Broken zips, sleeve sewn shut: Union raises SA firefighter safety concerns

The safety of South Australian firefighters is being compromised by systemic failures in the provision and maintenance of their personal protective equipment (PPE), according to the United Firefighters Union (UFU).

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We seem to be faced with a massive failure of the PPE system in the MFS.

The union has lodged a dispute with the SA Employment Tribunal, alleging that the SA Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) has not adequately supplied, maintained, or repaired PPE. The UFU claims that firefighters have encountered gear with broken zippers, incorrect assembly, and even sleeves sewn shut, posing severe risks of injury or death.

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We've had items sewn on incorrectly, we've had things facing the wrong way, I think we had a sleeve sewn shut at one point in time.

"We seem to be faced with a massive failure of the PPE system in the MFS," said UFU acting secretary Peter Russell. He highlighted concerns about the zippers on even the newest gear, fearing they could fail during firefighting activities. Russell also pointed to significant delays in PPE laundering, with reports of gear taking six weeks or longer to return, leading to shortages and firefighters being reluctant to use contaminated equipment.

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If that PPE is not working properly a firefighter could be exposed to severe injury or they could be killed.

These issues have reportedly led to fire trucks being grounded, including at the Elizabeth MFS station during a long weekend. The UFU claims that old, substandard PPE sets, some dating back 25 to 30 years, have been reintroduced into circulation. In response, an MFS spokesperson stated that all current operational structural firefighting PPE meets industry standards and that there is sufficient supply. They also noted the introduction of new PPE since 2023, emphasizing that firefighter and community safety is paramount.

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Even the newest gear… we have a very severe concern that the zips on those ensembles are faulty and [are] capable of coming apart during firefighting activities, exposing firefighters to risks of severe burns or death.