Tuesday, 2 August 2022

Trench and confined space rescue equipment

Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (19:08): I move:

That this house:

(1) recognises:

(a) trenches and confined spaces are a unique and highly dangerous work environment;

(b) trenches and confined spaces have been responsible for injury and death due to collapse, atmospheric poisoning and suffocation;

(c) that Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) in the western and north-western regions of Victoria do not possess the correct equipment to conduct timely and safe rescues in both trench collapse and confined space emergencies, putting both workers and first responders at risk;

(d) that without the correct equipment, emergency services workers and first responders are forced to make potentially dangerous decisions while waiting for rescue equipment from Warrnambool, Wangaratta or Richmond;

(e) that the population growth in regional Victoria is increasing along with the risks and potential need for technical rescues to be conducted;

(2) calls on the government to:

(a) immediately identify strategically placed regional cities and towns, such as Ballarat, to equip FRV and other emergency responders with trench and confined space rescue equipment;

(b) establish, as a criteria, that emergency services are strategically spaced to ensure that the responders are able to attend with trench and confined space rescue equipment within a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes;

(c) provide the necessary resources to allow FRV first responders to undertake critical skills maintenance training; and

(d) do this as a matter of urgency.

Trenches and confined spaces are dangerous workplaces, and I know they are because I have worked in both. Despite all the training, experience and precautions, we still see workers caught in trench collapse or atmospheric poisoning, tragically resulting in serious injury, suffocation or death. Unbelievably, in my electorate of Western Victoria the rescue equipment needed in these situations is in most cases over an hour away. If a worker is caught buried in a trench collapse in Ballarat, rescue equipment must come from Warrnambool, Wangaratta or Richmond. Every second—every minute—counts to save a life. This motion today calls on the government to rectify this terrible situation and to make sure this equipment is at a maximum only 25 minutes away. It comes after I met with Jack Brownlee’s mother and the partner of Charlie Howkins. Both Jack and Charlie were killed in a tragic trench collapse at Delacombe in March of 2018. Jack was just 21 and Charlie only 34. Since then other workers have died, just as they did before, because the right rescue equipment operated by trained personnel is just too far away. This motion is self-explanatory, it is common sense, it will save lives and it should be easy for all sides to support.

Mr TARLAMIS (South Eastern Metropolitan) (19:10): I move:

That debate on this motion be adjourned until later this day.

Motion agreed to and debate adjourned until later this day.

Business interrupted pursuant to order of Council earlier this day.