Speaker Profiles (2010)
Dr. Denis Onieal has served as the superintendent of the National Fire Academy since 1995. A native of New Jersey, Dr. Onieal began his career as a firefighter in 1971 for the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, rising through the ranks to become deputy chief in 1991, and acting chief of over 600 firefighters. He has spent his entire career “in the street” as a line fire officer.
Dr. Onieal earned a doctorate of education from New York University, a master’s degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a bachelor’s degree in fire administration from Jersey City State College. He was professor in the master and doctorate degree programs in education at New York University prior to his appointment. He has authored over 30 fire service publications.
Dr Paul Barnes is a Deputy Director in the Information Security Institute (and Coordinator of the ISI Risk & Crisis Management Research domain) and a Senior Lecturer within the School of Management at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane - Australia.
His professional and research interests include resilience in critical infrastructure systems, organisational vulnerability and supply chain security as well as analyses of broader socio-technical threats.
He has completed projects for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies on trade security and gaps in counter terrorism capability and capacity planning, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (Dept of Prime Minister & Cabinet) on options for developing national risk assessment processes.
Before returning to academia he held a number of public sector roles including: Manager, State Public Safety Unit (Queensland Fire & Rescue Service); Corporate Risk Manager (Queensland Department of Primary Industries; and most recently, Director of Security Policy Development within the Defence Security Authority, Dept of Defence, Canberra.
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To be surprised in a pleasant manner is preferable to the alternative. Unfortunately the alternative state has, historically, been present more often in recent times. Failures in systems across the public and private sectors are not unfamiliar events: we need only think of ENRON, WorldCom, the Global Financial Crisis, various instances of terrorism, and any number of smaller but not less important disturbances as examples. Some commentators suggest that while such disturbances may be growing in number their causes are increasingly complex, out-of-the-box, difficult to predict and involve slow and often inadequate early recognition of their occurrence.
A problem in many organisations, even with the plethora of 'lessons-learned' from recent crises may be gaps in knowledge, capacity and capability for effectively transitioning from 'business as usual' into a crisis response. This presentation examines how organisations may be able to enhance capacity to recover from disturbances by improved crisis planning and readiness and importantly, thinking like first responders.
Nelson Lawrence is the President of Medteq Solutions CA Ltd, one of the leading emergency responder software design company’s in Canada. Nelson has developed Medteq Solutions to become the leading provider of online training and record keeping solutions in Canada. He has been a guest speaker for a number of organizations addressing topics on online training, safety and risk management.
Nelson has been an active member of the NFPA since 2000. His specialist skills are in Executive Development and he has academic achievements in Key Account Management with diplomas from York University and Management and Negotiation Diplomas from CMC and AMA. Before starting Medteq Solutions Nelson taught at the College level for a number of years.
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The Internet has become increasingly important in recent years as a way of accessing information, communicating and buying goods and services. A growing proportion of Australians have access to the Internet at home. The rate of access has quadrupled in recent years, from 16% of Australian households in 1998 to 64% in 2006–07. The rate of Broadband Internet uptake has also increased.
In other Countries, this magnitude of internet acceptance has caused Fire Service organizations to start using online firefighting, emergency response and command training to complement their ‘hands on” training efforts. The organizations today that are using it are improving their effectiveness and cost efficiency. These solutions are especially valuable to organizations that are dispersed geographically.
During the presentation we will examine research that supports the use of online training/record keeping solutions in the Fire Service, as well as case studies that establish cost efficiencies. We will identify pitfalls to avoid in implementing a system as well as general system and bandwidth requirements. An excerpt from an online Command training course will be demonstrated to establish effectiveness and ease of use. Additionally, we will discuss how Department policies and procedures can be integrated into an online solution.
Nick retired from the Phoenix Fire Department as a South Shift Commander in 2009. He joined the Department in 1980 after being thrown out of most the institutions of higher learning in the Phoenix metro area. Nick worked his way through the ranks of the Phoenix Fire Department, working 7 years as a Firefighter on Engine Companies, then promoting to Captain and working 9 years on a Ladder Company. Nick served as a Battalion Chief for 5 years. He was then promoted to the rank of Shift Commander in 2001 and spent 5 years developing and instructing the Blue Card curriculum package taught at the Phoenix Fire Department’s Command Training Center from 2002 to 2006.
Nick is the author of “B-Shifter – A Firefighters Memoirs”, and is also the co-author of “Command Safety”, “Fire Command” and the “Anatomy and Physiology of Leadership”.
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This presentation describes the process the Phoenix Fire Department used to refine its hazard zone management system after the Southwest Supermarket fire that killed Phoenix Firefighter Brett Tarver in March of 2001. This system “embeds” both the Safety Officer and Rapid Intervention functions in everyday incident operations. Five years of intense hands on drills, strategic-level high-fidelity mayday simulations, and 100’s of Rapid Intervention drills went into this project. This presentation compares the times it took to rescue a mayday firefighter using the old system versus the new system.
Jeremy Fewtrell has been an operational firefighter and station officer for 12 years. During this time he has worked in a variety of areas ranging from the inner city to regional centres. He has also been stationed at specialist rescue and hazmat stations.
In 2003 Jeremy participated in a firefighter exchange to the United Kingdom working with a major metropolitan fire brigade.
He holds a Masters of Business Administration (Deakin) and a Bachelor of Natural Resources (New England) degree. Jeremy is also a Graduate of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
In 2009 he was a mentor in an innovative state wide public sector mentoring program that was designed to assist women working in non traditional occupations.
Jeremy has previously written and presented on the use of telemetry technology to enhance firefighter safety during breathing apparatus operations.
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Although all levels of fire service command have essential and valuable contributions to make to effectively dealing with emergency incidents and ensure firefighter safety, it is arguably the role of the crew commander that is the most critical.
Due to the immediate importance of the crew commander’s role, fire services are increasingly allocating more resources to the training and development of crew commanders. While promotional development courses are beneficial, organisational efforts to enhance firefighter capability and safety can be undermined if crew commanders do not have certain fundamental qualities in place.
This presentation proposes four core qualities that act as a foundation for crew commanders and underpin the formal fire service promotional training. It considers the development of these core qualities and the responsibilities on both the individual and the organisation for their development.
The implications for firefighter safety and decision making processes when these qualities are absent are also discussed.
Nick grew up in Wales (UK) and migrated to Australia in 1975 aged 15. He has worked in emergency services for the last 23 years, including 9 years in various command roles. Nick has two trades, holds a masters degree in science from the University of NSW, a graduate certificate in emergency management from UWS and is a Graduate of the IFE. Nick believes that it is not enough to simply be familiar with new industry information. Emergency service practitioners need to be able to clearly articulate how the information would lead to a change in their organizations procedures, culture and behavior.
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The push to formalized and legislated OH&S processes in Australian workplaces has seen a very prescriptive risk management methodology being enshrined into Government Legislation and Australian Standards and therefore the emergency work environment. There is evidence to suggest that Emergency Services, while working within the guidelines of their own enabling legislation, have struggled to reconcile the often conflicting emphasis each legislated framework presents.
Recent reports from the UK suggest that, in some circumstances, the process of hazard identification, analysis and management can cripple emergency responders to the point of inaction, leading to disastrous consequences. The efficacy of using a mandated risk management system heavily reliant on classical decision making theory is questioned.
Other risk management systems are discussed and the use of a phase change model is put forward as an option to assist agencies in choosing the right type of emergency risk management system. If adopted, this model would have profound effects for agencies operational procedures, policies and the training of both responders and commanders.
Paul is a proven executive with over 25 years experience developing, implementing and managing integrated major security programs with government and the private sector, nationally and internationally.
Paul has a demonstrated ability to visualise concepts and deliver cost effective solutions supported with an intuitive insight into projects and their outcomes. Paul’s dynamic capacity to conceptualise and understand the big picture, with an emphasis on execution and success ensures the best outcomes for all involved.
Key Accomplishments:
Paul worked as an advisor to the Sydney Olympic Games, in particular as an Advisor to Police Commissioner & Commander OSCC and SOCOG. He developed and implemented a methodology for the assessment and security risk mitigation for security planning and operations across the Olympic, OCA, NSW Transport and Olympic Police/Security operations.
Among Paul’s many recent achievements he has also been an advisor to the Lord Mayor of Brisbane on Security Risk Management – Disaster Committee and Management Structure for Counter Terrorism and Contingency Planning; the Asia Pacific Summit. Mayors, Chief Executives and Business Leaders discussion forum in Brisbane 2003 and the CHOGM City Transport Risk & Continuity Plan in 2002.
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TransLink Busway Infrastructure Tunnels and Elevated dedicated Busways
Integration of Processes, Procedures and Technology to effectively deliver Operational and Incident Situational Awareness.
The primary aim of our project (Integration of Technology to effectively deliver Operational and Incident Situational Awareness) was to create a truly integrated and proactive command and control infrastructure capable of providing real-time information where it is needed most – at the scene.
Fundamental to the project success was the efficient restructuring and automation of Incident, Crisis and Emergency Management procedures of the managing Agency – TransLink to ensure a robust and informed response to events.
As active participants in the scheme the Queensland Police and Emergency Services have been able to significantly enhance response and operational efficiencies through utilisation of the ‘integrated situational awareness’ process, thus ensuring an accurate response and resource deployment.
Once on the scene all agencies involved have the ability to access relevant data, information and communications with the Busway Operations Control Room who are managing support technology such as lighting, building management systems and critical fire life safety equipment.
Paul has been involved in the fire fighting industry for 27 years, starting his service off as a volunteer fire fighter with the South Australian Country Fire Service in August 1983. In October 1986 Paul joined the RAAF as an Airfield Fire Fighter before becoming employed as a Fire Fighter with the QFRS in May 1994. Paul was promoted to the rank of station officer in mid 2000 and served most of his time at Kemp Place fire Station in Brisbane.
In March 2008 Paul was appointed as Brisbane North East Command Area Training officer and given the portfolio of ICS project management, Major Exercise planning officer and Changer Manager/ ICT Development and support officer for the Electronic Command and Control project. For the past 2 years Paul have also been involved in the development and construction of Brisbane new multi million dollar Mobile Command and Control Vehicle.
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The Electronic Incident Action Plan was originally conceived and developed by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Melbourne. This product has since been collaboratively developed in response to the need for Electronic Command and Control by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, New Zealand Fire Service (NZFS), and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) Melbourne.
The electronic Incident Action Plan, coupled together with the ECC support system, allows greater control of our people and their safety by formalising a recorded decision making process which is documented in real time. It documents the dynamic safety assessment; accurate tracking of resources, clearly displays the command and control structure, effective planning tools and an interface that allows rapid access to other support software and web.
This information is then live streamed to anyone who has a need to know about what's going on at the fire ground instead of the 25 phone calls per hour to the control vehicle.
After joining Esso in 1972 he’s witnessed and has been a part of the development of Bass Strait oil and gas industry.
Assigned to Esso Seiko KK Japan in 1993 Peter was involved in the commissioning and start up of the Iwaki gas platform at that time Japan’s one and only offshore gas installation. He was also responsible for operational training.
In 1996 He began a 2 year assignment in the development of competency based training for Esso’s offshore operations in Bass Strait.
Peter retired from ExxonMobil in 2007 after 34 years of service. Over the 34 year period he was involved in oil and gas production from Bass Strait. Peter’s offshore experience ranges from Operations technician to Installation manager.
Peter in currently involved as an industry assessor for the Management of Major Emergencies specifically for offshore installation managers. The assessments are of international OPITO (Offshore petroleum industry training organisation) and Australian PMA standards.
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During my career I have been faced with an array of incidents large and small. Some have been managed on site others required outside assistance. With this paper I will share my experiences and learning’s.
Key points
• Incident classification
• Surveillance systems and types
• Risk assessment of the facilities prior and during an incident
• Plans and procedures
• Material data sheets
• Communications
• Fighting the enemy
• Equipment for your safety
• Dealing with stress
• Team work
• The end result
Peter Cann joined the Western Australian Fire Brigades Board as a firefighter in 1974 graduating through the ranks as a Station Officer and District Officer serving in both metropolitan and country regions in the management of volunteers in remote areas including the development of emergency services on Christmas and Cocos Islands.
In 1996 he was appointed as assistant Chief Officer of the Mining and Pastoral area of Western Australia. With the implementation of Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA (FESA) he was appointed as Regional Director for the Pilbara Kimberley region of Western Australia an area of approximately 1 million square kilometers which included a majority of the states mineral and exploration areas, major Hazard Facilities and resource export facilities.
Changes made within the FESA structure in 2005, he was appointed Regional Director for the Pilbara region which included overall responsibilities for Fire and Rescue Services, Bush Fire Services and the State Emergency Services.
With a keen interest in Emergency Management and Risk Management he has undertaken studies in Social Science – Emergency Management and as an instructor in major incident management and response.
Other interests include representing Australia in Lacrosse from 1976 to 1990 during which time he was selected in three All World Teams and receiving coveted MVP award at the 1986 World Series in Toronto Canada
He was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal in 2005. Peter retired from FESA in March 2009 after nearly 35 years service to the community in emergency services.
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This paper discusses aspects of the management of Major Hazard Facilities in remote locations from a response perspective and Emergency Management aspects of incidents in remote areas concentrating on the Pilbara region of WA, and analyses some of the lessons learned during twelve years as Regional Director for the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA (FESA).
The paper also examines the changes and reliance of Industry to manage and implement Emergency Management that includes the strategic positioning of emergency resources and greater accountability.
The Pilbara region relies solely on the use of Fire and Rescue Services Volunteers and Industry Volunteers with only a handful of fulltime managers available during any given time.
Some of the related issues that will be discussed include: construction workers, fly in fly out, heavy haulage, cyclones, evacuations and shipping.
Claire is currently completing her PhD in psychology at La Trobe University. This research is concentrating on how bushfire fighters make decisions, with a particular focus on worst case scenario thinking. An extensive interview study has allowed considerable insight into the decision making processes of incident managers. This research was supported by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.
Claire has previously presented papers at conferences both nationally and internationally. She won the Best Student Paper award at the Eighth International Conference on Naturalistic Decision Making in the US in 2007. In 2009, Claire also had the opportunity to be involved in the taskforce established by the Bushfire CRC to conduct post-incident research into the tragic Black Saturday fires in Victoria.
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The Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) field of research attempts to understand how decisions are made in complex, uncertain, time pressured and dynamic situations. One of the founding members of this approach, Gary Klein, attempted to investigate how experts made fast and effective decisions in a study of urban fireground commanders. However, during interviews the commanders often remarked that they ‘didn’t make decisions’ but instead intuitively knew what to do. Although this initially confused the researchers, further investigation found that the commanders often recognised a situation as familiar and their extensive past experience automatically proposed a workable course of action.
The researchers found commanders used RPD methods in 80% of decisions, taking less than one minute. This became the basis for the Recognition Primed Decision (RPD) model. The recognition of the current situation based on prototypes or analogues of previous experiences is automatic and often considered by those in the field as gut instinct. This model has since been validated in a wide range of settings, including Army operations, Navy command and control, flight control in commercial airlines, nursing in intensive care units and chess tournament play.
In real-world settings, the processes of RPD are highly adaptive and efficient; high time pressure and cognitive load make this decision making style an essential skill for bushfire fighters. Studies with Australian bushfire fighters found that effective decision makers were more likely to use recognitional decision processes than decision makers that were judged as less effective by peers and superiors. However, recognition primed decision making requires extensive experience to be accurate and effective; it is a difficult skill to develop and train. Specific strategies, such as the use of simulated exercises, can enhance RPD skill development and maximise learning processes.
Gerry Hofsink is currently the director of a small Operations Consultancy servicing the Oil and Gas industry. He has more than 25 years experience in the industry having held senior roles including corporate Health Safety Environment and Risk Manager and facility Asset Manager for a major Oil and Gas producer. He has spent 10 years in direct offshore roles with 6 years as an Offshore Installation Manager on large offshore platforms. He is actively involved in conducting independent assessments of offshore installation Managers seeking to be deemed competent to hold the role in an operational environment. He has extensive experience in conducting incident investigations and auditing Hydrocarbon producing facilities.
He has been involved in front line and management fire and rescue roles within the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry.
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The journey of a senior person who makes critical decisions in the “Management of Major Emergencies” has taken many paths over the past 30 years. In earlier times the most senior person progressed up the ranks and often found him or herself being designated as the “Incident Commander or Controller” with very little formal training or competency assessment. This lack of preparedness led to many stressful situations for both the Incident Commander and the personnel being commanded.
In the Oil and Gas industry a major disaster occurred in the North Sea in 1988, the Piper Alpha platform burnt down with the tragic loss of 167 lives. This disaster led to the “Lord Cullen” inquiry, which identified significant deficiencies in the management of major hydrocarbon facilities and led to the requirement of all such facilities to produce a “Safety Case”.
Australia followed suit and also introduced the requirement for Safety Cases, this requirement is still in place and being administered by National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA). One of the significant requirements within a Safety Case is that the Person in Charge( PIC) of a facility must be competent to discharge his responsibilities.
This presentation will look at the present day assessment methodology within an internationally recognized competency accreditation. The key question from the assessment team is; has the candidate been pre-qualified and has the candidate demonstrated his competency during a series of structured emergency response scenarios using an accredited facility? Would I want the candidate as the PIC for my facility?
Ian retired from the New South Wales Fire Brigades in 2007 after 36 years service. Ian reached the rank of Inspector and served in many operational and research positions in the Brigades including the Operational Commander for the Central Coast, as a Fire Safety Officer in the Fire Safety Division, an ‘on shift’ Fire Investigator as well as a fire research officer in the Brigades Fire Investigation and Research Unit.
Ian has a Masters degree in Fire Safety Engineering (UWS 2001), a Graduate Certificate of Management (Deakin 2000), and a Graduate Certificate in Performance Based Building Codes. (Victoria University 2000), a Graduate Certificate in Fire Investigation (Charles Sturt University 2001) and an Operational Investigation Certificate (NSWFB).
Ian was awarded the NSWFB Commendation for Meritorious Service (2004), the National Medal and Clasp.
Ian is a Member of the IFE sitting his exams in 1996 and is active in the Australia Branch as a member editorial committee for the joint IFE Aust magazine / FPAA / AFAC / CRC – Fire Australia Magazine.
Ian’s interests include sea kayaking, Toastmasters International and researching Genealogy.
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This presentation will be reviewing and reporting on the Rutherford Silo explosion and the resultant fire event including:
• A breakdown of the construction of the silo and the development of the back draft
• Who was in attendance and what were they doing in particular the issues of command and control
• Immediate impact (human aspect)
• Long term investigation
• The Coronial findings
• NSWFB approach to this particular investigation how it developed its stance and approach at the Coronial Inquiry
• Developments since then including training of operational firefighters in fire behaviour with a greater understanding of fire science
• The register of silos and NSWFB's operational approach to these subjects.
Inspector Bob Alexander has been in the NSWFB for 36 years. He has been attached to the Fire Investigation & Research Unit (FIRU) for the last 12. He has worked as an investigator and trainer for this period. He has investigated over 50 fatal fires and other fires including domestic, industrial and public structures.
In his current role he is responsible for fire investigation and training on a statewide basis for the NSWFB. He has assisted interstate and internationally at fire investigations. When the Meyer fire in Hobart occurred he was requested to assist and co-ordinate the investigation. At the recent fire and explosion that resulted in a fire fighter fatality in Tamahere New Zealand he was the lead investigator.
In his capacity as trainer in fire investigation he also assists the NSW police and the AFP and conducts fire investigation training for these agencies. He has also developed and implemented training in Thailand and Indonesia for the AFP in fire scene examination.
He sits on the AFAC technical committee which is responsible for the recent development of the Advanced Diploma In Fire Investigation. He holds the Graduate Diploma in Fire Investigation (Charles Sturt University) as well as being a certified bomb scene examiner, and bushfire investigator.