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Operational firefighter

Operational firefighter

Protective services

Level 3 - Technical Occupation

Tackling a wide range of emergency situations such as tackling fires, searching, rescuing and protecting people and animals.

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Reference: OCC0486

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £36,979 per year

SOC 2020 code: 3313 Fire service officers (watch manager and below)

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 3313/01 Firefighters
  • 3313/02 Fire service crew managers
  • 3313/03 Watch managers

Technical Education Products

ST0486:

Operational firefighter

(Level 3)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service, County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, London Fire Brigade, London Heathrow, IFE, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, NFCC, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, RAF, SFJ Awards, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Fire Service.

Summary

This occupation is found in 45 Fire Services across England as well as other organisations who have their own fire services such as the RAF, Airports, Ministry of Defence and those dealing with explosives and chemicals. Therefore, although the role is predominantly found in the public sector, there is a need for operational firefighters in the private sector. The size of the employer will vary but will tend to be medium to large in size.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to deal with a wide range of emergency situations where problem solving and initiative is vital to resolve incidents quickly and calmly. When in attendance, an Operational Firefighter must adopt a sensitive approach to dealing with members of the public and casualties who may be distressed and confused. These situations vary from tackling fires, searching, rescuing and protecting people and animals, by sustaining/preserving their life to protecting life and the environment from the effects of fire, natural and human disasters and hazardous materials. (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives). They also respond to incidents involving planes, trains, road traffic collisions and marine emergencies. They may also conduct fire risk assessments and audits in businesses and homes, fitting detection and suppression equipment if necessary The working day could include theoretical and practical training along with testing and maintaining equipment to ensure operational preparedness. It is essential a firefighter is prepared and ready to respond at all times when on duty. Firefighters must be able to carry out physically demanding work; at height, in enclosed spaces, and outdoors - working in all weather and environmental conditions.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the community to provide information, advice and guidance to individuals and groups around health, safety and well-being. Firefighters work as part of a close-knit team of professionals that provides 24-hour response cover to resolve fire and rescue operational incidents. They adopt multi agency working principles with partners and other services to achieve a swift and successful conclusion. They will also need to be able to carry out tasks individually.

An employee in this occupation is responsible for all incidents in a professional manner and in alignment with operational command and procedures.They will need to be aware of all relevant legislation and apply where necessary

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service, County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, London Fire Brigade, London Heathrow, IFE, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, NFCC, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, RAF, SFJ Awards, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Fire Service.

Typical job titles include:

Civil Aviation or within small private sector fire services that may be incorporated in other organisations such as manufacturers and engineering
Firefighters could be employed in any of the fire services across England
the Armed Forces

Keywords:

Animals
Emergency
Fire
Operational
People
Protective
Public Services
Rescue
Searching

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: How to engage with Communities to increase community safety and prevention awareness to prevent incidents from occurring and improve their health and wellbeing.
K2: The risks within their community and the methods that can be used to mitigate those risks.
K3: Appropriate methods of resolving fire and rescue emergency incidents using various fire extinguishing media (Water, foam/chemical)
K4: Appropriate methods of resolving fire and rescue emergency incidents using various rescue and extrication techniques
K5: The principles of Fire behaviour, ventilation and hydraulics
K6: The principles of Environmental protection by limiting the impact of an incident using a variety of techniques
K7: How to use personal and respiratory protective equipment in hazardous environments (K6)
K8: How to prepare and maintain operational equipment and resources.
K9: Hazards, risks and control measures across a range of emergencies
K10: The principles of JESIP (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles)
K11: How to operate communication and technology systems, e.g. mobile data terminals, radios.
K12: How to carry out treatment to casualty, this will include basic life support and casualty handling
K13: The importance of maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing .
K14: Their duty within relevant Legislation
K15: Understand construction materials, basic elements of structure and reactions in an emergency situation.

S1: Carry out safe working practices in accordance with legal requirements as detailed within the knowledge section.
S2: Operate safely and effectively in emergency situations.
S3: Operate within an appropriate command and control system.
S4: Operate in hazardous environments using Breathing Apparatus.
S5: Safely resolve incidents involving hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive substances. These will be resolved by stopping further harm and then removal of/clearing up the substance.
S6: Safely work at height.
S7: Safely work in, on or around water e.g. to conduct rescues or extract water for firefighting purposes.
S8: Extricate casualties from situations of entrapment.
S9: Interact with and influence community members and business to reduce risks.
S10: Take responsibility for effective performance within their role.
S11: Support the development of their colleagues in their workplace
S12: Use and maintain specialist equipment
S13: Control and extinguish fires safely and effectively
S14: Communicate effectively, through listening, writing, speaking and presenting information

B1: Commitment to integrity and diversity, understanding and adopting a fair and ethical approach and treating others with courtesy and respect
B2: Embrace and promote the values of the organisation.
B3: Confidence and resilience within the role in highly challenging and changing situations, demonstrating reliability, adaptability, responsibility and accountability to the organisation.
B4: Situational awareness by maintaining an active awareness of the working environment to ensure a safe, secure and compliant working culture.
B5: Commitment to excellence, by adopting a conscientious and proactive approach to achieve and maintain excellent standards.
B6: Work collaboratively with others, both internally and externally.

Duties

Duty D1

Educate the community to improve awareness of fire and rescue safety matters

Duty D2

Take responsibility for effective personal performance in fire and rescue

Duty D3

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with people

Duty D4

Save and preserve endangered life. Safely conduct a search to locate life involved in fire and other incidents, using a range of rescue equipment.

Duty D5

Rescue life (human or animal) involved in incidents.

Duty D6

Provide treatment to casualties

Duty D7

Respond and provide resolution to fire and rescue operational incidents.

Duty D8

Provide support to people directly or indirectly involved in operational incidents

Duty D9

Carry out roles and responsibilities, within the incident command system, alongside other agencies during fire and operational incidents.

Duty D10

Protect the environment from the effects of hazardous materials and support people involved. This could include the use of appropriate PPE and decontamination methods

Duty D11

Test and maintain equipment to support the effectiveness of operational response

Duty D12

Collect information on risks and resources in your community

Duty D13

Support the development of colleagues in the fire and rescue

Duty D14

Contribute to fire safety inspections and outcomes to minimise risks to people property and environment.

Occupational Progression

This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.

In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.

Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

Technical Occupations

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Higher Technical Occupations

Levels 4-5

Professional Occupations

Levels 6-7

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Level 3

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Level 3

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Level 4

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Level 4

Business and administration

Protective services