Each year the Northern Ireland Safety Group arranges its June meeting to an external venue where members can learn about health and safety systems in an alternative environment which, perhaps, has unique systems in place with regard to health and safety – this was certainly the case for the out meeting that took place this year.

On 23^rd June, members of the Group travelled to the Central Station of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service where the ‘Specialist Rescue Team’ were their hosts.  Headed by Station Commander Max Joyce, the Specialist Rescue Team are, as their name suggests, a 13 man strong team who can be called upon to attend emergency rescue situations throughout Northern Ireland, but also travel extensively around the world so that others can avail of their specialist knowledge. 

The afternoon began with a power-point presentation by Station Commander Joyce during which he advised those present of the work of the team and the equipment available to them. The work of the team is certainly varied and all members of the team are trained in such a way that they have expertise in a number of disciplines to ensure that the Group can operate to its full capacity at all times – its worth remembering also that all team members must maintain their normal skills as fire fighters!

Operations of the team are diverse – rescues can take the form of a collapsed building, rescues from fast running rivers, floods in Belfast to cliff top rescues – to mention but a view. Following the presentation everyone moved outside where they were given demonstrations of the specialist equipment available to the team.  To round off the visit seven lucky members abseiled down the Fire Tower in Central Central Station – a first time for all but one of them.

The visit to the Specialist Rescue Team was certainly worthwhile and was enjoyed by everyone who attended.  The Group is particularly grateful to Station Commander Boyce and his team for making the visit so worthwhile.