Remote mines and energy facilities rely on their own people during the first minutes of an incident. There are no nearby brigades. The workers on shift are the first responders. Effective training turns a crew into a capable emergency control team that can prevent escalation, protect life, and stabilise a scene until external services arrive.
Course outcomes
By the end of a complete program you will be able to:
- Identify fire and critical incident hazards and eliminate or control them
- Select the correct extinguisher and apply it safely and confidently
- Operate hose reels and basic hydrant systems under instruction
- Raise alarms and manage site communications during an incident
- Lead evacuations, conduct headcounts, and secure muster points
- Coordinate with emergency response teams and medical staff
- Complete incident reports and participate in post event reviews
What the training covers
Core modules:
- Fire science and behaviour, classes of fire, heat transfer, flashover awareness
- Site ignition sources, fuel management, housekeeping standards
- Portable equipment, water, foam, CO2, dry chemical, fire blankets
- Fixed systems awareness, sprinklers, fire pumps, hydrants, deluge, gas suppression
- Alarm systems, radios, control room protocols, emergency numbers and codes
- Evacuation planning, wardens, sweep procedures, headcount verification
- Initial casualty care until medics arrive, airway, bleeding, burns, smoke inhalation
- Post incident reporting, evidence protection, debrief structures and improvement actions
Advanced modules for emergency teams:
- Live fire drills with multiple extinguishing agents
- Search and rescue in low visibility with guide lines and thermal cues
- Use of breathing apparatus in smoke or toxic atmospheres
- Confined space incident management with standby and retrieval setups
- Spill response basics for hydrocarbons and common site chemicals
- Incident command system fundamentals, roles and handover to external services
Who needs this training
- Emergency response team members and wardens
- Supervisors, permit officers, and safety coordinators
- Electrical, mechanical, and process technicians
- Shutdown and maintenance crews, hot work teams
- Camp, utilities, and logistics personnel who may be first on scene
Delivery formats and duration
- Foundation program, half day, theory plus extinguisher practice
- Full site responder, one to two days, drills, hose work, evacuations
- Advanced team program, two to three days, live fire, BA, search and rescue, ICS exercises
- Refresher options, two to four hours, scenario based updates
Typical costs
- Foundation, three hundred to five hundred dollars
- Full responder, five hundred to eight hundred dollars
- Advanced team, eight hundred to one thousand two hundred dollars
Actual pricing varies by location, equipment used, and inclusions such as BA or live fire props.
Assessment and certification
- Theory assessment covering legislation, roles, equipment, and procedures
- Practical demonstrations using extinguishers, hose reels, alarms, and radios
- Team drills for evacuation and incident coordination
Common nationally recognised units included by RTOs: - PUAFER008 Confine Small Emergencies in a Facility
- PUAFER005 Operate as Part of an Emergency Control Organisation
- PUAFER006 Lead an Emergency Control Organisation
Some programs also bundle MSMWHS216 Operate Breathing Apparatus and MSMWHS217 Gas Test Atmospheres.
What to bring and fitness requirements
Bring photo ID, long cotton workwear, steel cap boots, and water. You should be comfortable with moderate physical activity, lifting and moving hose lines, and working in heat during outdoor drills. Advanced modules may require face fit testing for BA and medical screening.
Site scenarios you will practise
- Small equipment fire in a workshop, correct agent selection, isolation, and report
- Fuel spill near hot work, stop job, isolate sources, notify, containment actions
- Process plant alarm, radio traffic discipline, evacuation leadership, headcount
- Switchroom smoke event, electrical fire controls, door checks, staged entry decision
- Camp accommodation drill, after hours response, accountability and welfare checks
Common mistakes and how training prevents them
- Using the wrong extinguisher on electrical or fuel fires, corrected by agent selection drills
- Poor radio protocol and talk over, corrected by scripted radio training and control room practice
- Missing a person in a sweep, corrected by quadrant allocation and tag board verification
- Re entering without gas testing, corrected by permit, monitor use, and stop work authority
- Delayed alarm raising, corrected by clear triggers, time targets, and role cards
Building an emergency response team on site
Key elements for a reliable team:
- Clear structure, incident controller, communications, fire attack, search, first aid
- Competency matrix covering extinguishers, hose work, BA, spills, CPR, AED
- Monthly drills with rotation of leaders and injects that add stress and complexity
- Pre incident plans for workshops, switchrooms, fuel farms, process areas, camp
- Equipment checks, extinguisher inspections, hydrant flow tests, BA service logs
- Debriefs that capture lessons and convert them into procedure updates and toolbox briefs
Career value
Completing this training proves calm decision making and leadership under pressure. It helps you move toward roles such as emergency response officer, safety coordinator, permit officer, supervisor, and eventually site emergency team leader or safety advisor.
Recommended next steps:
- MSMWHS216 Operate Breathing Apparatus
- MSMWHS217 Gas Test Atmospheres
- RIIWHS202E Enter and Work in Confined Spaces
- S123 Mining Supervisor
- G2 Risk Management
- Advanced first aid and trauma management
Quick reference checklists
Alarm to action checklist:
- Raise alarm and call the control room
- Don PPE, identify agent, approach upwind and uphill where possible
- Attempt initial knockdown only if safe, otherwise withdraw and contain
- Order evacuation if escalation risk exists
- Command, control, and communicate with clear radio messages
- Hand over to incoming emergency team or external services with a concise briefing
Evacuation lead checklist:
- Activate alarm and announce location and route
- Sweep assigned zones, shut doors if safe, mark cleared areas
- Direct people to muster and maintain headcount board
- Report missing persons, last known location, hazards
- Keep routes clear for responders and medical access
- Log key times and decisions for the incident report
Conclusion
On a remote site, the crew is the fire service, the rescue team, and the first medical help. Emergency Response and Fire Safety Training gives FIFO workers the skills and confidence to act fast, lead clearly, and protect life when it matters most. It is not only a compliance requirement. It is a core capability for anyone who takes safety and leadership seriously.
