POLICY REPORT
                             PUBLIC SAFETY

                                               Date:  May 19, 1995

     TO:       Vancouver City Council

     FROM:     Assistant  Fire  Chief,  Training, in  consultation
               with  the  Directors  of Legal  Services  and  Risk
               Management

     SUBJECT:  Provincial Fire Services Rope Rescue Program


     RECOMMENDATION

          THAT Council rescind its  April 25, 1995 resolution that
          the Workers' Compensation Board indemnify  the City with
          respect  to  the  Provincial Fire  Services  Rope Rescue
          Program.


     GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

          The General Manager of Fire & Rescue Services RECOMMENDS
          approval of the foregoing.


     COUNCIL POLICY

     Council  has  a policy  of  not accepting  the  obligation to
     deliver service on  behalf of other agencies  unless the City
     is indemnified, or unless  the City is legally obliged  to do
     so.

     Rescinding the  April 25, 1995 motion  requires two-thirds of
     Council present at the meeting.


     BACKGROUND

     On April 25, 1995,  Council approved the City's participation
     in  the Fire Service Rope Rescue Program.  Under the program,
     the construction  industry funds high angle  rescue equipment
     and  training.   As  a  condition  of participation,  Council
     directed that Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) indemnify the
     City.


     DISCUSSION

     Rescues  under this  program  involve high  angle rescues  of
     construction  industry employees.   WCB  are (understandably)
     unwilling  to  provide  indemnification in  relation  to non-
     employees since high angle  rescues of non-employees would be
     undertaken in  the normal course  of Fire  Services, with  or
     without participation in the Rope Rescue program.  Section 10
     of the  Workers Compensation  Act precludes an  employee from
     suing the City for  damages in such a circumstance  and there
     is, therefore,  no need  for a separate  indemnification from
     WCB for employee-related liability.

     To the extent that specialized equipment and training in this
     area will make Fire  Services personnel better able  to carry
     out such  rescues, the City's  liability is  reduced in  non-
     employee rescues as well.


     CONCLUSION

     Given  that the City is  protected by legislation from claims
     from  workers  arising  under  the  Rope  Rescue  Program,  a
     separate indemnity from WCB is not necessary.



                           *   *   *   *   *