RTC Vehicle Stabilisation

[toby14483]

I don't know, if you start thinking like that, they will replace the triple ex and the salvage sheet with a paddling pool.

[Chunty]

I agree with you Toby; 'improvise adapt and overcome'; there can't always be the perfect tool for every job and when there's not that's when we think laterally (or some don't and stand around moaning because they haven't got the right tool for the job). The historical strength of this country has been based on a sense of humour and a determination to get on with a task in the face of adversity; let's not let fire service indoctrination in to the nanny state mentality turn us in to mindless tool operators.

The skill is good old fashioned common sense, more fashionably called 'dynamic risk assessment', in other words knowing when adapting something crosses the line of safe practical improvisation in to a pursuit of recklessness; and judging that will depend on the seriousness of the situation you are engaging in; doesn't this again sound similar to dynamic risk assessment; balancing the risks against the benefits. With that in mind we shouldn't be using H&S legislation as a reason not to do something, we should be using it as a way of ensuring we can do it... with sufficient consideration given to our own safety.

In this day and age or any other for that matter I will be doing what can be done when it needs to be done.

[Kaiser]

Whilst I agree with you to some extent that we are becoming a bit of a nanny state and things have worked well for years before the stabfast was introduced.  Let's not overlook the reason why so many brigades are buying it, it works, it works extremely well, it works way faster than ladders with lines or ratchets, and it is designed to work safely specifically for this purpose.
Saying that "WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT LIKE THIS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GOOD ENOUGH" may be very true, but if there's a good piece of kit out there that makes us even better and safer without ton's of over the top proceedures, let's spread the word and get all firefighters some of this kit all over the country.  Sometimes, we firefighters are our own worst enemies because we muddle on using old kit and ideas when there are far more efficient ways of doing things.  I'm not putting any brigades down that don't have this kit, all I'm saying is don't knock it until you've tried it because it really is good stuff.