PBI, What incidents do YOU wear it to?

[Pixie]

Follow on from PBI thread,

So what incidents do you people wear your PBI to?
Not what you should wear it to...

[bittenyakka]

I have selected everything that i have worn it to. in short it is everything in winter and not quite everything in summer.

[Zippy]

This poll is a very very good idea Pixie, nice to see some statistics.

[bittenyakka]

you forgot treedowns

[Zippy]

Yes treedowns gets my tick...

[Pixie]

sorry, i thought CFS didn't respond to tree downs these days, and that is why i cant do my chainsaw...

would you guys seriously risk destroying your PBI removing trees from roads??

[Zippy]

not if ya properly handle the scrap wood

if ya PBI gets ripped by removing trees from roads...thats better than my skin....

Trees are a bitch, but as most people say...they have to be done...

[Pixie]

sorry zippy, i forgot you thought you were an ses member. 

[Zippy]

cough EXCUSE ME, no.   Minus 2 Kudos right there Pal.   You know my thoughts about that topic.

[bittenyakka]

Well for this tree down we were responded solely for traffic and council dd the clearing and it was pouring with rain.

Yes Cfs still go to some tree down jobs but no SOP that i know of seems to be followed for which ones

[OMGWTF]

sorry, i thought CFS didn't respond to tree downs these days, and that is why i cant do my chainsaw...

would you guys seriously risk destroying your PBI removing trees from roads??

surely one of the primary reasons people want to wear PBI to all/most incidents, is so that you are better prepared should you be diverted to another job or respnded to another job once clear of the first?

[6739264]

Nice poll. Why can't you select all options? I have and do wear PBI to all of those listed incident types.

I may be way off base with this, but I tend to think if I'm on a truck that has BA on board, then Im wearing PBI, even if its just the pants/L1 coat (carrying the L3 Coat aswell)

would you guys seriously risk destroying your PBI removing trees from roads??

Happily. If my PBI 'gets destroyed' while I am using it as PPE during CFS incidents, then the State Government can happily buy me a new set. Why would I wear it? A)Protection from cold/rain. B) Day/night striping provides enhanced visibility C) Our trucks with chainsaws also carry BA.

PPE isnt issued to sit in a gear bag back at the station looking all pretty and neat.

[Pixie]

sorry numbers, had to add tree downs to the list, but couldn't change maximum number of options.

I pretty much only ever wear my PBI + Structure Helmet.
setting a good example i know, but if they have been proven to offer better protection, why wear gear of a lesser standard?

Just wanted to see what other people in the real world do.

[6739264]

sorry numbers, had to add tree downs to the list, but couldn't change maximum number of options.

I pretty much only ever wear my PBI + Structure Helmet.

Ah that explains it! I thought you were being all tricky.

As for helmets, I've never been issued a 'rural' helmet. 110% Structural. Lightweight Rural lid ain't gunna stop that branch!

[pumprescue]

Rural helmets are about as useful as wearing an Ice Cream container....still can't get over the amount of people that wear them for RCR jobs, but anyway.

PBI everytime except rural jobs, no point wearing it running around the scrub.

[Cameron Yelland]

Unfortunately until CFS actually releases an official policy our group is structure and alarms only (i think they would prefer it if we didnt wear them to alarms!  ) But yes anything other than rural would be my thoughts.

And as for structure helmets - i wear mine to everything (another thing my group is trying to stop, along with the the issuing of yellow structure helmets  ), as has been said, that little bushwacker aint going to stop much.  I proved this when i was a cadet - bowled a hose and somehow the couplings managed to get free and tackle my head, needless to say the helmet was a bit religious after that.

[jaff]

The helmet issue is a complex and simple.
The rural helmet is designed to be worn for long lengths of time, whilst offering radiant and impact protection, the impact protection includes the helmet giving/moving when impacted and even coming off in some cases. This concept is the same as hard hats worn on any industrial site, light weight, giving/moving/deflecting.
The structural helmet is design to give greater radiant and impact protection without giving/moving, with weight being of secondary concern.
So if we assume the rural and the structural helmet both give radiant protection fit for purpose.
The weight and impact protection is were the issues seem to be, the rural is designed to deflect and dislodge impacts, whereas the structural is designed to remain in place when suffering a impact, this can transmit greater force through the impact recipient than if the helmet were to deflect, but the helmet remains in place.
The weight issue in my opinion is a non issue, toughen up princesses.
So no opinion "just the facts mamm"
Now as far as looks go, its a no brainer, the structural looks the business and the rural, uuuuummmm well.. its got a nice....... personality 

[rescue5271]

There is a rural helmet that you can wear to RCR job's CFS approved this last year it meest all the requirements for RCR work,nothing wrong with wearing a structual helmet to a rural job you never know what will fall on ya head...

[RescueHazmat]

Everything but the two rural options..

And I also don't have, nor would I wear, a bushwacker helmet.. - Infact, I would get off the truck if I was told I couldn't wear my 660C, and was forced to wear a bushwacker..

[6739264]

There is a rural helmet that you can wear to RCR job's CFS approved this last year it meest all the requirements for RCR work,nothing wrong with wearing a structual helmet to a rural job you never know what will fall on ya head...

There are also specific Rescue Helmets. Oddly enough they are great for rescue work...

[rescue5271]

Till CFS make it clear what you can wear it to each group with in CFS will do what they think is best for the up keep of the PBI gear due to the cost of replacing it. I would like to know who will replace it if we miss use the gear by wearing it to rural jobs or if we take it out in the sun for long periods....

[Cameron Yelland]

Till CFS make it clear what you can wear it to each group with in CFS will do what they think is best for the up keep of the PBI gear due to the cost of replacing it. I would like to know who will replace it if we miss use the gear by wearing it to rural jobs or if we take it out in the sun for long periods....

Sun for long periods of time?  How long do you think you will be at the job?

The UV effect on PBI or any material for that matter is over a long period of time.  being out in the sun for a couple of hours every now and then isnt going to kill it!

[wayjax]

Should wear it to as much as possible, best protection!!!!

Also structure helmet to all jobs.

Will be interesting when region have to start replacing PBI, some of ours is starting to become very 2nd hand!!!!!!!

[bittenyakka]

I know there was a thing about PBi being damaged by Uv but that is really negligible in terms of PBi's longevity. UV will destroy pretty much everything over tome so it isn't like you PBi will fall of your back if you stand in the Sun.

[6739264]

Till CFS make it clear what you can wear it to each group with in CFS will do what they think is best for the up keep of the PBI gear due to the cost of replacing it. I would like to know who will replace it if we miss use the gear by wearing it to rural jobs or if we take it out in the sun for long periods....

And when the CFS 'make it clear' as to what we can wear it to, I will still wear it to the incidents that I see fit. Its protecting me, and frankly, I'll wear it when and how I want to. As to who is going to replace it, the CFS. It doesnt matter if something has been 'misused', PPE still wears out. Sadly replacing PPE is something that we don't do well in CFS. We need to be far better at replacing/repairing (at cost to the CFS) our PPE and not just 'making do'. You just have to look at photos of us volunteers at work to see the terrible condition of a lot of our PPE.