Please see the information provided below by Chief Harvill concerning the Driver's State Test and Qualifications:
Please take a moment to review the information below and share with your battalions and those riding out-of-rank. Over the last year various memos have been sent out to discuss apparatus qualifications. This information has been compiled from Training Bulletins:
The Memphis Fire Department now adheres to state of Tennessee Fire Commission’s rules governing apparatus qualifications prompting changes in our qualification process to include revision of all qualification packets for compliance with the 2009 NFPA standards. Only candidates with a state of Tennessee Fire Apparatus Operator’s (FAO) certification will be eligible to take future promotional examinations for the position of Fire Driver.
Below is a description of the major changes:
Current Apparatus Qualification Packets effective from September 1, 2001 through October 30, 2009:
· Current apparatus qualification packets are acceptable for personnel to apply to challenge the state FAO written exam. The state of Tennessee will accept the current apparatus qualification packets dated through November 15, 2009. However, due to manpower restrictions, Memphis Fire Training has set a packet-acceptance deadline of October 30, 2009.
· Personnel with a current engine and/or truck qualification packet on file have until December 31, 2010, to challenge and pass the state’s written FAO exam.
Revised Apparatus Qualification Packets (pending state approval):
- Revised apparatus qualification packets will meet the NFPA 2009 standards and will become effective upon state approval. These apparatus qualification packets will remain in effect until the next NFPA 1002 revision which is due in approximately 5 years.
- Personnel who do not pass the state FAO exam by December 31, 2010, must submit the revised apparatus qualification packet for the applicable apparatus and must pass the Memphis Fire Training’s apparatus written and practical exam to challenge the state written FAO test again.
- Personnel are encouraged to continue apparatus training and to log their training dates. The training dates and evaluator’s signatures should be added to the revised apparatus qualification packet(s) upon state’s approval.
Hourly Apparatus Qualification Form
- The Hourly Apparatus Qualification Form was used before September 2001. It required the employee obtain a minimum of forty hours training. The evaluator listed on the form the number of training minutes/hours the employee trained.
- Personnel qualified on an apparatus based on the Hourly Apparatus Qualification Form alone do not meet the criteria to apply for the state FAO written exam. They must complete the revised apparatus qualification packet, take our written exam, and pass our practical exam for that apparatus, when it becomes effective, to be eligible for the state FAO written exam.
- Personnel qualified on apparatus based on the Hourly Apparatus Qualification Form and the current Apparatus Qualification Packet(s) remain eligible for incentive pay and may drive out of rank on the applicable apparatus.
Upon the state’s approval, the revised apparatus qualification packets will be distributed to all battalion chiefs via CD. All other apparatus qualification packets must be deleted from your computer and from the station computers.
As in the past, you are responsible for supplying your personnel with apparatus qualification packets. Here is a list of things to look for to ensure to packet is filled out correctly:
- Dates must be sequential
- Signatures must be on each line of the task sheet
- Their company officer and their battalion chief must check the packet and sign/print.
It is not a race to get the employee qualified. It is important to stress to the employee that they know the job of the driver and can operate the apparatus safely. Remember, by the company officer and you signing the packet your are saying the employee is ready to be tested and feel they are able to drive the apparatus in the out of rank capacity.
Some more inforamtion sent by Chief Harvill:
I just received a change on the information above. You CANNOT have any dates on the pending state packet that are before the approval date. The statement below stating “Personnel are encouraged to continue apparatus training and to log their training dates. The training dates and evaluator’s signatures should be added to the revised apparatus qualification packet(s) upon state’s approval” is INCORRECT.
The time frame to receive packets at training has passed. Please do not send any more packets to training for qualification. We are in the process of getting the new ones approved.
