare.

Thirteen students and two

teachers from the school were

rushed to hospital after

dangerous fumes were

released during a year seven

science experiment.

Paramedics were called to

Bangalow Avenue in Chipping

Norton after reports of exposure

to sulphur dioxide.

A paramedic said they had

treated 24 patients but there

appeared to be no major

injuries, with most suffering

minor inhalation injuries or

vomiting.

A Department of Education

spokesman said the students

and teachers had been

affected by fumes during a

year seven science experiment.

"The school is investigating the

cause of the fumes," he said.

"The school moved very quickly

to call emergency services and

to alert the parents of the 26

students in the classroom at the

time of the experiment."

Acting Superintendent Josh

Turner from Fire and Rescue

NSW said atmospheric

monitoring tests showed the air

at the site of the accident was

now safe.

4 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

Meet some of

our new

recruits.

It is rewarding to know that we

are in a key position to help our

clients by servicing the

administration and financial

requirements of our front line

staff. My responsibilities include

making sure that our creditors

are paid on time so that they

continue to deliver services to

us. We also have to ensure that

our staff and trainers get their

expenses paid to them, which is

something that has a

permanent place on my to-do

list.

Having a freshly brewed cup of

coffee delivered to my desk

each morning is also a pleasant

bonus.

What are your main challenges

for the year ahead?

Since moving to Australia, I

have predominately used

stand-alone accounting

packages, so the move to an

enterprise level application

comes with a learning curve

that I want to get over as

quickly as possible.

I am also conscious that we

need to make sure that our

internal back end processes

can develop and grow in line

with the company’s growth.

How do you like to spend your

free time?

I have a busy life at home with

the family. We have 3 young

boys (including twins) who are

into sport and making lots of

noise at unreasonable times of

the day. We also foster rescue

dogs from time to time, so we

are kept on our toes.

The majority of our free time is

spent enjoying the benefits of

an outdoor life, which we

cannot get enough

of. However, when I am not

being buried in sand up to my

neck at the beach, I enjoy

learning to play the guitar and

learning to speak Spanish

Kevin Webster Trainer – QLD

My name is Kevin Webster and I

was born in Mississippi USA. I grew

up on a working farm with 13

brothers and 7 sisters. At 18 I

moved to Pasadena California

we I pursued my dreams of

becoming a Fire-fighter/EMT. I

attended University in the Fire

Science field and worked as a

volunteer for two years. At age

30 I was employed with the City

of Alhambra Fire Department

where I spent the next 15 years.

In 2009 I moved to Brisbane with

my wife and son, and since being

in Brisbane my wife and I have

twins. I worked for the Princess

Alexandra Hospital as a Fire and

Security Officer the past 3 years.

My skills having worked in the

emergency medical field and fire

fighting I hope will add great

experience to the dynamics of

First 5 Minutes.

I look forward to growing my

experience as a trainer and using

the skills I have attained through

study and life experiences.

Mark Thomas Accounts Supervisor – Corporate

What do you like about your job at

F5M?

I have found F5M to be a

welcoming and friendly place. We

have a great team here in

Corporate and I am fortunate to

have a varied routine with plenty

of scope to develop my role.

Emergency Wardens e-news: Feb 2012

5

New

Product

Offerings

For 2013

In June 2012, First 5 Minutes

acquired 100 % shares in Sharp

Mining Industry Training Ltd.

Sharp Training is a Registered

Training Organisation based in

Mackay which specialises in the

delivery of accredited training

for the mining, heavy industry

and construction industry.

With this acquisition, First 5

Minutes is now in a position to

increase its product offering to

its existing as well as new

clients.

In 2013, 2 brand new courses

will be available through the

first 5 minutes/ Sharp Training

partnership:

Working Safely at

Heights

Enter and Work in

Confined Spaces

Working

Safely at

Heights

The hazards of working at heights

in the construction, mining and

other industries are often

underestimated. Falls from below

7 metres in height, account for a

large percentage of Work Cover

claims.

The potential for serious injury or

death from this extremely

hazardous activity cannot be

overstated. The suspension

resulting from a fall from height

via a harness is as life threatening

as the fall itself.

A plan for prompt retrieval of

personnel in the event of a fall

being arrested is paramount due

to the onset of suspension

trauma.

Depending on the susceptibility

of the individual, this may lead to

loss of consciousness, renal failure

and eventually death.

This program will enable students

to not only understand and

instigate safe working at heights

procedures, but also to

participate in a rescue from

heights and perform a self-

rescue.

Topics covered in this program

are:

Identify work requirements

Prepare for work

Access and install equipment

Perform work at heights

Equipment inspections

Perform Rescue

Risk Assessment Recognise anchor points

This nationally recognised

training program provides

participants with the unit of

competency required to

achieve a Statement of

Attainment which forms part of

RII20209 Certificate II in Surface

Extraction Operations

Competency Unit:

RIIOHS204A Work safely at

heights

Contact your local First

5 Minutes office or call

us on 1300321120 to

learn more about

these new products!!

6 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

Enter and

Work in

Confined

Spaces

The repercussions of working in a

hazardous confined space could

cause a tragedy. People's lives

are being taken due to lack of

training and understanding.

Entering confined space is

potentially the most dangerous

environment workers may

encounter on any work site.

These encompass hazardous

activities such as excavation,

electrical, hot work, work at

heights, also water and

sandblasting operations. The

possibility of contaminates, such

as Methane, Hydrogen Sulphate

and other gases within the

confined space is a real and

constant threat. This can lead to

serious illness and or death if not

correctly investigated and

controlled.

On successful completion of this

training program, participants will

have acquired the skills and

knowledge to enable them to

control entry (stand-by persons)

to confined spaces for

maintenance, servicing of vessels

or other necessary reasons. Work

in/entry to confined spaces shall

conform to relevant legislation

and Australian Standard, or its

authorised update or

replacement.

Topics covered in this program are:

Assess confined space for entry

Use safety equipment and clothing

Control confined space entry (stand-by persons)

Conclude confined space operations

Perform CPR

This nationally recognised training program incorporates the

requirements of HLTCPR201A Perform CPR. Participants who

successfully complete this program will achieve a Statement of

Attainment which forms part of RII20209 Certificate II in Surface

Extraction Operations and HLT21107 Certificate II in Emergency

Medical Service First Response

Competency Units:

RIIOHS202A - Enter and work in confined spaces

HLTCPR201B Perform CPR

7 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

First 5 Minutes carries out a

customer satisfaction survey each

year to gauge the pulse of its

thousands of clients across

Australia.

We believe that feedback from our

clients is a crucial aspect of

developing a successful business.

It allows us to ensure that our

products, services, and customer

support are all on the right track.

Without your feedback, we make

sure that we listen to you and we

are servicing your needs better.

This year again, the number of

responses have been

overwhelming. The quality of

responses has also provided us with

a lot of insights into our customers’

perception of us.

There is plenty of positive feedback

as well as good scope for

improvement.

November 4th 2012 launched Mackay’s first inaugural

corporate team triathlon and is set to become an annual

event for both for the Mackay Triathlon Club and for Sharp

Training. Gregg, Susan and Tegan competed against

another 64 teams in the sweltering 34 degree heat at

Mackay Harbour.

The swim started at the break wall and was 500m along the

beach back to Mackay Surf Club, travelling with the

current. The cycle was a reasonable flat 18km journey to

Slade Point and back, which left the run to be a lovely 5km

scenic route out along the break wall and around the

marina.

Close to 200 people in total competed in the Queensland

Country Health Fund sponsored event and 1st place went

to BMA Hay Point Team who won in a time of 1:05:01. We

placed 15th with a time of 1:16:42. We received great

support from our fellow co-workers and had a cheer squad

on the day. It was a great, morning and our team put in

an exceptional effort.

Gregg Jones (Center), Susan Viero (Right) and Tegan

Maszak (Left) are all colleagues from Sharp Training in

Mackay who participated in the Mackay Corporate

Triathlon 2012.

Customer

Satisfaction

survey 2012

Big Turnout at Mackay

Corporate Team

Triathlon.

8 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

What do our clients

say about our

services?

Continue with

what you are

doing as it is

extremely

effective!

Mindy Rafton

Mahoney Lawyers

We have been very happy with

your services Leanne Kingston, RACQ Insurance

I have received training from first

5 for eight years and have been

very happy with the service.

Helen Radford, Olympus Australia, Victoria

We are very happy the

way you provide our

training i can't think of

anything else to

improve what you are

doing, thank you

Jonathan Cauldwell

Tattersall's Club Brisbane

Queensland

9 Emergency Wardens Australia: January 2013

We welcome your feedback and contribution to this newsletter.

Write to: Jay Ramanah, General Manager (People, Culture and Training) E: jay.ramanah@first5minutes.com.au

T: 07 33552855