CFRS Weekly Update - 12.04.24
Weekly Update - at a glance
- Reported impact from a strong magnet placed against Dräger BA Bodyguards
- Firefighter Pensions Schemes Bulletin
- DBS Final Reminders
- Stress Awareness Month
- CFRS Sports Association
Reported impact from a strong magnet placed against Dräger BA Bodyguards
There has been a recent external report of an undesirable impact from a strong magnet placed against Dräger BA Bodyguards.
Strong magnetic fields can affect the performance of BA electronic devices due to the fundamental physics of electronics and magnetic/electromagnetic interaction. Bodyguards are activated through electro/magnetism detection. This technology/methodology has been used within the Dräger Bodyguard supplied to Cumbria FRS.
Within the black tally key for the electronic gauge, there is a small magnet. The Bodyguard 7000 has a magnetic field detector so the presence of the black tally key can be detected. Since the detector is a magnetic field detector, any magnetic field of sufficient strength brought into close or direct contact with the Bodyguard can cause it to react as if the black tally key had been fitted to the Bodyguard. The tally sensor which is normally activated by the magnet in the tally requires a field strength of ~1mT to activate.
For instance, a Bodyguard configured in Tally mode which is the normal configuration for the UK, will deactivate the Bodyguard. If the Bodyguard is in alarm, it will silence the alarm.
As with any electronic devices, CFRS’s supplier, Dräger, recommends keeping any magnetic devices away from the Bodyguard 7000 (and any other electronic equipment).
Technical Services Department
Firefighter Pensions Schemes bulletin - out now
Colleagues should be aware that the new Firefighters’ Pensions Schemes bulletin 79 FPS Bulletin 79 - March 2024 (fpsregs.org) has been issued by the Firefighters Pension Scheme Advisory.
Vanessa Fidler - Pay, Reward and Pension Advisor
DBS Final Reminders
Station Managers have now been contacted by the HR team with a list of employees who have not begun their DBS application process on the Employment Check website. Please can we stipulate that these need to be completed by 19th April 2024 as we will then be moving onto the second phase of the process and disciplinary action may apply to those who refuse to complete their applications.
We ask that all managers filter this message through to their crews, especially the on-calls who may not have regular access to their Cumbria Fire email accounts.
Emily Grey - HR Advisor
Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month and there’s no getting away from it, we all experience stress at some point in our lives.
Life can be really difficult and challenging at times. It’s important to recognise the signs so we look after the people around us, including our colleagues, friends and family.
We will be running an article each week that will help provide information about stress and how to manage it. If you haven’t already, download the ‘My firefighter’s Charity’ phone app for more information about mental health.
The following links be may helpful to you:
Annie McInerney-Thompson - Recruitment, Fitness & Engagement Coordinator
CFRS Sports Association
Following the success from recent sporting activities throughout the service an initial meeting is to be held to create a new CFRS Sports Association. CFRS SA will be an association that supports and coordinates CFRS sporting events. New sections, Service support and time off allowances etc. will all be discussed in this initial meeting. We will also be looking for volunteers to take on roles within the group.
If you would like to create a sporting section within the SA or be a SA volunteer please confirm your desired sports section/if you would like to volunteer and your attendance to meg.harris@cumbriafire.gov.uk or stuart.hook@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Meeting – May 2nd 11am Control Room, SHQ
Key incidents
Call-outs of note from the past week have included:
- on April 5, crews from Carlisle East, Carlisle West and Brampton attended a kitchen fire in a domestic property in Castle Currock.
- on April 5, crews from Carlisle East and West attended a fire in a port-a-cabin on Denton Street, Carlisle.
- on April 7, crews from Windermere and Ambleside attended a vehicle fire on the A592 near Troutbeck in Windermere.
- on April 8, crews from Aspatria and Silloth attended a rubbish fire on the B5021 in Silloth.
- on 8th April, crews from Penrith and Kendal attended a vehicle fire on the M6 between junctions 39 and 38.
- on 8th April, crews from Maryport and Workington attended an RTC on Buddle Road, Workington.
- on 9th April, crews from Penrith attended a building fire on the C1036 in Calthwaithe.
- on 9th April, crews from Carlisle East attended a barn fire on Warwick Road, Carlisle.
- on 11th April, crews from Aspatria, Silloth, Wigton, Carlisle West and Workington attended a building fire at a farm near the B5302, Wigton.
- on 11th April, crews from Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh attended a vehicle fire on the M6 between junctions 36 and 37.
Features that have promoted us in the media and on social media this week have included...
- On-Call Appreciation Evenings will take place at Seascale on April 15 and Walney on April 18.
To have your events included in this section, please email cfrs.update@cumbriafire.gov.uk
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