West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
Batley Station Action Plan 2008/11
nd 2 edition 2009 Table of Contents
1. Introduction by Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Simon Pilling MA, MSc, DMS, GIFireE ...... 3 2. Introduction by District Manager Keith Robinson...... 4 3. Introduction by Station Manager Andy Crowther...... 5 4. Overview of Performance ...... 6 4.1 Demographics...... 6 4.2 Station Performance and Review of Action Plan 2007/8 ...... 7 5. Station Resources ...... 8 5.1 Station Personnel ...... 8 5.2 Station Equipment...... 8 5.3 Action Plan Responsibilities of each role ...... 8 6. Audit, inspection and review process ...... 10 6.1 Service Delivery...... 10 6.2 Performance Management...... 12 7. Current action plan...... 13 8. Glossary ...... 22 9. Appendices ...... 23
Batley Fire Station Action Plan
1. Introduction by Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Simon Pilling MA, MSc, DMS, GIFireE
It gives me great pleasure to introduce this Station Action Plan for 2008/11. Station personnel have an important role in delivering the strategic priorities of the Authority and this Action Plan details how the station will contribute towards these. Every member of the station has a role to play in meeting these priorities and this plan outlines the station objectives which contribute towards the overall performance and improvement of the service in carrying out its duties within the community. The Authority’s strategic priorities, functional and team objectives are clearly shown in the appendices along with the ‘golden thread’ of how each individual objective relates to the priority/objective above and ultimately to the overall Ambition and Aim of the Authority, along with how that aim contributes to the wider priorities set for the Kirklees District in the Local Area Agreement.
• Ambition: Making West Yorkshire Safer • Aim: Provide an excellent Fire and Rescue Service working in partnership to reduce death, injury, economic loss and contribute to community well being
The Station Action Plan provides station personnel with the basis for their work during 2008/11 and allows them to assess their performance against each priority/objective. The Authority’s Performance Management Framework and the Performance Information Management System (PIMS), which is available on the Intranet, allows each individual station to track their own performance and also the performance of all stations within West Yorkshire, thereby facilitating the sharing of good practice throughout the Authority. Performance against the Action Plan is regularly monitored by each functional group to ensure that we progress towards our Ambition of ‘Making West Yorkshire Safer’.
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2. Introduction by District Manager Keith Robinson
The safety of the Kirklees community from the potentially devastating effects of fire, whether as a result of an accident or deliberate act, is the priority and key focus of all the fire service personnel within the Kirklees District. As the District Manager it is my vision that I will endeavour to make Kirklees a safer place for all the community to live. The Service is now a key player alongside all the other partners working across Kirklees to improve the quality of life and safety of the district’s residents. Our contribution to the Kirklees Partnership and Kirklees Local Area Agreement is comprehensive. Our key objective is to reduce the number of deliberate fires which occur across the district and reduce the number of accidental dwelling fires. One area which will be coming more proactive within is the Road Safety arena, which has the devastating impact all within our communities. Education is at the heart of the message, and all the partners have a key role to play along with the adults and children. To achieve any reduction in fire or road accident deaths and injuries we have to embed ourselves within the partnership arena, as alone we cannot archive our or our partner’s goal. We are working closely with the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, local councillors, housing officers, voluntary and other agencies to make Kirklees a safer place to live, this will continue. However, despite all this proactive work there will be times when our personnel will need to intervene when a fire has occurred. Being prepared and ready to deal with these incidents whatever the type, is our dual priority alongside our prevention work. All the firefighters within the Kirklees District and across West Yorkshire regularly train and prepare for such incidents, through local operational intelligence gathering they work to understand the key risks from fire they may be called on to deal with across the district. Strong partnership links have been established with Huddersfield University, who kindly allow us to train in realistic conditions on their site, along with other companies, the fire fighters within Kirklees are prepared to deal all types of incidents, they are highly trained and motivated, which will add “value added” to the communities of Kirklees. I am proud to lead the team within Kirklees, and will ensure my continued professional drive will allow me and my team to deliver the Authority’s Strategic Objective. I am pleased to present the Kirklees District action plan which will act as our direction and guide to ensuring an effective Fire and Rescue Service across the district, one that achieves our local ambition of Making Kirklees Safer.
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3. Introduction by Station Manager Andy Crowther Batley Firefighters are committed to providing the highest possible quality of service to the
communities within our own and surrounding areas. We will use our experience and expertise to contribute to the safety and well being of our communities by: Protecting We will visit at least 1,000 homes in our area annually to give fire safety advice and fit free smoke alarms where necessary. We will prioritise those most at risk from fire as part of this work. We will analyse activity within our area and devise and deliver safety campaigns as appropriate. Preventing In addition to the above work, we will visit every year 5 school group in the area each year to deliver fire and road safety education. We will also work with and support our partners on specific road and fire safety initiatives. We will visit commercial premises and gather information needed by our crews in the event of an emergency. We will also offer fire safety advice, supported by experts within the fire service. We will share information and work with local police teams and Kirklees Council departments to drive down deliberate fire setting and anti social behaviour within our area. Responding Batley firefighters will train and prepare to respond efficiently to emergency calls for service and minimise the impact of these events to those directly involved, the wider community and the environment. In addition we will be represented at neighbourhood management groups, where we can meet with our partners to ensure our work is supporting the shared ambition of making Kirklees safer.
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4. Overview of Performance
4.1 Demographics The station area is in the Heavy Woollen area of West Yorkshire which includes the mainly residential locations of Batley including Hanging Heaton, Soothill, Staincliffe, Heckmondwike, Birstall and Howden Clough. The station area is approximately 7.87 sq miles and has a population of 55,149 (from the 2001 Census). The types of dwellings in the Batley Station area are categorised as follows:
21,146 is the total number of dwellings, of which;
14,270 are classed as home ownership
3,646 are rented from Local Authority
1,724 are private rented and
1,506 other dwellings
The station has many commercial, industrial and agricultural risks within its boundary. The following table breaks down the premises into types based on the Fire Service Emergency Cover Coding (FSEC) system and lists the numbers of those premises in the station area.
FSEC Type of Premise Number of Code Premises A Hospital 0 B Care Homes 22 F Hotel 9 J Further Education 23 K Public Building 35 L Licensed premises 129 M School 231 N Shop 601 P Other premise open to the public 93 R Factory/Warehouse 569 S Office 348 T Other Workplace 95 D High Rise 46 E,G & H HMOs and Flats 48 Total 2,249
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4.2 Station Performance and Review of Action Plan 2007/8
This station plan will attempt to address areas of under performance whilst maintaining its downward trend in all areas. Particular areas that we will target are: - Deliberate secondary fires These will be tackled by existing and future educational initiatives outlined in the station objectives. Another important area of station performance is the number of shifts lost to sickness. The Brigade target is to maintain this below 6.5 shifts lost per person per year. During 2007/08 the Performance Information Management System (PIMS) illustrates that Batley was mostly below this target and over the entire 2007/08 year, slightly below the required level set. However when analysing short and long-term sickness levels it can be seen that the amount of short-term sickness is an area of concern. This station action plan will endeavour to maintain levels below the targets set and in particular identify the reasons for the excessive short-term sickness and aim to reduce these levels.
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5. Station Resources
5.1 Station Personnel 1 Station Manager – Flexible Duty System 4 Watch Managers – Wholetime Duty System 8 Crew Managers – Wholetime Duty System 36 Firefighters – Wholetime Duty System Station Clerk – Part-time – Flexible working hours scheme
5.2 Station Equipment 1 Pumping Appliance – heavy rescue pump 1 Command Unit
5.3 Action Plan Responsibilities of each role Every member of the station has a key role to play in ensuring that this station plan is successful in achieving its goals. Each member of the station has particular responsibilities, which are outlined below.
5.3.1 Station Manager Recognise impact of station performance on service delivery Ensure strategic priorities, objectives and station plans are communicated to watch personnel Take lead role in implementing and monitoring local station action plan Meet set targets and monitor Watch / Crew managers’ performance Monitor and review how strategy is progressing with functional Group Manager
5.3.2 Watch and Crew Managers Understand the impact of performance management on service delivery Ensure the watch understands organisational priorities and objectives Regularly feed back to employees on performance Monitor how well the team is performing against the strategy Meet the set brigade and locally set targets as directed by Station Manager
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5.3.3 Firefighters Contribute to the development, delivery and implementation of the local station action plan Understand how individual and team performance will support the organisational aims Ensure job meets service needs Feedback any issues Communicate with manager
5.3.4 Station Clerk Contribute to the delivery and implementation of the station action plan Provide and collate statistical data and other information as required in relation to performance management requirements
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6. Audit, inspection and review process
6.1 Service Delivery
6.1.1 Operations The Operations Response team has the responsibility for measuring and monitoring performance across each of the stations within the brigade. The Performance Management System measures the performance of individuals and teams in the achievement of strategic priorities, compliance with operational standards and the management and administration of each fire station. Performance is consistently reviewed and feedback given in order to promote positive achievements, encourage continuous improvement, support operational assurance and address areas of under performance.
6.1.2 Training The Maintenance of Competence (MoC) records of all watch based operational personnel are audited at quarterly and six monthly periods. The Station Manager completes a quarterly audit of all records, with dedicated sections of the MoC records being awarded a grade appropriate to the standard to which they have been completed, in accordance with the grading system that Training Support has provided to Station Managers. The six-monthly audit is carried out by Training Support and involves auditing all sections of the MoC records. The quarterly audit has been given to Station Managers to complete because this requires fewer sections of the records to be audited thus keeping the Station Manager’s work load to a minimum. The focus of the audits is to ensure all operational personnel are completing the required frequency assessments of competence and that all assessments have been recorded and confirmed by the appropriate assessor. All completed audits by either Station Managers or Training Support are recorded using a dedicated spreadsheet which provides a Performance Indicator score for each watch and station. After completing their quarterly audit, Station Managers send their completed audit to Training Support who keep a database of all completed audits All completed audits are fedback to the relevant Station Managers and District Managers to ensure they are aware of how their stations are meeting the requirements of the MoC records. The audits identify individuals who have not demonstrated competence in a particular area of the MoC records for whatever reason, and ensure that any incomplete assessments are completed as soon as practicable to allow the individual to maintain their operational capability.
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6.1.3 Legislative Fire Safety To support the aim of “Making West Yorkshire Safer” the Legislative Fire Safety department operate a risk based re-inspection programme for non-domestic premises within the county. Completion of the inspection programme also determines the non-domestic risk profile of the brigade. All station personnel have specific responsibilities for the management of risk inspections as detailed in Fire Safety Policy 033. Support will be provided to station personnel directly from the Legislative Fire Safety department. Operational crews are responsible for completing 15 Full Inspections and 15 Operations Inspections per month. Performance monitoring of risk inspections, for type, quality of data and number of inspections completed, will be completed in the first instance by the Station Manager. Additional monitoring will be completed centrally by the Legislative Fire Safety department and a performance report will be submitted monthly to the Senior Fire Safety meeting, chaired by the Director of Fire Safety and Community Relations. Quality sampling of full inspections will be undertaken by the Legislative Fire Safety department. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to the Station Manager for monitoring or action purposes as appropriate. Fire Safety Policy 033 will be reviewed annually in conjunction with the risk-based inspection programme.
6.1.4 Community Fire Safety The Community Fire Safety department believes pro-active education by operational and community safety personnel is a major contribution in our continuing aim to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in West Yorkshire. This is achieved either in people's homes whilst carrying out home fire safety checks (HFSC's), or by talking to members of the public through attendance at schools, fetes, galas, etc. Operational personnel are responsible for: - completing the station specific number of HFSC's per month - carrying out additional HFSC's in line with the WYFRS hot strike policy Performance monitoring of HFSC's, for the number of HFSC's undertaken, will be completed monthly by the Station Manager. Operational personnel will deliver a fire and road safety education programme to every Year Five class within their station area. Quality sampling of HFSC's and year five talks will be carried out by the Community Fire Safety department and an independent company. Quality performance reports in respect of both will be submitted to the Station Manager for monitoring or action as appropriate. Station Managers will continue to: - establish partnership working with local neighbourhood management groups, ensuring attendance and full participation in meetings and activities with the outcome of reducing anti- social behaviour within target areas and groups - ensure close working with Local Authority Environmental Task Forces to reduce the impact of arson and refuse fires through continued support of the WYFRS Arson Task Force
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6.1.5 Health and Safety Audit Workplace specific audits are undertaken in risk priority order based upon the number of injury accidents that have occurred at each workplace within a set period. Mindful of the level of risk, audits are scheduled as part of a two-year rolling programme at a mutually convenient date and time as agreed with the Station Manager. Audit visits are confirmed via an email, which also provides an outline of the audit process. The audit performance criteria are detailed within and recorded on the audit form (Hsw9451) to ensure the process is carried out to a consistent and transparent standard. The approach taken by auditors is to build upon and improve the Station Manager’s awareness of those health and safety related aspects associated with their management role. Following the audit, Station Managers are provided with a copy of the audit findings (Hsw9451), post audit report and an action plan (Hsw9452).
6.2 Performance Management
6.2.1 Performance Management Framework West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has a Performance Management Framework in order to effectively manage performance. Performance management is about good management, ensuring that the community, organisation and team goals are achieved and that the Authority is making informed and proactive decisions, committing the resources to the right areas, that our actions are delivering results and that people are being held accountable for their performance. The framework provides a reference document to assist in managing performance and provides the tools and knowledge required to ensure a performance management culture.
6.2.2 Access to Performance Information West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has a Performance Information Management System (PIMS) which allows access to the entire brigade and individual stations current statistics including Best Value Performance Indicators, Station Performance Indicators, other Operational Indicators and Fire Safety Indicators.
6.2.3 The ‘Golden Thread’ Strategic priorities are cascaded down through team objectives to an individual level. This is often called the golden thread. Following the golden thread from the Authority’s strategic priorities demonstrates how individual activities are contributing to the overall Ambition and Aim of the Authority. This golden thread is clearly demonstrated in Section 8.
6.2.4 Corporate Plan The Authority has a Corporate Plan which sets clear priorities and objectives for the future to ensure continuous improvement to the service provided to the community. The plan also provides information regarding performance over the previous year.
6.2.5 Local Area Agreement A number of the station objectives detailed in Section 7 of this Station Action Plan contribute to the wider priorities set for the Kirklees District in the Local Area Agreement (LAA). The LAA, which can be found alongside this Station Action Plan as Appendix B, sets out the priorities for the local area agreed between central government, the local authority and other key partners at local level.
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7. Current action plan
The following tables show the station objectives relating to each of the four directorates. The reference numbers in the left-hand column show how each station objective relates to the district objective above and to the team and functional objectives above that, using the following key: - Larger lettering in black e.g. OPS 1 refers to the directorate’s functional objective. - Figure in black in brackets following that e.g. (2) refers to the district objective.
- Smaller lettering in red e.g. (OPSCOMM 2) refers to the directorate’s team objective.
OPERATIONS OBJECTIVES
BATLEY FIRE STATION
(District Plan) OPS 1: Enhance Operational Capacity (District Plan) OPS 2: Enhance Response Capability
What we will do
We will plan and deliver a professional Operational
Response focussed on the needs of our community
How we will do this
During 2008/11 our staff will continuously strive to fulfil the
objectives below:
OPS 1 (2) Plan and carry out exercises allocated to stations as part of the exercise (OPSCOMM2) programme
OPS 1 (3) Station Manager will monitor at least three incidents/exercises per watch (OPSCOMM3)
OPS 1 (3) Debrief all significant incidents and analyse findings to improve (OPSCOMM12) operational performance on station and provide feedback to district staff
OPS 1 (5) Develop and implement the Station Action Plan (OPSCOMM5)
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OPS 1 (6) Carry out the performance management quarterly audits (demonstrating (OPSCOMM5) the golden thread)
OPS 1 (6) Staff will demonstrate command and practical competence in exercises (OPSCOMM5) during performance management visits
OPS 1 (7) Maintain availability for Retained Duty System (RDS) stations and (OPSCOMM15) standard staffing for Whole Time (WT) or Day Crewing (DC) stations
OPS 1 (9) Complete programmed operational risk inspections and support these (OPSPOL22) with white board and onsite exercises
OPS 1 (9) Complete the Tactical Information Plan inspection (TIP) programme, (OPSPOL21) including exercises, and review the quality of the information on the TIP
Ensure that mobile data terminals, including station based risk OPS 2 (13) information, are in place on station and staff are trained and competent (OPSPOL7) in their use
OPS 2 (2) Incorporate into the station training programme exercises involving key (OPSPOL21) risks across the district
OPS 2 (8) Manage implementation of IRMP recommendation with respect to (OPSCOMM 7) station
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FIRE SAFETY & COMMUNITY
RELATIONS OBJECTIVES
BATLEY FIRE STATION (District Plan) FSCR 1: Ensure the Authority’s statutory fire protection duties are discharged efficiently and effectively (District Plan) FSCR 2: Working with partners to deliver a reduction in deaths and injuries in fires and road traffic incidents (District Plan) FSCR 3: Working with partners to deliver a reduction in the number of arson and anti social behaviour related incidents (District Plan) FSCR 4: Contribute to community well being through active involvement in each Local Area Agreement
What we will do
We will plan and deliver a professional Fire Safety and Community Relations strategy focussed on the needs of
our community
How we will do this
During 2008/11 our staff will continuously strive to fulfil the objectives below:
Analyse incident activity based on the performance indicators and introduce measures to reduce the number of incidents
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FSCR 1 (14) Inspect the premises proposed by the risk-based inspection programme (FS2) and determine / record the fire risk profile of the premises NI 49
Complete 912 Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSCs), targeting those FSCR 2 (22) most at risk (CFS17) NI 39, NI 49, NI 70, NI 120
Set strategy to prioritise Warmzone referrals, and ensure high levels of FSCR 2 (24) take up of HFSC’s through specific community engagement activities (CFS4) NI 125, NI 136, NI 142, NI 187
Complete Year 5 community safety talks in all local schools FSCR 2 (25) (CFS8) NI 47, NI 48, NI 120, NI 137
Set strategy to prioritise specific geographical areas in the station area FSCR 2 (22) to target HFRC activities (CFS17) NI 39, NI 49, NI 70, NI 120
Support the working of Kirklees Neighbourhood Management Groups FSCR 4 (40) (CFS4) NI 3, NI 4, NI 5, NI 195, NI 196
Resource and implement the Young Firefighters Scheme FSCR 2 (34) (CFS9) NI 30, NI 45, NI 78, NI 91, NI 110, NI 117
FSCR 2 (29) Resource and implement road safety activities as directed by the (CFS18) District Manager (Local LAA priority)
Target arson reduction work and develop and embed station arson FSCR 3 (32) reduction strategy to reduce crime and anti social behaviour (CFS15) NI 5, NI 24, NI 33
Build a working relationship with local partners, especially the FSCR 4 (39) Neighbourhood Policing Team (CFS16) NI 5, NI 24, NI 30, NI 33
FSCR 1 (21) Analyse incident activity at False Alarms and premises generating (FS 2) unwanted fire signals. Work with others to reduce re-occurrence
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FSCR 2 Support the District CFS Team with specific initiatives where (23, 24, 26) appropriate, e.g. Vulnerable People Project, Carephones, etc. (CFS17)
FSCR 2 (27) Undertake work with Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing on the gas and (CFS17) smoke detector servicing partnership
FSCR 2 (28) Work with partner agencies to undertake Operation Focus events in the (CFS17) station area
FSCR 3 (33) Liaise with the District Arson Task Force to look at priority areas in the (CFS15) station area.
Support Locality working in Kirklees by Station Manager involvement in FSCR 3 (39) the Locality Leads meetings and any appropriate sub group working. (CFS16) Assist with the development of locality Joint Action Groups (JAGs)
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HUMAN RESOURCES OBJECTIVES
BATLEY FIRE STATION (District Plan) HR 1: Recruit and retain a diverse workforce (District Plan) HR 2: Provide a competent and skilled workforce (District Plan) HR 3: Maintain a healthy and safe workforce
What we will do
We will plan and deliver a professional approach to our
Human Resources requirements focussed on the needs of our community and workforce
How we will do this
During 2008/11 our staff will continuously strive to fulfil the
objectives below:
Agree a recruitment strategy with the District Manager and carry out HR 1 (42) recruitment for RDS stations
Agree a programme for attendance at community events with the District
HR 1 (43) Manager, participate in events and feedback effectiveness to the district NI 4
Station Managers to ensure that individual Personal Development
HR 1 Reviews contain Equality and Diversity objectives and that efforts are made to consult with the community
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Station Manager to complete MoC audit, with all watches maintaining the HR 2 highest level of performance
Ensure successful completion of probationer development measured by HR 2 (48) timely assessments and completion of NVQ qualification
Complete all Personal Development Plans and Continuous Personal HR 2 Development claims by the end of February 2009
Station Manager to ensure that Watch Manager and Crew Manager HR 2 (45) development is progressed
HR 2 Maintain instructor / assessors levels
HR 2 Maintain a safe and competent pool of staff to perform safe to ride duties
HR 2 Ensure Station Manager attendance on Media Relations training course
HR 2 Ensure training courses are programmed and attended as planned
Ensure good performance is reviewed and noted in order to assist HR 2 (47) succession planning
HR 3 (49) Take action to reduce attacks on Firefighters
HR 3 (50) Ensure all Health and Safety risk assessments are current and being (OHSU1) adhered to, and reduce the number of accidents
Monitor the welfare of staff and ensure absence is managed HR 3 (51) appropriately – if above 6.5 shifts, priority action to be taken
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CORPORATE RESOURCES
OBJECTIVES
BATLEY FIRE STATION (District Plan) CR 1: Provide effective buildings, vehicles and equipment to ensure operational effectiveness (District Plan) CR 2: Provide effective systems of control and performance to ensure the Authority operates efficiently (District Plan) CR 3: Provide effective communications and technology to ensure the Authority can operate as a leading 21st century Fire and Rescue Service
What we will do
We will plan and deliver a professional approach to our Corporate Resources objectives focussed on the needs of
our community
How will we do this
During 2008/11 our staff will continuously strive to fulfil the
objectives below:
Assess the level of energy consumption on station and implement an energy reduction plan CR 1 (53) NI 186, NI 188
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CR 2 Ensure the accurate recording of information by station personnel
CR 2 Ensure policies and procedures are adhered to
CR 2 (58) Produce a Business Continuity Plan for station (CS4)
CR 1 Comply with Service Level Agreements
CR 1 (52) Develop a five year building plan for the station
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8. Glossary
CFS Community Fire Safety CPD Continuous Personal Development CR Corporate Resources CS Corporate Services DC Day Crewing FS Fire Safety FSCR Fire Safety & Community Relations HFSC Home Fire Safety Check HMO House with Multiple Occupancy HR Human Resources JAG Joint Action Group MOC Maintenance of Competency NVQ National Vocational Qualification OHSU Occupational Health and Safety Unit OPS Operations OPSCOMM Operations Command OPSPOL Operations Policy PIMS Performance Information Management System RDS Retained Duty System TIP Tactical Information Plan TS Training Support WT Wholetime WYFRS West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
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9. Appendices
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Batley Fire Station Carlinghow Lane Batley WF17 8DN 01924 473355
www.westyorksfire.gov.uk