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REPORT SENT ORIGINALLY 14/1/03
NSW FIRE BRIGADES OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS OVERVIEW
By Charles Henry Norville
Inclusive of the pages of referenced attachments
INTRODUCTION
Regenerative (closed circuit) Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (02B) is known to be superior to
Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus (open circuit) now currently used by the NSW Fire Brigades.
The decommissioning of the Siebe Gorman BG 174 02BA in favour of the doubling up of the 300
bar (atmospheres) air cylinders each with a working duration of 41 minutes (51 min – 10 min
safety margin = 41), the increased duration provides the same safety margin as for the single
cylinder ie 51x2 = 102 min – 10 min = 92 min.
The BG 174 has a working duration of up to 4 hours but has the added advantage of being able to
be used in an additional emergency procedure known as entrapment procedure which may give
the wearer at least 8 hrs working duration.
Prior to the BG 174 there was the Siebe Gorman Proto MK 5 02BA. The NSW Fire Brigades has
a long history of facilitating emergency in its Standard Operational Procedures with the use of
specialist breathing apparatus 02BA. The importance of 02BA cannot be overstressed or
underrated. In my professional opinion the only way safety equipment can be decommissioned is:
1. when the hazard for which its intended use no long exists or
2. a suitable and superior replacement exists or/and
3. there has been a change in work safety practice and procedures which eliminates the need
for such safety equipment.
The fact is that the scenario of an emergency incident that would compel a need for the use of
02BA has not diminished but has increased. The use of long duration air sets and as the Fire
Brigades Employees Union submits on their website, 28 April 1998, Long-duration air simply
doesn't fill the gap created by the loss of O2BA.
In 1997 there was at least 76 of the BG 174 Units in service within the NSW Fire Brigades
HISTORY OF DECOMMISSIONING
24 April 1990 – I submitted to the FBEU with carbon copy to:
Consultant Occupational Health Physician, NSW Fire Brigades;
Seconder to the Motion ie firefighter at Union meeting;
Director, Division of OH., WCA, Lidcombe;
Public Sector Liaison Officer, WCA, Parramatta
What I saw and what the Union agreed then as an agenda by the NSW Fire Brigades - because of
a fiscal policy to:
• remove the BA allowance and the number of operators and safety allowance essentially
through a process of unlawful coercion and intimidation;
• purposely remove 02BA qualified operators and deny access to training and workplace
protection;
• put firefighters and the public at risk
And in doing so fail to adequately monitor the health and safety of firefighters.
I had levelled my complaint at a Union meeting accusing senior officers at that meeting of unlawful
behaviour. It was decided at this meeting that I put my compliant in writing making also
recommendations to this disgraceful and highly illegal scenario.
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The Fire Brigades are Statutorily bound by the Fire Brigades Act and the OH&S Act to protect its
firefighting members and members of the public in the area of workplace emergency incidents.
26 April 1990 – The FBEU acknowledges my submission.
26 April 1990 – additional OH&S material (inclusive of the above cc report 24 April 1990)
concerning other irregularities by the NSW Fire Brigades, which includes my intimidation as an
OH&S Committee member, is sent to:
Director, Division of OH., WCA, Lidcombe, Bernard Nolan and
Public Sector Liaison Officer, WCA, Parramatta, Bob Powell
8 June 1990 – The FBEU support my recommendations in a letter to the Chief Officer of the NSW
Fire Brigades (NB Chief Officer & Director-General positions now combined into Commissioner).
25 June 1990 – The FBEU in a personal letter to me with the attached letter to the Chief Officer
make a further recommendation that I be kept informed of events. THE UNION FAILS TO DO
THIS.
29 August 1990 – I attempt to extract an acknowledgment and response to the material sent to
WorkCover, Powell & Nolan.
NB Standing Orders as per the Clause 83 of 1909 By-laws and Cl 4 of the current Fire Brigades
General Regulation 1997
During the course of administrative bastardisation in the continuing pursuit of my Charter under
the Fire Brigades Act and Regulations, which was reported to the Union and the Minister for
Emergency Services, Mr Debus, I am dismissed by proxy through the use of a Government
psychiatric assessment ie I am retired on 5 July 1995 whilst on Workers Compensation having to
seek assistance from Centrelink to feed my family.
11 June 1999 – FBEU meeting concerning the - Removal of BG174 Oxygen Breathing Apparatus
An overwhelming number of firefighters endorse the removal of 02BA providing that existing
qualified members maintain their qualification allowance $2.94 a shift. The FBEU states on its
website amongst other things:
“that all members are made fully aware of the limitations of LDA [Long Duration Air also
called Extra Duration BA] when compared to O2BA and the inability of LDA to sustain life in
situations of entrapment;”
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”that at all times where members are deployed using LDA that an equal number of
members shall be present to act solely as a rescue team and not be utilised for any other
purpose.”
There is clearly an admission to compromise OH&S practice in promoting the use of a
replacement for 02BA that would be deficient “to sustain life in situations of entrapment”
NB What methods were used by the Brigade to make members fully aware of the limitation of
Long Duration BA? Was a Commissioner’s Standing Order issued to members of the NSW Fire
Brigades detailing the changes to the workplace as required under the OH&S Act 1983 now the
Act of 2000?
NB Years ago the Union promised the then Minister for Emergency Services, Mr Pickering, not to
pursue with respect of their upgrading of rescue accreditation any form of allowance.
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• It is clear that the Union and the Department Fire Brigades have traded the safety of its
members for monetary remunerations in an open breach of the Statutory requirements of the
Fire Brigades Act and OH&S Act. [LATE MAIL on SAS non statutory approval 19 Nov 02]
Submissions (D433) to the Audit Office, The Ombudsman and the ICAC concerning certain
occupational health misappropriations inclusive of my dismissal by proxy by the Government were
dismissed - NB the contracting outside WComp Jurisdiction with respect of my retirement
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Follow-up reports to WCA 28/8/90 regarding other OH&S issues eg “Incident-Injury Watkins St
101288.doc” file
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| About the FBEU | Contact us | Awards | Members services | Interesting sites | News & information |
http://fbeu.labor.net.au/media/19980428_Drager.html?drager+allowance#first_hit
Drager BG 174 Developments
Date: 28 April 1998
Author: FBEU
For several years now, the Department has sought to remove the Drager BG 174 O2BA sets from
service. Not because they weren't needed, not because of concerns for employee safety, not because
spare parts were no longer available and not because of new technology. Why? Simply because the
O2BA allowance found at Award Clause 6.6.5 costs the employer $800 000 each year.
The Union was contacted by the Department early March '98 seeking a meeting to discuss the future
of O2BA. At the first meeting held March 31, the Union learnt that all of the 76 BG 174 sets are now
due for their five-years service (at an approximate cost of $1000 per set), but that the Department was
not going to pay the $70 000 or so involved because the sets were suddenly deemed to be
"dangerous because they're negative pressure". We also learnt of further sudden problems - like spare
parts will not being available within 2 years, etc., etc.
This may or may not be true, but the question needs to be asked: How did something as obvious as a
scheduled 5 year maintenance program (which would have already been budgeted for) suddenly
become a matter of extreme urgency? Late '97, 6 sets were withdrawn for "essential maintenance".
They still haven't been serviced. In March '98 another 7 were withdrawn. They aren't being serviced
either. The Department now wants all O2BA sets retired by December '98.
The Union's State Committee has already determined that O2BA must be maintained for public safety
(tunnel and ship incidents, etc.) and member safety. Long-duration air simply doesn't fill the gap
created by the loss of O2BA. Importantly, the O2BA allowance is currently $2.94 per shift. The loss of
the allowance means not only the loss to qualified operators of approx. $500 pa, it also means the loss
of a unit from your superannuation - literally many $1000's.
The Union's preferred position to date has been simple - buy new sets, and service the BG 174's in
the interim. The Department now claims that the new Drager BG 4 positive pressure set is
unacceptable. It is also arguing that lack of ongoing medicals means no-one can wear the BG 174. It
really started when O2 training ceased without warning back in '94. A quick look at Award Clause 6.6.5
reveals why the Department is now saying dual-cylinder air sets can do the job.
More O2BA sets were removed from 9 Stn. yesterday - 63 sets remain in service. If the number of sets
falls below 63, industrial action can be expected to follow.
Chris Read
State Secretary
Tuesday 28th April, 1998
http://fbeu.labor.net.au/media/19990611_SGMres.html?rescue+allowance#first_hit
Special General Meeting Results
Date: 11 June 1999
Author: Darryl Snow - President
Members in Attendance
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Country Sub-Branch - 94
Newcastle Sub-Branch - 103
Illawarra Sub-Branch - 107
Sydney Day Section - 521
Sydney Night Section - 214
TOTAL = 1039
http://fbeu.labor.net.au/media/20000407_awdover.html?rescue+allowance#first_hit
Overview of Negotiated Awards
Date: 07 April 2000
Author: FBEU
For the first time, recognition of the present 10/14 rostered O/T payment as superannuable salary
in exchange for the removal of the O2BA allowance (a separate notice will be issued next week
explaining this point in further detail).
Agreement on the Union's proposal for a new Clause 13 which includes the guaranteed promotion
of all existing LF's in advance of any other members.
Inclusion of the Gosford and Wyong Fire Districts within the metropolitan areas in terms of the
provision of meals and allowances.
Agreement to regulate the allocation of recalls on a fair, equitable and transparent system to be
developed between the parties.
Introduction of a new Rescue allowance of $8.00 per rostered shift (to be adjusted by the above
increments) for all members recognised as rescue operators by the SRB;
Agreement on a new Clause 14 to cover "special duties" positions (again, a separate notice will be
issued explaining this point further next week).
Inclusion of the 3 days' unsupported sick leave provision within the Award.
Agreement that OTEN exams will be held on duty, rather than on days off.
http://fbeu.labor.net.au/media/20000711_bacpay.html?rescue+allowance#first_hit
Back Pay - Thursday
Date: 11 July 2000
Author: FBEU
O2BA AND RESCUE ALLOWANCES
As members are aware, the O2BA allowance was removed as a cost offset for the incorporation of
rostered O/T into all members' superable salary. It therefore ceased to be payable from February
25, and the Department had intended that all O2BA qualified members' pays would be adjusted
this week in order to reflect this. However, negotiations between the Department and our Union
have led to a "without prejudice" agreement that although O2BA will no longer be paid, the
allowance which has already been paid to members for the 18 weeks between February 25 and
June 29 will now not be adjusted.
The new Rescue allowance of $8.00 per rostered shift will now be automatically paid to all SRB
accredited members for each shift that you have been rostered to work since February 25. Like
the O2BA allowance, the Rescue allowance will be averaged to provide a constant allowance rate
of $56.00 per fortnight.
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APPLICATION
Self-contained closed-circuit oxygen breathing apparatus for work W-70 type fitted with full face mask
is designed for the protection of the wearer`s airways when working in the atmosphere unsuitable to
breathe due to: - oxygen deficiency - content of toxic gases or harmful substances The apparatus W-
70 type is mainly conformed to the mine rescue work. Depending on the capacity of the employed
absorber and the degree of filling of the oxygen cylinder, the apparatus is available for duty duration
up to two or four hours.
TECHNICAL DATA
Rated duration on using CO2 28 absorber and cylinder filled to 20 MPa 4 h
on using CO2 24 absorber and cylinder filled to 15 MPa 2 h
Oxygen supply source oxygen cylinder at capacity of 2 dm3
Reduced pressure 0,4 MPa
Oxygen supply constant at 20 MPa 1,5 dm3/min maximum at least 50 dm3/min
Volume of oxygen rinsing dosage 6,0 dm3
Capacity of breathing bag 6,5 dm3
Overall dimensions of the case:
- height 480 mm
- width 430 mm
- depth 148 mm
Mass of complete apparatus 14,5 kg
The apparatus W-70 type is approved by Higher Mining Office in Katowice for use in underground
mining and by Central Institute of Work Protection in Warsaw for use in industry.
CO2 ABSORBERS
APPLICATION
These absorbers are destinated to regeneration the air exhaled by the user in the closed–circuit
oxygen breathing apparatus as a single–use sup–assembly.
CHARACTERISTIC CO2
absorbers are classified according to the duration of protection (filter capacity against gases). There
are three sizes of CO2 absorbers:
CO2 20 – one-hour protection
CO2 24 – two-hour protection
CO2 28 – four-hour protection
TECHNICAL DATA
Type Overall dimensiones (mm) Mass (kg)
CO2 20 70x140x200 1,6kg
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CO2 24 90x180x240 2,6kg
CO2 28 90x180x280 3,5kg
Thread at connector holes 5/16" Max breathing resistance at the air flow of 30 dm3/min 40 Pa Colour
canister steel gray
The arrow stamped on the canister indicates direction of air flow.
<<--back
SELF-CONTAINED CLOSED-CIRCUIT OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS FOR
ESCAPE AU-9E/1 TYPE
APPLICATION
Self-contained closed-circuit oxygen breathing apparatus for escape AU-9E/1 type is designed for the
protection of the wearer`s airways in the atmosphere unsuitable to breathe due to: - oxygen
deficiency (less than 17% by vol.) - content of toxic gases or harmfull substances The AU-9E/1 type is
conformed to the mine rescue work and makes the equipment of Regional and Mine Rescue Work
Stations. The rated duration is up to 60 min.
MAIN FEATURES
The AU-9E/1 is adapted for carrying on the strap which is hanged over the arm. As the unit is fitted
with the facepiece, it can be used to guide injured or unconscious persons to safety from endangered
areas.
TECHNICAL DATA
Rated duration 60 min
Mass of soda lime in absorber ca. 0,65 kg
Oxygen supply source oxygen cylinder at capacity of 0,45 dm3 and pressure of 22 MPa
Reduced pressure 0,4 MPa
Oxygen supply:
- constant at the pressure of 20 MPa 1,5 dm3/min
- max at least 50 dm3/min
Opening pressure of relief valve 400 ÷ 600 Pa
Breathing resistance (at the inhalation and exhalation) at the ventilation of 20x2 dm3 shall not exceed
650 Pa
Operating pressure of demand valve (-150)–(-250) Pa
Overall dimensions 300x200x128 mm
Mass of complete device 5,0 kg
The apparatus AU-9E/1 is approved by the Higher Mining Office in Katowice for use in underground
mining and by the Central Institute of Work Protection in Warsaw for use in industry.
<<--back
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• Lightest - 4 hour BG-4 weighs <30 pounds and utilizes military proven materials
• Coolest - lowest breathing gas temperature for closed circuit breathing apparatus
• Easiest - simple design fittings allow much easier service and testing
• Safest - positive pressure protection and double-seal mask
• NIOSH/MSHA Approved - TC-13F-341, TC-13F-342, TC-13F-343 and TC-13F-344
The BG-4 features an operating period of 4 hours in accordance with NIOSH CFR 30 and EN-145. The
positive pressure in the entire breathing circuit makes the BG-4 particularly suitable for long-term missions
in a toxic environment.
Modern materials and technologies plus microelectronics make for a comparatively low weight. The
ergonomically shaped carrying frame, in conjunction with the new comfort harness system, ensure very
good wearing comfort. Breathing comfort is the result of a low resistance CO2 absorber and an integrated
breathing air cooler. Designed for easy maintenance and service, the BG-4 can be rapidly cleaned, tested
and prepared for re-use once the mission has been complete; saving time and money. The Monitron, which
provides alarm, pressure and test information, provides reliable information on the status of the BG-4 during
the mission.
The Monitron is automatically activated as soon as the cylinder valve is opened. The pressure reading at the
display unit is clearly visible with the segmented display. The exact pressure value can also be read
digitally. The digital display can be illuminated in the dark by pressing the back-light button. Following
activation, Monitron automatically performs a set test and a battery check. By opening and closing the
cylinder valve, the user can perform a high pressure leak test in less than 15 seconds.
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During normal operation, the Monitron display flashes a green "go" light visible to the user. When the
pressure is low, the display will flash a red "warning" light. The Monitron features a two-stage residual
pressure alarm. The residual pressure alarm sounds for 30 seconds when about 700 psi cylinder oxygen
pressure and again continuously at 145 psi.
A closed circuit SCBA, like the BG-4, operates on the principle of rebreathing the air inside the breathing
circuit of the SCBA. By rebreathing the air, the duration of the SCBA can be significantly extended. When
the cylinder valve (14) is opened, 100% oxygen flows from the cylinder (13), through the pressure reducer
(15), to the minimum valve (8) and to the constant dosage (10) outlet to fill the breathing circuit. As the
wearer inhales, the oxygen is drawn through the inhalation hose (11) and valve (2) and hose (3). The
exhaled air, containing carbon dioxide, flows through the soda lime scrubber (5). The scrubber converts the
carbon dioxide into water. This chemical reaction also generates heat in the process. The "scrubber"
breathing air flows to the breathing bag (6) and past the ice cooler (9). The constant dosage outlet
continually adds oxygen to breathing air to replenish the oxygen which is consumed by the wearer. The ice
cooler and the constant dosage help to cool the warm breathing air from the scrubber. For peak demands of
breathing air from strenuous work, the minimum valve opens and fills the breathing circuit with additional
oxygen. Any excess breathing air in the circuit is expelled through the relief valve (7). The Monitron digital
pressure gauge (17) gives the user the cylinder pressure and LED lights to indicate go or no go.
Functional Diagram
1. Mask
2. Connecting Piece
3. Exhalation Hose
4. Filter Pad
5. Soda Lime Cartridge
6. Breathing Bag
7. Relief Valve
8. Minimum Valve
9. Cooler
10. Constant Dosage
11. Inhalation Hose
12. Drain Valve
13. Cylinder
14. Cylinder Valve
15. Pressure Reducer
16. Monitron Basic Unit
17. Monitron Display Unit
Ordering Information
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Description
Catalog No.
BG-4, 4 Hour, Positive Pressure w/o mask, cylinder & valve, canister & case
R34302
BG-4, 4 Hour, Positive Pressure with mask and cylinder & valve
4056153
Description
Catalog No.
Carrying Case, Metal
4055237
Carrying Case, Soft Sided
4055879
Panorama Nova Mask, EPDM
R53306
Panorama Nova Mask, Silicone
R53316
Anti Fog Solution
R52550
Soda Lime Canister, 20 Kg
6736912
Refill Kit includes reusable canister, wooden edged strainer and filtermats
4055807
Single Use, Soda Lime Canister
R33760
Reusable Canister
R34277
Metal Ice Freezing Container
R33999
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