The aim of these training packages is to promote the understanding of BA entry control and the identified roles and responsibilities of personnel involved with the application of BA as a control measure.

Personnel will be able to state the criteria for: 1. Pre-planning 2. Incident Command and DRA 3. Rapid/Initial Deployment 4. Stage 1 Entry Control 5. Stage 2 Entry Control 6. BA Sector Control 7. Emergency Arrangements Note The highest level of control in use at an incident MUST be applied to the whole incident!

Breathing Apparatus (BA) is a particular type of respiratory protection device, which prevents the wearer from breathing in harmful substances hazardous to health and oxygen- deficient atmospheres. Its use should be considered when other control measures are either not possible or insufficient on their own. Following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment that identifies the requirement for BA to be applied as a control measure, the Incident Commander must identify and implement the appropriate level of BA control to ensure safe systems of work, which should always be communicated to all relevant personnel.

Prior to any BA Deployment a Supervisory Manager must nominate and ensure the following tasks are undertaken: Nomination of Roles  Competent individuals to wear BA  Competent individual(s) for the duties of an Entry Control Operative.  During a duty period make such changes as are necessary in the nomination of BA wearers and Entry Control Operative. Tests and Maintenance  Ensure that the appropriate tests of BA and associated equipment are carried out, and that the test records are accurately maintained.  Ensure that defective equipment is removed; reported as defective; and that replacement equipment is obtained as soon as possible.  Ensure that BA sets and associated equipment are maintained in a clean, safe and serviceable condition and are available for operational use.

When nominated by a Supervisory Officer a BA Wearer is responsible for:  Carrying out a general check of the BA set and ancillary BA equipment.  As soon as practicable after completing the appropriate test, record and sign for the result of the test. (This must include the cylinder contents and details of any personal issue facemask used as part of the test).  In exceptional circumstances (where they are unable to record the completed test results), verbally confirm with their supervisory manager that the BA has been checked and is working satisfactorily.  Report to the supervisory manager any defects or omissions.

When nominated by a Supervisory Officer a BA Entry Control Operative is responsible for the following:  Examine the entry control board or telemetry entry control board/unit.  Ensure that the control board/unit is reading the correct time.  Ensure correct functionality is demonstrated by means of administering the appropriate test procedure, including testing any audible or visual signals, where fitted.  Examine and ensure the presence of the following BA entry control ancillary equipment: o BA tabard/s o Evacuation whistle o Waterproof marker o Supplementary Information/briefing

Where used, ensure the availability of :  BA guidelines.  BA guideline tallies.  Cable cutters (where stowed with the ECO equipment).  Thermal imaging camera.  Telemetry repeaters/leaky feeder equipment.  Emergency Air Supply Equipment (EASE). Check and where practicable adjust the entry control board or telemetry entry control board/unit. Report to the supervisory manager any defects or omissions.

Following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment that identifies the requirement for BA to be applied as a control measure. The Incident Commander must identify and implement the appropriate level of BA control to ensure safe systems of work, which should always be communicated to all relevant personnel.

Prior to committing BA wearers IC’s have a duty to carry out a suitable dynamic risk assessment The information which should be sought is:  Location of fire? cause of fire? what is burning?  Involvement of persons, how many? Where? Last seen?  Significant Hazards including utilities.  Building construction hazards. Control measures include:  Covering jet.  Means of self protection/extinguishment.  Safety Brief.

ABLeR CREW mnemonic This mnemonic can be used to assist Incident Commanders and other roles involved within the use of BA, to identify the various tasks which, help to ensure that effective BA supervision is in place.  Assessment and decision for the use of BA.  Briefing and Debriefing.  Level of Entry Control.  Resourcing  Communication  Recording and Logging BA briefs and debriefs.  Emergency Responsibilities.  Welfare

ABLeR CREW Tasks Defined A Assessment and decision for use of BA  Decision to initiate BA as a control measure following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.  Determining, procedures and level of BA command and control. B Briefing and debriefing  Provide a clear and concise brief detailing the specific task to be achieved.  Ensure BA wearers have confirmed understanding prior to deployment  Brief should include details of emergency procedures to be adopted. LeLe Level of Entry Control During Rapid/Initial Deployment there will not be a dedicated ECO. The IC must ensure:  Monitoring of the Entry Control Board.  A greater degree of control is implemented as soon as practicable. R Resourcing  Suitable and sufficient to appoint a dedicated BA Entry Control Operative as soon as practicable.

ABLeR CREW Tasks Defined (continued) C Communication  Ensure radio communications are established and maintained between IC and BA team. R Recording and Logging Information  Ensure the process of recording and logging all relevant BA command and control information is implemented and maintained E Emergency Arrangements  Implement BA emergency procedures.  Declare a BA Emergency through Fire Control W Welfare  Consider welfare requirements Note The level of responsibility for each tasks under ABLeR CREW will increase or decrease for each BA role depending of the level of entry control be applied.

Entry Control Criteria Incident/Structure Small limited, not complex. Entry Control  Limited resources available to provide a dedicated BA Entry Control Operative BA Wearers  No more than 2 BA wearers in the risk area. Activities  Immediate risk to life.  Prevention of significant escalation of an incident. Note During Rapid/Initial Deployment there will not be a dedicated Entry Control Operative therefore the IC must provide a greater level of Entry Control supervision.

Resources Roles  Incident Commander (L1 Supervisory Manager or above)  BA Wearers Equipment  Suitable and sufficient to implement BA Entry Control Procedures.  Communications equipment.

Tasks and Responsibilities Incident Commander - (L1 Supervisory Manager or above) TaskResponsibility A Assessment and decision for use of BAIC B Briefing and debriefingIC and BA wearers LeLe Level of Entry ControlIC and BA wearers R ResourcingIC C CommunicationsIC R Recording and Logging InformationIC and BA wearers E Emergency ArrangementsIC W WelfareIC

Tasks in addition to ABLeR CREW Incident Commander  During Rapid/Initial Deployment there will not be a dedicated Entry Control Operative therefore the IC must provide a greater level of Entry Control supervision. Resources Permitting  Provide a dedicated BA Entry Control Operative which will take the level of entry control to Stage I BA Wearers  Wearers must ensure that suitably and sufficiently completed tallies are entered into a BA control board.  An attempt to establish a telemetry link must be made prior to entry whenever telemetry enabled equipment is used for deployment. Wearers Name Cylinder Pressure Time In

Entry Control Diagram BA Teams L1 Incident Commander BA Entry Control Operative (Not dedicated to the role) A greater level of supervision is required by the IC during this level of entry control. Under this level of entry control the Entry Control Operative may undertake other critical tasks like pump operation.

Entry Control Criteria Incident/Structure Small limited, not complex. Entry Control  Not more than one entry control point. BA Wearers  No more than 3 BA teams in the risk area at any one time.  No more than 6 BA wearers in the risk area at any one time. Activities  The use of BA is not likely to be protracted.  BA Guidelines will not be required.

Resources Roles  Incident Commander (L1 Supervisory Manager or above)  Entry Control Point Operative (Competent BA wearer Firefighter or above)  BA Wearers Equipment  Entry Control Board and ancillaries suitable and sufficient to implement BA Entry Control Procedures.  Communications equipment

Tasks and Responsibilities Incident Commander - (L1 Supervisory Manager or above) TaskResponsibility A Assessment and decision for use of BAIC B Briefing and debriefingIC, BA wearers and ECO LeLe Level of Entry ControlIC and ECO R ResourcingIC C CommunicationsIC, BA wearers and ECO R Recording and Logging InformationIC E Emergency ArrangementsIC and ECO W WelfareIC

Tasks in addition to ABLeR CREW Incident Commander Resources Permitting  Consider starting a BA Team Briefing Log to record information  Consider providing Emergency Team/s  Consider appointing a Communications Operative Entry Control Operative (ECO)  An ECO must take into account any elapsed time since entry of BA wearers who entered the risk area under the use of an automated BA entry control board or initial deployment. Interoperability  At incidents involving other services/agencies be alert to potential monitoring issues (radio communications) prior to BA wearers entry into the risk area

Entry Control Diagram BA Teams L1 Incident Commander BA Entry Control Operative (Dedicated to the role) Under this level of entry control the Entry Control Operative will only undertake duties applicable to the role.

Entry Control Criteria Incident/Structure Larger and/or more complex. Entry Control  To be operated by a Supervisory Manager or a FF under direct supervision of a Supervisory Manager.  More than one entry control point. BA Wearers  More than 3 BA teams in the risk area at any one time.  More than 6 BA wearers in the risk area at any one time. Activities  The use of BA is likely to be protracted.  BA Guidelines may be used.  Stage II demands a higher level of emergency provision including BA emergency teams.

Resources Roles  Incident Commander (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  Entry Control Point Operative (Supervisory Manager or a FF under direct supervision of a Supervisory Manager both competent BA wearers).  BA Wearers  BA Emergency Team/s Equipment  Entry Control Board and ancillaries suitable and sufficient to implement BA Entry Control Procedures.  Communications equipment  Emergency Provisions.

Tasks and Responsibilities Incident Commander - (L1 Supervisory Manager or above) TaskResponsibility A Assessment and decision for use of BAIC B Briefing and debriefingIC, BA wearers and ECO LeLe Level of Entry ControlIC and ECO R ResourcingIC C CommunicationsIC, BA wearers and ECO R Recording and Logging InformationIC E Emergency ArrangementsECO, IC and ECPS where used W WelfareIC

Tasks in addition to ABLeR CREW Incident Commander Resources Permitting  BA Sector Commander  Consider appointing a Entry Control Point Supervisor (ECPS).  Consider appointing a Communications Operative.  BA Relief teams  Resourcing Officer Entry Control Operative (ECO)  An ECO must take into account any elapsed time since entry of BA wearers who entered the risk area under the use of an automated BA entry control board or initial deployment.  Work in conjunction with command support and/or ECPS, BA Sector if in place. Interoperability At incidents involving other services/agencies be alert to potential monitoring issues (radio communications) prior to BA wearers entry into the risk area

Entry Control Diagram BA Teams BA Emergency Team BA Entry Control Point Supervisor (ECPS) Sector Commander Command Support Incident Commander For the purposes of continuity, a firefighter operating a BA entry control point under Stage I may also go on to operate the BA board at Stage II, under the direct supervision of supervisory manger. BA Communications Operative BA Entry Control Operator (Supervisory Manager)

Entry Control Criteria Incident/Structure Larger and/or more complex. Entry Control  More than one Stage II entry control point  To be operated by a Supervisory Manager or a FF under direct supervision of a Supervisory Manager. BA Wearers  Large numbers of BA wearers Activities  The use of BA is likely to be protracted.  Requires a significant level of logistics  High level of different briefings required  Resource requirements

Resources Roles  Incident Commander (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  BA Sector Commander (BASC) (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  Entry Control Point Operative (Supervisory Manager or a FF under direct supervision of a Supervisory Manager both competent BA wearers).  BA Wearers  BA Emergency Team/s Equipment  Entry Control Board and ancillaries suitable and sufficient to implement BA Entry Control Procedures.  Communications equipment

Tasks and Responsibilities Incident Commander - (Supervisory Manager with appropriate ICS level ) TaskResponsibility A Assessment and decision for use of BAIC B Briefing and debriefingBASC, ECPS and ECO LeLe Level of Entry ControlIC, BASC and ECO R ResourcingIC, BASC and ECPS C CommunicationsIC, BASC, ECPS and ECO R Recording and Logging InformationIC, BASC, ECPS, and ECO E Emergency ArrangementsECO, ECPS and BASC W Welfare IC, BASC, ECPS and Welfare Officer

Tasks in addition to ABLeR CREW Incident Commander Consider the logistical requirements BA Sector Commander Resources Permitting  Consider appointing a Entry Control Point Supervisor (ECPS).  Consider appointing a Communications Operative.  BA Relief teams  Resourcing Officer Entry Control Operative (ECO) Work in conjunction with BA Sector and/or ECPS, Resourcing Officer if in place. Interoperability At incidents involving other services/agencies be alert to potential monitoring issues (radio communications) prior to BA wearers entry into the risk area

Entry Control Diagram Sector Commander Sector Commander Incident Commander BA Sector Commander Resourcing Officer ECPS Coms Operative ECO BA Emergency Team BA Emergency Team Sector 3 Sector 1 Sector 2 Sector 4 Command Support

Incident Type Any operational incident where Breathing Apparatus has been deployed Level of Entry Control  Rapid deployment and Stage I entry control Provision of emergency arrangements appropriate to risk  Stage 2 Entry Control Minimum Provision of one BA emergency team at each entry control point. BA Wearers The size of the emergency team must be at least equal to that of the largest BA team deployed from that entry control point

Resources Roles  Incident Commander (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  Sector Commander (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  Entry Control Point Supervisor (Supervisory Manager with ICS level appropriate to the needs of the incident)  Entry Control Point Operative (Competent BA wearer qualified to appropriate level of entry control)  BA Wearers  Fire Control Responsible for: One further fire appliance Request the attendance of the Ambulance Service

Resources Equipment  Main jet  First aid equipment.  EASE  BA equipment (Including additional BA entry control board where BA emergency teams are required)  Any other equipment that is appropriate to risk and the IC has deemed necessary.  Entry Control Board and ancillaries suitable and sufficient to implement BA Entry Control Procedures.  Communications equipment.

Tasks and Responsibilities Incident Commander - (Supervisory Manager with appropriate ICS level ) TaskResponsibility B Briefing and debriefing IC, ECO, SC and BA wearers (ECPS if appointed) R ResourcingIC, SC (ECPS if appointed) C Communications IC, BA wearers and ECO (Communication Operative if appointed) R Recording and Logging Information IC, ECO, SC and BA wearers (ECPS if appointed) E Emergency Arrangements EquipmentIC, SC and ECO Note Due to the specific nature of the emergency arrangements ABLeR CREW is not detailed in full.

Declaration of a BA Emergency A BA emergency will be declared and emergency arrangements instigated when the following circumstances arise or have the potential to arise:  Any BA wearer who fails to return to the entry control point by the calculated time of whistle and cannot be contacted by any means to confirm their safety.  A DSU is heard or has been received by a telemetry device (unless this is immediately confirmed as an accidental activation).  Where audible or visual indicators suggest that BA wearers appear to be in distress or imminent danger.  Prolonged and unexplained breakdown in communications  At the BA wearers request.  Any other circumstances that may arise that warrant emergency arrangements to be instigated. Once a BA emergency has been declared the IC must be notified and Fire control must be immediately informed. The radio message must include the key phrase “BA emergency”.

Actions in the event of a BA Emergency Entry Control Point Operative / Entry Control Point Supervisor In the event of a BA Emergency, the person in charge of the entry control point is to:  Instigate BA emergency procedures including the deployment of BA emergency teams.  Contact the IC and communicate BA emergency. If the IC cannot be contacted communicate BA emergency message to fire control.  Attempt to contact all BA teams to determine which team/wearer is in distress.  Redirect committed BA teams that are not undertaking risk critical tasks to assist with the rescue.  Operate any emergency telemetry communications (if present)  Request further BA emergency teams

Actions in the event of a BA Emergency Incident Commander In the event of a BA Emergency, the IC is to ensure that:  Ensure that BA emergency procedures including the deployment of BA emergency teams have been instigated.  Communicate a BA emergency message to fire control.  Direct non critical resources to support the emergency arrangements

Actions in the event of a BA Emergency BA Wearers in the risk area BA teams that are already committed within the risk area and are able to render assistance should consider the following actions:  Inform ECO that a DSU is audible and seek permission to investigate.  Determine whether current tasks are of a risk critical nature and if left uncompleted may compromise the safety of others.  Carry out a gauge check  Keep ECO informed of progress at all times. Do not take unnecessary risks