SES OPERATIONS DOCTRINE OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES Operations ODO 23.0 Storm Damage Operations Temporary Repairs Valid from 28/01/2014 Version 2.0 1. PURPOSE To outline requirements relating to the conduct of temporary repair operations by the State Emergency Service (SES). 2. RATIONALE To ensure temporary repair operations are conducted in accordance with established requirements and standards, in an effective, efficient and safe manner. 3. APPLICATION Applies to all SES members. 4. OPERATIONS DOCTRINE NOTES Temporary repairs to damaged structures involve the employment of skills, techniques and equipment to make them safe and to prevent further damage to property after a significant weather event, which has impacted upon a community. It is important to note that temporary repairs conducted by SES storm damage operations teams are temporary in nature only and are not designed to provide full weather proofing. They are intended to provide a temporary level of protection until the building owners arrange for permanent repairs to be completed. Temporary repair operations form an activity under the SES function of storm damage operations. Storm damage operations also include the activities of chainsaw and working safely at heights operations which will often be conducted concurrently with temporary repair operations. For information on chainsaw operations and working safely at heights, refer to ODO 24.0 Storm Damage Operations Chainsaw / Pole Saw Operations and ODO 39.1 Working at Heights on Damaged Roofs. Where possible, members of the community should be encouraged to undertake their own repairs and cleanup activities. Assistance in terms of advice and supply of resources such as tarpaulins should be provided. In assessing requests for assistance, SES Groups should consider residents with a genuine requirement for SES assistance by prioritising to those most in need based upon individual circumstances. 5. PROCEDURAL INFORMATION 5.1 AUTHORITY All SES temporary repair operations are conducted under the authority of the SES. Page 1 of 5 Date: 28/01/2014 ODO 23.0 v2
An SES Group is allocated a role in the activity of temporary repair operations in accordance with the requirements outlined in ODO 2.0 SES Functions and Allocation. 5.2 REQUESTING AUTHORITY In the majority of cases an SES Group will receive requests for assistance to perform storm damage operations, including temporary repair operations, through the 132 500 call centre or as requests for assistance directly from members of the public and therefore, SES Groups may self activate to perform storm damage operations. For further information on the activation of SES Groups refer to ODO 1.0 Activation Guidelines. 5.3 MEMBER AND TEAM REQUIREMENTS Storm damage teams comprise four (4) categories of member being support crew, ground crew, roof crew and chainsaw operators. Specific requirements related to chainsaw operators are outlined in ODO 24.0 Storm Damage Operations Chainsaw / Pole Saw Operations. Requirements related to qualification and competency maintenance for the other three (3) categories of member are outlined below: 5.3.1 STORM DAMAGE SUPPORT CREW MEMBER Storm damage support crew members are appropriately trained to support storm damage operations and undertake a range of support tasks including sandbagging, water diversion, debris cleanup (where appropriate) and other non safety at heights or chainsaw related tasks. 5.3.1.1 QUALIFICATIONS To be appointed as an SES storm damage support crew operator, SES members must complete SEM0601 Storm and Water Damage Operations. 5.3.1.2 COMPETENCY MAINTENANCE There is no competency maintenance requirement for an appointment as an SES storm damage support crew operator. However it is recommended that SES members maintain their skills for storm damage support through informal training such as scenario based activities and exercises. 5.3.2 STORM DAMAGE GROUND AND ROOF CREW MEMBERS Storm damage ground crew members are appropriately trained to support a storm damage operation and perform tasks on the ground in support of roof crew members working at heights. Storm damage roof crew members are appropriately trained to support a storm damage operation and perform tasks undertaken on a roof at heights. 5.3.2.1 QUALIFICATIONS To be appointed as an SES storm damage ground crew or roof crew operator, SES members are to complete SEM0601 Storm and Water Damage Operations and SEM0602 Working Safely at Heights. Appointed operators must maintain their competency in accordance with ODO 39.1 Working at Heights Working on Damaged Roofs and ODO 30.0 Competency Maintenance to participate as a member of a storm damage team as either a ground crew or roof crew member. Page 2 of 5 Date: 28/01/2014 ODO 23.0 v2
In addition, members/team first aid qualifications must be in accordance with the requirements for storm damage (height safety team) as detailed in ODO 55.0 First Aid. 5.3.3 TEAM LEADER It is preferred that Team Leaders should hold the rank and associated qualifications of a Team Leader and be qualified and current in all relevant aspects of storm damage operations including ground/roof crew member and/or chainsaw operator dependent on the nature of the operation and the nature of the tasks to be undertaken. Where necessary, SES Group Leaders may appoint a temporary Team Leader for a specific task who must be qualified and current in all relevant aspects of storm damage operations including ground/roof crew member and/or chainsaw operator dependent on the nature of the operation and the nature of the tasks to be undertaken. For further information on chainsaw operations as a component of a storm damage operation refer to ODO 24.0 Storm Damage Operations Chainsaw / Pole Saw Operations. 5.3.4 TEAM COMPOSITION Storm damage operation teams are to comprise of a minimum of four (4) SES members with the total number of SES members required dependent on the nature of the operation and the nature of the tasks being undertaken. In some circumstances, at the discretion of the Team Leader (or a temporary Team Leader for a specific task who must be qualified and current in all relevant aspects), for smaller tasks, the team may comprise of a minimum of two (2) SES members. In assessing the number of team members required for a storm damage operation, the requirement for a minimum of four (4) SES members for the conduct of any safety at heights aspects of operation is to be duly considered. Where a storm damage operation includes chainsaw operations, two (2) chainsaw operators will form a component of a storm damage operations team and these members will be included in the minimum four (4) team members as stated above. 5.4 WORKING ON DAMAGED ROOFS Where temporary repair operations involve a requirement for SES members to work on damaged roofs, it is important that all operations are undertaken in accordance with the requirement of this doctrine in addition to the specific requirements outlined in ODO 39.1 Working at Heights Working on Damaged Roofs. 5.5 EQUIPMENT 5.5.1 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT All SES members participating in temporary repair operations should ensure the appropriate standard issue and operational issue personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to ensure adequate safety and protection, as outlined in ODO 32.0 Personal Protective Equipment. Where temporary repair operations include working at heights or chainsaw operations, SES members should ensure specialist issue PPE is worn. 5.5.2 GENERAL EQUIPMENT The following are suggested items that may be required to undertake temporary repair operations: Page 3 of 5 Date: 28/01/2014 ODO 23.0 v2
Item Working Safely at Heights Kit Extension Ladder(s) Adhesive Tape Step Ladder(s) Various Hand Tools Flash Band General Purpose Rope Tarping Cord Black Plastic Sheeting Tarpaulins 3.6m x 3.6m & 6m x 9.1m Sandbags 6. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 6.1 REPORTING Operational reporting relative to the initial activation, ongoing operations and at the conclusion of any storm damage activation both verbal and written is to be undertaken in accordance with the standard operational reporting requirements outlined in ODO 36.0 Reporting - Operational. 7. FORMS AND TEMPLATES Nil 8. APPENDICES Nil 9. RELEVANT LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDELINES Disaster Management Act 2003 RTO Training Policies and Procedures SES Competency Maintenance Poster EMQ School of Emergency Management: Storm and Water Damage Operations Participant Guide QSES BMH 18.0 Fatigue Management and Duty Time Limitations QSES - ODO 1.0 Activation Guidelines QSES - ODO 2.0 SES Functions and Allocation QSES - ODO 24.0 Storm Damage Operations Chainsaw / Pole Saw Operations QSES - ODO 32.0 Personal Protective Equipment QSES - ODO 36.0 Reporting - Operational QSES - ODO 39.1 Working at Heights Working on Damaged Roofs Page 4 of 5 Date: 28/01/2014 ODO 23.0 v2
10. DOCUMENT REVIEW This document will be reviewed every eighteen (18) months or as otherwise required as a result of identified legislative, policy and/or procedural changes. Original Signed Lee A Johnson AFSM MIFireE Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Page 5 of 5 Date: 28/01/2014 ODO 23.0 v2