Becoming an Emergency Services Officer (ESO)
There are several reasons why someone might want to work as an emergency services officer in private industry such as mining, oil and gas. Typically these can be grouped into new people wanting to work in the industry, former or current permanent or auxiliary/retained firefighters, and those already in industry.
For many of the new starters and government firefighters, there can be misinformation or a lack of knowledge what you need to work in industry. This is primarily for Queensland roles, but applies with some minor changes for any role in Australia.
Coal mining-based sites
- Certificate III in Emergency Response and Rescue
- RIIERR201E – Conduct Fire Team Operations
- PUAFIR207 – Operate Breathing Apparatus Open Circuit
- PUASAR024 – Road Crash Rescue
- PUASAR025 –Confined Space Rescue
- PUASAR032– Vertical Rope Rescue
- PUAFIR324 – Render Hazardous Materials Incidents Safe
- HLTAID014 – Provide Advanced First Aid
- HLTAID015 – Provide Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy
- UETTDRRF06B – Perform Rescue from a Live LV Panel
- Standard 11 Generic Safety Induction
- HLTPAT005 – Collect Specimens for Drugs of Abuse Testing
- Medium Rigid Manual Drivers Licence
Coal Mining Team Leaders
Depending on the site, a team leader at a mining site may also require a G189 (formerly S123):
- G2 – RIIRIS301E – Apply Risk Management Processes
- G8 – RIIWHS301E – Conduct Safety and Health Investigations
- G9 – RIICOM301E – Communicate Information
Gas Processing Sites
For positions on gas processing sites such as upstream in the Surat Basin (Chinchilla), these are the minimum qualifications for a position:
For team leaders you would need to hold the firefighter position qualifications plus the following:
- Certificate IV in Public Safety (Firefighting Supervision)
- TAE40116 – Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
For firefighters and team leaders you would need the following:
- Certificate III – Public Safety (Fire Fighting and Emergency Operations)
- PUAFIR324 – Render Hazardous Materials Incidents Safe
- PUAFIR316 – Identify, Detect and Monitor Hazardous Materials at an Incident
- PUAFIR308 – Employ Personal Protection at a Hazardous Materials Incident
- PUASAR024 – Undertake Road Crash Rescue
- PUASAR025 – Undertake Confined Space Rescue
- PUASAR032 – Undertake Vertical Rescue
- PUAFIR309 – Operate Pumps
- HLTAID014 – Provide Advanced First Aid
- HLTAID015 – Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy
- Medium Rigid Manual Drivers Licence
Other qualifications that are required on some sites (particularly in the West) are:
- Certificate IV in Health Care
- Certificate II in Security Operations and Current Security Licence with (Monitoring & Unarmed)
Shutdowns
If you are looking to become an emergency services officer (ESO) and come from a military, rural, auxiliary/retained or do not have all the qualifications, then there are still options for you. With the qualifications Undertake Vertical Rescue and Undertake Confined Space Rescue plus your first aid qualifications there are some options available for working on shutdowns.
Shutdowns are normally maintenance activities that require outside emergency services officers to increase the onsite emergency and medical response on site. Shutdowns can help you gain the experience and finances to become an emergency services officer.
Training Providers
There are a number of registered training organisations that you can use to close out a few units of competency or undertake a whole qualification. A few of the RTO’s delivering accredited emergency response training are listed below.
Baseline training hold regular courses for aspiring emergency services officer that offer the chance of a full-time role on a mining site for top candidates. If you are are interested in career advice or your options or want to ask a question, reach out to Kevin Waterman on the about me page.