Tasmanian firefighters may refuse overloaded trucks before fire season
Firefighters can refuse unsafe trucks. A tribunal blocked the union's bid to ground the fleet.
Tasmanian firefighters may refuse to use fire trucks they believe are unsafe as the bushfire season approaches. A tribunal rejected the union's formal bid to ground the fleet.
The United Firefighters Union wanted a ban on vehicles with extra seating. Vehicles with the extra seating exceeded legal weight limits.
The tribunal said it had no power to act. WorkSafe's inspector had not formally refused to issue a prohibition notice.
A union survey found one Hobart firefighter weighed just 68 kilograms. Most others exceeded 80 kilograms before adding heavy gear.
In 2022 the fire service cut the weight allowance from 120 kilograms to 81.6 kilograms. They found vehicles were exceeding limits.
Later it raised the limit to 100 kilograms per person. When firefighters refuse during emergencies, crews may have to use less suitable vehicles.
- 120kg to 81.6kg in 2022
- Weight allowance cut
- 100kg per person plus 20kg gear
- Later adjusted to
- one under 68kg
- Hobart firefighter minimum
- Stephen McCallum
- Union organiser
Why it mattersFirefighter refusals could slow response times during peak bushfire season. Crews might have to use wrong equipment when seconds count.
AustraliaTasmanian communities face potential response delays if firefighters individually refuse overloaded trucks during the state's critical fire season.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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