ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 2, 2001
Author/Tom Easterbrook

AGM/Deputy Chief 665-6052
RTS NO. 01148

CC File No. 1203

Council: March 6, 2001

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	The General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services
SUBJECT:	Technical Rescue Service Contracts

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council authorize the General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services to enter into contracts, with other public and private entities, such as universities, industries, and other businesses, on a full cost for services basis, to provide Confined Space Technical Rescue Services with terms and conditions approved by the Director of Legal Services.

CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION

The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the above.

COUNCIL POLICY

It is Council policy that all changes in level of service are to be reported to Council.

The Vancouver Charter requires that expenditures approved by Council be fully funded.

Since January 1991, it has been Council policy to require departments to identify offsetting revenue or recovery increases or expenditures/reductions to ensure that fees recover the full cost of the services when new programs or staffing are proposed.

In 1995, Council approved Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services entering into contracts on a cost recovery basis with any organization operating in the City of Vancouver that requires W.C.B. High Angle Rescue services

On May 3, 1995 Council approved participation in Industry funded W.C.B. TechnicalHigh Angle Rope Rescue Program training, purchasing of equipment and formation of teams.

On January 25, 1995, Council approved the development of an Urban Search and Heavy Rescue Team contingent on receiving funds from the Federal Joint Emergency Preparedness Program.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request council approval to enter into contracts to provide Confined Space Technical Rescue Services (CSTRS) on a cost recovery basis to any organization operating in the City of Vancouver area that requests such services.

BACKGROUND

Prior to the year 1995, British Columbia's construction industry was required to provide for the rescue of employees who found themselves incapacitated in an uninhabitable position or atmosphere. Also, during those years, Lower Mainland Fire Departments were called upon by the WCB to train personnel in confined space technical rescue as a result of an incident on our waterfront in which industry members lost their lives and VFRS Rescuers had great difficulty mitigating the situation.

In 1995, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services entered into the B.C. Fire Services Rope Rescue Program. This program, coordinated by the WCB, provided minimal funding from various industries (in particular the construction industry), so that participating Fire Departments would be equipped and trained to provide High Angle Rescue Services. Contracts are signed with each company requesting service on an as needed basis, and funding is also received once per year through the WCB program.

DISCUSSION

Effective April 15, 1999, the new WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations came into effect. Under these regulations (9.37 (2)) an employer must provide for the rescue of workers entering a confined space. " If the rescue persons are employees of another firm, or an agency such as a Fire Department, there must be a written agreement detailing the services that are to be provided." These new regulations have placed an additional burden on various businesses including the City's Engineering Services Department, the Vancouver School Board, UBC, and private industry. In general these businesses are requesting that VFRS "contract or sign an agreement" with them to enable them to satisfy the new WCB Regulations.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services will have an increase in work load to administer thesecontracts and conduct site inspections on an as needed basis to preplan potential rescue situations in the City. Fees charged by VFRS would be approximately $1,000 per contact for contract administration. Fees charged to these industries on an annual basis, would be significantly lower than the cost to provide their own rescue team. The money earned from these agencies would help to offset additional administrative costs as well as some operational costs resulting from the Confined Space Rescue program's compliance with new WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (9.37 (2)). Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services would also seek recovery of the costs for equipment that is used or damaged during an actual rescue from the company involved, much as we charge for hazardous materials mitigation today.

The contract will be only for the provision of "rescue services" on a "rescue available" basis. It is not intended that Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services be involved in conducting "hazard assessments" for the company requesting a contract or helping them to develop their compliance procedures.

The total estimated amount of revenue that could be generated under this program conservatively, would be $20,000 annually.

CONCLUSIONS:

To comply with new WCB Regulation (9.37 (2)), Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services requires approval of Council to enter into contracts or agreements, on a cost recovery basis, to provide specialized Confined Space Rescue Services to various private industries and government agencies. Approval of this proposal will help offset the cost to the City of providing these technical rescue services.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver