Disasters Syllabus Notes

1. Disaster may be natural or caused by human activity

a.

Identify disasters as events associated w/ large-scale environmental or structural damage

and/or loss of life
A disaster is an occurrence in a community, which is beyond the ability of the community to cope. It
has to be declared a disaster by the premier.
b. Identify a range of natural disaster, w/ the aid of specific Australian examples
Type
Cyclones/Hurricanes

Floods

Earthquakes

Drought

Heatwaves
Storms

Tsunamis
Volcanic Eruption
Avalanche
Tornadoes
c.

Eg.

Cyclone Tracy
24-25 Dec, 1974
49 died
$717 million damage
Brisbane Floods
Jan, 1974
14 died
$280 million damage
Newcastle Earthquake
28 Dec, 1989
5.5 on Richter Scale
14 died
$1020 million damage
Aus always has some part in drought
1995
80% declared in drought
Sydney Hail Storm
15 April, 1999
2 lives
$1.5 billion damage
(Asian tsunami)
(Mt St Helens)
(Tornado Alley)

Identify a range of disasters associated w/ human activity using specific Australian examples

Type
Bridge Collapse
Rail Accident

Nautical Accident
Aeronautical Accident

Nuclear Explosion
Terrorism/War
Oil Spill

Eg.

Tasman Bridge Collapse

Granville Rail Diaster
Jan, 1977
80 died
HMAS Newcastle
Beechcraft King Air 200 in Qld
Sept, 2000
8 died
(Chernobyl)
(WWI)
Sydney Harbour
Aug, 1999
Shell refinery released 80 000L of crude oil

Toxic Release

(Minamata)

d. Identify specific Australian example where nature & human activity have combined to
produce disasters such as dust storms, shipwrecks, landslides & accidents
Type
Ship wrecks
Dust storms
Landslides

Famine
Epidemics
Algae Blooms
Bushfire

Eg.

Sydney to Hobart 1998

6 killed
Melbourne
8 Feb, 1983
Thredbo
30 July, 1997
18 killed
(Africa)
The Bubonic Plague
(AIDs, SARS, Avian Flu)
Ash Wednesday
Feb, 1983
75 deaths
2000 homes destroyed

Vic & SA
Gather & process information from 1st hand & 2ndary sources to identify insurance
compensation for natural disasters to discuss the definitions & terminology used.
Insurance: the homeowner pays a premium every year & if there is a breakage or damage the insurance
company pays to replace the damaged item
New & Replacement Costs: insurance companies have 2 values for home contents. New will pay for
replacing items w/ brand new ones & obviously replacement will only pay for 2nd hand.
Excess: Insurance policies have a set amount of money below which it is not worth claiming
Claim: if you have damage you need to apply to the company explaining the situation
In general NSW home policies cover:
o Earthquake
o Meteors
o Bushfires
o Storms (not water or through open enterances)
But do not cover:
o Floods
o Storm surges (water)
o War
o Pollution
o Terrorism
e.

f.

Gather, process & analyse information used from 2ndary sources to create a database of
natural disasters that have occurred w/in Australia since 1970. Include:
a. When it happened
b. Where it happened
c. Consequences of the disaster
d. Techniques employed to reduce the incidence of damage next time
e. Techniques employed to monitor disaster in the future

Where it Occurred
Derailment first occurred at the curve where the South West line joins the North West line,
between Parramatta & Granville Stations
The damage & bridge collapse occurred at the Bold Street Railway Bridge

When it Occurred
8.12am on the 18th of January, 1977
The train was travelling the 6.09am route from Mt Victoria to Sydney Central, arriving at 8.32am.
Consequences
85 ambulances fled to the scene
Phone line clogged w/ concerned relatives not knowing who or where to call for information
By 1pm that day, 2000 blood donations had been made by the general public
43 men, 36 women, 1 young girl died
Techniques for Monitoring Disasters in the Future
Better chain of command in rescue operations, as there was a lot of confusion for the first hour
of rescue operations as to how was in charge
Increased awareness of toxic shock injuries, the importance of monitoring these patients & the
importance of prioritising these injuries to prevent a build up of toxins
The importance of having an information line for the general public was highlighted by this
incident. After the accident the phone lines became blocked across the state for several hours. An
emergency information line set up by the government means that relatives have a number to call
for information & in past years has allowed general lines to be under less stress, during a disaster.
Techniques Employed to Reduce the Incidence of this Reoccurring
$200 million in five years for maintenance to NSW railways- something that has continued until
today
Speed limits have been assessed at hundreds of major corners to check the safe if the track slop is
correct
Changes were made to speed limits in over 60 places following the Granville Rail Disaster
Bridges, especially those over railways & other roads have had extra regulations. Now they need
to be single span w/ limited weight & pylons
To prevent the damage done o the carriages, carriages built now, such as those of the new
millennium train, are designed to absorb impact w/out collapsing & are stronger
2. Technological developments have improved our ability to monitor & predict weather patterns
a.

Define the term atmospheric pressure & describe the movement of air currents between
areas of high & low pressure
Atmospheric pressure: is the force per unit area due to the weight of the atmosphere (a layer of gases).
These gases are kept in place by the force of gravity. measured in hectoPascals.
Air moves from high air pressure to low air pressure. (breeze or wind)
Typically, the air pressure varies from about 980 hPa to 1100 hPa- normal is 1006 hPa

b. identify the distance between isobars on a weather map indicates the relative change in
atmospheric pressure in an area
If the isobars are close together, this means that places that are not far apart experience a large
difference in air pressure. As a result, the winds in this region will be strong.
If the isobars are a long way away from each other, this means that the difference in air pressure
between two places is not very large. As a result, the winds will be quite gentle.
c.

describe the relative pressures involved in the formation of tropical cyclones & tornadoes
Cyclones & tornadoes are examples of extremely violent storms produced by large differences in
air pressure. They are also known as typhoons or hurricanes, depending on where you live.
The factors they have in common are:
o They are formed when an area experiences extremely low air pressure
o They are produced by extreme difference in air pressure
o They often form over water & then move on to land
The differences include:
o Cyclones are longer in duration, have slower winds & are slower moving
o Tornadoes are shorter in duration, have faster winds & are faster moving

d. describe technological advances that contributed to increased understanding of meteorology

Meteorology is the study of the weather & climate. There are several major aspects to it:
o Measuring the characteristics of the weather
o Predicting the weather
o Researching ways to improve the measurement methods
To predict the weather, meteorologists need to measure quantities like air pressure, humidity,
temperature & wind speed & direction.
They are measured in as many places as possible, as often as possible, normally a person is needed
to make any measurement. These measurements then have to be interpreted to make predictions
about the weather.
The basic tools for measuring these characteristics include:
o Thermometer for temperature
o Barometer for air pressure
o Anemometer for wind speed
o Hygrometer (or wet & dry bulb thermometer) for humidity
The methods for measuring characteristics of the weather (and their accuracy) have improved
thanx to electronics & computers.
Datalogging equipment allows unstaffed stations to carry out measurements at regular intervals 24
hours a day.
o data can then be retrieved when needed.
o weather stations may be placed in the most inhospitable places & left to record
information w/out a person to run it.
o The measuring equipment has become more reliable & accurate thanks to different
sensors that can connect to Datalogging equipment.
Satellites orbit the Earth & make measurements of the atmosphere.
o includes taking photographs to show cloud movement
o remote sensing technology to measure other characteristics of the atmosphere.
e.

describe the relationship between the monitoring of weather patterns by radar & laser light
& the analysis of reflected wave patterns by computers
Radar
Developed in WWII
Radio detecting & ranging
Transmitter, receiver w/ amplifier, imager
Use microwaves
Waves reflect off clouds of rain
The time taken for the pulse to return tells the operator how far the clouds are away
The shapes of the waves tell us what they are showing
o Longer wavelengths used to show water
o Shorter wavelengths show vapour
Experienced operators can tell rain from hail & snow
Doppler Radar
Slightly different
Used to measure the speed of air
If wind is coming towards you its a different colour on the screen to wind moving away from you
It works the same way in which a police radar
The faster object is moving towards you the high frequency of the reflected wave
Lidar
Light detection & ranging
Measures distance
Measures speed
Measures rotation
Measures chemical composition & concentration

Used to study atmosphere including pollutant & gas concentration

f.

explain why satellite photographs of cloud patterns have improved the reliability of
interpretations of weather regularities & knowledge of global weather patterns
Help to trace the life cycle of weather systems,
better data about air pressure, cloud patterns & solar radiation estimates
A new Japanese-built satellite, MTSAT-1R, has started snapping hourly photographs of weather
fronts in the Asia-Pacific region & is beaming them down to a base station at Cribb Point, near
Hastings in Victoria.

VIS Images
Visual images
Photographs from satellites
Show cloud coverage
IR Images
Infared images
Used to find out about temp of oceans & the atmosphere
Radar Network
Radio waves are sent form a radio dish
Waves travel away from the dish & if they hit water or ice they are reflected back
Computers measure the time they take to return & calculate the distance to them
Computers then display the data on a colour coded map
PRAC- plan, choose equipment or resources for, & perform a 1st hand investigation to gather
available evidence to demonstrate the effect of differences in air pressure
Aim:
To observe the effect of air pressure
g.

Method:

OR

Set up a Bunsen burner

Boil water in conical flask
Once water is boiled, place hard boiled egg on the top of the conical flask
Watch the egg slip into the conical flask
gently place a burning candle or match into the bottom of a conical flask
place a hard boiled egg on top of the flask
watch the egg get sucked into the conical flask

Results:
The egg gets sucked into the conical flask

Discussion:
By boiling the water the sir in the flask is flowing out. The high pressure is pushing on the egg
making it go inside.
This is b/c High pressure always wants to go to the low pressure.
OR
By having a flame (vacuum) inside the conical flask the air pressure is reduced.
The egg is sucked in as the flask tries to gain normal air pressure once more.
h. gather 2ndary info & use the available evidence to compare changes in the relative air
pressure in an area over time & relate changes to changing weather patterns
High pressure systems
The air associated w/ a high pressure system sinks down from above & warms as it does so & is
very stable
When compared w/ low pressure systems, high tends to cover a greater area, move slowly & have
a larger life
Regions of sinking air are called highs, high pressure regions or anticyclones.
Clear skies & fair weather usually occur in these regions
Wind anti-clockwise
Low pressure system
develops where relatively warm air ascends from the Earths surface.
As the rising air cools, clouds will begin to form.

Regions of rising air are called lows, low pressure regions, depressions or cyclones. Clouds rain &

strong winds often occur in these regions.

Winds clockwise

Cold fronts
is the delineation between cold polar air moving towards the
equator & undercutting warm tropical air moving poleward.
associated w/ strong winds.
The warm tropical air is forced to rise & become unstable w/ the
development of large cumuliform clouds.
Severe weather such as thunderstorms, squall lines & severe
turbulence may accompany these cold fronts
On a weather chart, a cold front is repeated as a line w/ barbs
pointing in the direction of movement of the front, from cold to
warmer air

perform an investigation using 2nd hand data & use the available evidence to trace the
movement of a tropical cyclone
we used Bureau of Meteorology website to observe the movement of Cyclone Ingrid of the
Northern Qld & NT coastline, through 8 days.
(see attached sheet)
i.

3. Even w/ current technology, disasters such as earthquakes & bushfires are not easy to predict.
a. outline differences in P, S & L energy waves produced by an earthquake
P Waves
Primary waves
Fastest at 8km/sec
Can travel through gas, liquid & solid
Longitudinal or compression waves
Cause roaring sound of waves travelling through air
S Waves
Secondary or shear waves
Middle speed at 3.2-4.5km/sec
Can only travel through solids
Traverse waves- travel like rope side to side
More persistent than p waves
L Waves
Surface waves
Slowest at 2km/sec
Most destructive
Greater amplitude
Some are side to side, while others are like waves
b. identify energy transfers & transformations involved in L waves as they travel along the
earths crust
L waves are longitudinal waves which cause material which they travel through to vibrate in the
direction of the wave
the earths surface becomes successively squashed & stressed
the energy is transferred to the earths surface & to building & other structures.
Energy is transferred into sound energy

If the building doesnt have the strength or flexibility to cope w/ the movement, it will develop
cracks & may even collapse
c.

explain how the difference in time of arrival of P & S waves can be used to locate earthquake
epicentres
i. PRAC-Gather & process information from 2ndary sources to determine the location of an
earthquakes epicentre
Epicentre: the point on the earths surface that lies directly above the focus or origin of an earthquake
The differences in time between P, S & L waves can be used to locate the epicentre of an earthquake
To find epicentre
o Find the difference in arrival times between P & S waves from graph at 3 locations
o Use the time difference to look on the graph & find the distances- BE EXACT
o Using the scale on the map to draw circles around each time w/ a radius that matches
the distance info you obtained in step 2
d. describe the difficulties of monitoring & predicting earthquakes
extremely difficult to predict as little warning is available
place can be predicted though at boundaries at are weak places in the earths crust
short-term predictions:
o been made through micro-earthquakes- fore-shocks.
o This was used in China in 1975
long-term predictions look at:
o time since last earthquake
o rising & falling of surface of the ground

o
o
o
o
o

history of earthquakes in the area

changes in the electrical properties of rocks
changes to water levels in local wells
increased numbers of small earthquakes in the area
this is being used now in California, there is a large earthquake predicted for the next
5 years

e.

identify some of the conditions that can combine to trigger a bushfire, including dry weather,
high temps & flammable vegetation.

Many parts of Australia are at risk from bushfire

three things that are needed to keep a fire going:
o Fuel
o Air (or rather oxygen)
o Heat to start the fire or keep it going
Take away any of these three & the fire will stop
Conditions in our country can produce situations where all three requirements for fire are
abundant:
o Periods of hot, dry weather
can leave plants dead & dry; excellent fuel
o In some cases, materials left in & around homes provide a fuel source.
Usually this includes leaves & twigs in house gutters & litter & rubbish left
around the home
o Hot weather is often associated w/ strong winds.
This wind provides a great oxygen supply for the fire
can carry sparks, starting new fires in other places
o While the high temperatures of hot days are not enough to make fuel materials burst
into flames, thunderstorms often associated w/ hot, dry weather can start fires.
Some fires are started by accident,
through cigarette butts being thrown away carelessly
campfires not being put out properly
by burning off operations going wrong.
Some major bushfires have been lit on purpose by vandals
o Many of our native trees & shrubs contain chemicals in their sap which are very
flammable
o Some areas of our country are hilly or mountainous.
A fire started at the bottom of a hill will quickly race uphill since hot air
rises

f.

PRAC- Describe the effect of the slope of the land & intensity of the wind on the speed of
bushfires
Aim:
How does the slope of the land affect the speed that a fire will travel?
Method:
We set up 6 sets of matches as shown in the diagram. 3 sets were kept horizontal.
On the flat sets, one match at one end was ignited & the time for the last match to be lit was
recorded using a stopwatch
2 sets were put at angle & the bottom match was lit & the time for the last match to be lit was
recorded
1 set was set at an angle & the top match was ignited & time for the fire to move to the bottom
match was recorded.
Results:
Slop
Flat

Direction of Flame Travel

Time (sec)
0.09

Flat
Flat
Hill
Hill
Hill
Hill

5.84
0.02
2.85
1.85
0.02
2.87

Conclusion:
Fires travel faster uphills, than down hills as hot air & heat rise. This causes the vegetation ahead to dry
out faster & carries forward embers
Other info:
Slopes affect bushfires through:
o slopes facing south are generally wetter than slopes facing north
o harder for fire fighters to fight
o fires can jump ridges & trap fighters
Stronger winds provide:
o more oxygen for the fire to consume
o easier spreading path through the carrying of embers
o warmth (sometimes) which dries out foliage
o can swing around themselves & cause the bushfires to die out through lack of fuel
g.

Identify & describe some of the energy transfers & transformations associated w/ bushfires
When a bushfires ranges, it generates a huge amount of heat.
This heat produces a large amount of hot air that rises.
As a result of this rising air, a large convection current is produced, which is noticed as a very
strong wind, in front of the fire, blowing back towards the fire

h. Discuss the reduction of fuel by controlled burns & back-burns in reducing the risk of
bushfires
Controlled Burn: involves deliberately burning potential fuel for a fire when there is no wind
The fire is lit & watched carefully as it burns.
It is kept quite small so it doesnt generate enough heat to do major damage to other plant life.
The job of the fire is to burn up all the plant material which may pose a risk in summer so that
there will be less fuel around when summer comes
Back Burning: is a type of controlled burn, but are small fires lighten ahead of a major bushfire to
remove fuel
A fire is lit small distance in front of the fire. This fire is meant to use up fuel as the major fire
approaches.
The back burn must be lit far enough away so that it has enough time to burn up the fuel but not so
far that it can get away
A back burn is successful if it is lit close to the main fire so that, as the main fire approaches, the
wind it generates draws the flames & heat of the backfire itself. This will then mean that, as the
main fire & back burn join together, the fires run out of fuel & can be brought under control
The risk w/ back burning is that the back burn itself gets out of control making the fire worse
These aim to:
o Minimise the risk of bushfire
o Make wildfires easier to control by thinning or removing some of the vegetation
o Reduce the chances of fire starting
o Minimise the extent & intensity of wildfires
o Improve safety conditions for fire fighters
Bad affects include:
o Controlled burns happen more frequently than bushfires & are not a natural part of
the Aus ecosystem
o Only short term solution- in the long term ecosystems are simplified & flora is
modified, selecting fire-tolerant species that tend to be flammable

j.

gather & process information from 2ndary sources on the use of

a. seismographs
b. Richter Scale
c. Mercalli Scale
Seismographs
Records seismic waves
Measures the shocks & vibrations caused by the movement of rocks
Record both horizontal & vertical
Can be transferred through radios
Richter Scale
From 0 to 9
Each step is an 6x the previous- exponential
Classified according to the amount of energy involved
Measured on a scientific scale

Mercalli Scale
AKA Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
From 1 to 12
Based on peoples observations & experiences of damage
Not scientific
Lots of conflicting reports
k. gather, process & analyse info to identify types of native vegetation that promote the spread of
bushfires.
Trees w/ less flammable leave have leaves w/:
o A high salt content
o A high moisture content
o A low volatile oil content
o Thick bark
o Seeds protected by woody capsules
o Their lowest branches well out of reach of ground fires
Avoid trees that:
o Accumulate dead leaves around there base
o Have volatile oils- eucalypts, callistemons, & melaleucas
o Have loose, stringy bark that could fly off, carrying fire
Tree types & fire hazards:
o Foliage w/ low ash content is easier to ignite than that w/ high ash content. The ash
content of foliage is the material that remains after the foliage is burnt
Eucalypt foliage has an ash content of 3%, introduced conifers more than
3%, deciduous & evergreen hardwoods up to 8% & myoporum insulare
(common boobialla) up to 10%
o Many plants growing on saline soils absorb & accumulate salt in their foliage. This
salt retards burning even when the foliage is dry.
Such plants include Tamarix spp., (athel), Atriplex spp., (saltbush), Rhagodia
spp., (rhagodias), Eucalyptus sargentii, (Sargents mallet), E.occidentalis
(swamp yate) & E.kondininensis (stocking gum)
o Although our native eucalypts are volatile, many of tour native rainforest trees have
high moisture content. Examples are red cedars, flame trees & blueberry ash trees
l.

gather, process & analyse information on the use of natural resources to retard the progress
of fire, including:
a. water
b. natural plant
All plants will burn, but some are more tolerant of fire than other

o Severe fires cause more damage.

o Low to moderate fires scorch or burn plants.
o High intensity fires incinerate plants.
o Young plants are more susceptible to damage than mature plants
Features of plants that provide protection from fire include:
o High salt content of leaves
o High moisture content of leaves
o Low volatile oil content of leaves
o Thick bark protecting conductive tissues & dormant buds
o Seeds enclosed in woody capsules
o Dense crown
o Lowest branches out of reach of ground fires
Water is extremely valuable in defending your home against bushfires, providing you have
sufficient water supplies
o Tanks need to be above ground & not rely on pumps
o need at least 22 000 litres of water from a tank, dam or swimming pool. Dont rely on
mains water

m. gather, process & analyse 2ndary info to identify precautions that can be taken to minimise
the likelihood of damage by bushfire including the removal of flammable material & shrubs.
Prepare your home:
o Keep an area around you property low in vegetation, mown & well watered. Use fire
resistant vegetation w/ high moisture content in gardens around buildings
o Clear away overhanging branches
o Keep gutters clears of leaves, bark & twigs
o Fit fire gauze screens to windows & ventilations
o Ensure no flammable shrubs are growing close to the house
o Bow in open eaves & close up the openings
o Keep dry timber & rubbish away from your house
o Clear undergrowth away from any fences
o Store inflammable liquids away from the house
o Depending on the conditions of vegetation & slope a distance of at least 20-40m
should be kept between buildings & bushlands
n. PRAC- Perform an investigation to compare the flammability of dry & fresh leaves
Aim:
Do dry leaves ignite more quickly?
Risk Assessment:
There is fire involved.
It needs to be carefully watched.
We have a bucket of water near by.
We wore goggles to protect our eyes from sparks.

Smoke is a problem for people w/ asthma

Method:
Choose 2 leaves that are approx. the same size; one dry, one dead
Place each leave on the gauze mat, on the tripod & on the flame
We timed how long it took the leaves to ignite w/ a stop watch
The results were repeated as the students of the class did a pair each
Results:
STUDENTS
Amy
Ali
Lara & Rachel

Dry Leaves (s)

2.69
Only smoke
12.53

Fresh Leaves (s)

14.09
Only smoke
31.00

Lucy
Rachel
Jess

3.03
2.04
4.10

3.44
7.00
28.09

Discussion:
What things did you have to do to ensure the experiment was valid?
o Have the Same size leaves
o We all used the blue flame
o We had all the leave the height away from the Bunsen by using the tripod
o We had precise timing by stopping the timing as the leaves went up in flames
What things do you do to ensure the experiment is reliable?
o We repeated more than twice
Do you think you have enough results to support a conclusion?
o No. Although the test showed the same trend it should be repeated more
Would you say this is a destructive test or a non-destructive test?
o Destructive
Conclusion:
We found that dry leaves ignite faster than fresh leaves
o. Gather & process info to explain what steps should be taken if caught in a bushfire
If you are in a car:
o Stay w/ the car. Dont try to run away unless you can comfortably reach a safe refuge
o Dont drive through thick smoke. Accidents are often caused by panicking drivers on
smoke-filled roads
o Stop the vehicle on bare ground or on the road in an area of low undergrowth
o Wind up windows & close all vents
o Turn the ignition off & switch on headlights & hazard warning lights
o Shelter from the radiant heat by lying on the floor & covering yourself w/ a rug or
blanket
o Stay in the car until the main firefront has passed. You should remain in the car until
it is too hot to do so, even if the tyres are burning. Petrol tanks will not explode in the
time you need to stay in a car
o When you get out of the car, cover all exposed skin & move away from the vehicle to
an area of burnt of clear ground
o Once the danger is past, stay where you are. Once the country around you is burnt
there is no threat of the fire coming you way again. Driving on, you could run into
trouble again
If you are on foot:
o Dont run uphill away from an approaching fire unless you know of a safe refuge
nearby. Fire travels uphill 15 times faster than downhill. Do your best to stay on flat
ground & head for water
o Dont attempt to run through a firefront unless you are certain it is less than 1m deep
& 1m high
o Try to find open space, even if the ground is burnt
o Make yourself a firebreak. You can quickly clear away a lot of flammable material
o Seek shelter from radiant heat behind a log or large rock, if possible, or in a hollow
or depression in the ground
o To avoid smoke, lie face down on the ground
o Cover your body completely w/ clothing to shield you from the heat
o Keep a damp towel handy if possible, to assist you w/ breathing
o Never get into water tank or above ground pool. The water could heat up sufficiently
to be dangerous
o You can shelter in creeks, rivers, dams or in ground pools
o Dont position yourself under trees, which may drop boughs or burning debris
o In open country, make for rocky ground that has little fuel & wait for the fire to pass

Finally, never run blindly from a fire. If you become exhausted you are more prone to
heatstroke. A big fire moves very swiftly, particularly in strong winds. You will not
be able to outrun it

4. Warning devices can also be used to detect disasters associated w/ human activity
a. describe the energy transformations involved in the operation of a range of commonplace
warning & protection devices, including:
smoke detectors
fire alarms
sprinkler systems
the main idea in these is that a trigger (heat, smoke, light, movement) turns on something (switch) &
electrical energy is converted to sound and/or light
Smoke Detectors
Sense the presence of smoke in a building & warn the occupants w/ an alarm
Smoke detectors were developed b/c (in many fires), the smoke was noticeable & a risk to life before
the heat of the fire was great enough to set off sprinkler systems
Photoelectric smoke detectors use an optical beam to search for smoke
Smoke scatters the beam & an alarm is triggered
Light energy electrical energy sound energy
Fire Alarms
Provide earning in case of fire
Sense the present of flames w/ little smoke
Simple fire alarms:
simply respond by the heat of the fire causing a bimetal strip to bend so that the metal closes a
circuit that has a bell in it.
When the circuit is closed the bell rings.
Heat energy mechanical energy electrical energy sound energy
Sprinkler Systems
Automatic sprinkler systems are used in building w/ limited evacuation points eg high rises
Use water to suppress fires
Set off in a small section of a building to prevent water damage
sprinkler system respond:
o by the heat of the fire melting a seal in a sprinkler system
o same bimetal strip principle as fire alarms
this is better b/c they can turn themselves off & reduce water damage
heat energy electrical energy
b. gather & process info from 1st hand investigations to determine:
the type
specific use
location
maintenance schedule

of fire extinguishers located w/in a workplace

c. plan, choose equip or resources for & perform a 1st hand investigation to construct a working
alarm or safety device
Aim:
To construct a heat alarm that works
Method:
Set up the following.
Wait for the bell to sound

Discussion:
What are the risks?
o Getting burnt from hot metals

Is it a destructive test or not?

o It is not destructive
How did you test you device?
o We put a Bunsen under the metal so it would bend. So that it would hit the wire to
close the circuit & ring the bell (Bunsen = Fire). You could also see how far you
could go before the bell could no longer be heard
Was it affective?
o Yes. As it set of the alarm

d. gather info from 2ndary sources to identify evacuation drill procedures & assess their
appropriateness in an emergency situation
Employers Responsibilities
Preparation:
o Dont block fire exits or doorways, halls or stairways
o Test regularly all back-up systems, such as emergency lighting & communication
systems, & repair them as needed
o Develop a workplace evacuation plan, post it prominently on each floor, & review it
regularly to ensure its effectiveness
o Identify & train floor warden, including back-up personnel, who will be responsible
for sounding alarms & helping to evacuate employees
o Conduct emergency evacuation drill periodically
o Establish designated meeting locations outside the building. location should be a safe
distance from the building
o Identify personnel w/ special needs or disabilities who need help evacuating assign
one or more people, including back-up personnel, to help them
o Ensure that during off-hour periods, systems are in place to notify, evacuate &
account for off-hour building occupants
o Post emergency numbers near telephones
During an alarm:
o Sound appropriate alarm & instruct employees to leave the building
o Alert police, firefighters or other appropriate emergency personnel
o Take a role of employees at designated meeting locations & notify emergency
personnel of any missing workers
Employees
Preparation
o
o
o
o
o

Be familiar w/ the work sites emergency evacuation plan

Know the way to at least two alternative exits from every room/area at the workplace
Recognise the sound/signaling method of the fire/evacuation alarms
Know who & how to contact in an emergency
Know how many desks or cubicles are between your workstation & the two of the
nearest exits so you can escape in the dark if necessary
o Know where the fire/evacuation alarms are located & how to use them
o Report damaged or malfunction safety systems & back-up systems
In an emergency
o Leave the area quickly but in an orderly manner, following the work sites emergency
evacuation plan.
o Go directly to the nearest fire-free & smoke-free stairwell recognising that in some
circumstances that only available exit route may contain limited amounts of smoke &
fire
o Listen carefully for instructions over the buildings public address system
o Crawl low, under the smoke to breathe cleaner air if there is a fire.
o Test doors for heat before opening the by placing the back of your hand against the
door so you dont burn you palm & fingers. Dont open a hot door, but find another
exit route.

o
o
o
o

Keep fire doors closed to slow the spread of smoke & fire
Avoid using elevators when evacuating a burning building
Report to the designated meeting place
Dont re-enter the building until directed by authorities

e. analyse info & use available evidence to identify appropriate locations for smoke & fire

detection in a workplace
Smoke Detectors
o not too near a stove or fireplace- it would constantly be falsely going off
o however one should be nearby, as this is the most likely spot for a fire to get out of
control
o Being close to a sucking vent isnt good neither as it will be sucking in all the smoke
nor the detector wont go off
o As hot air rises a good place is on the ceiling of the staircase
o The sound has to be loud & travel into rooms to wait sleeping people
Fire detectors
o It should be in an convenient place were it can detect heat
o It would be wise on the ceiling as hot air rises

5. Emergency services also assist in the prevention or minimisation of disasters

a. identify the role of & account for the need for coordination help services in time of potential
disaster including:
police
fire brigade
ambulance
SES
RFS
Community organisations
Service
Role(s)
Police
Ensure peace & order
Crowd control
Media
Evidence
Sometimes investigate causes esp. if man made
Fire Brigade
Fight fires
Rescue people when trapped (esp. jaws of life)
Look after chemical spills/leaks
Prevent fire
Ambulance
Provide first aid & treatment
Stabilise so can be transported to hospitals
Triage
Decide on what resources will be needed
SES
Assist in search & rescue
Providing relief supplies
Help to secure properties
Assist w/ cleaning in aftermath
RFS
Fight fires in bush areas
Prevent fires
Education
Community
Organising volunteers
organisations
Collect materials & aid
Help to manage emergency relief
Accommodation & emotional/long term help

b. assess impacts of technological developments on the warning that can be provided about
impending disasters
Some technological developments help provide warning of impending disasters while others help
w/ activities during & after the disaster
Warning systems include:
o Better monitoring systems to help predict weather, earthquake dangers, floods &
bushfire danger
o Improved communications networks using satellite systems, radio & telephone to
detect & warn people of changing conditions
o Support systems during & after disasters include:
o Improved infrastructure such as roads to help transport
o Improved paramedic facilities such as ambulance & search & rescue services
Technology has greatly improved the way in which society copes w/ disasters by providing early
warning signs:
o Technology has allowed warnings through early recognition of potential hazards in
weather conditions, flooding & even volcanic activity
These early warnings rely on availability of broadcasting techniques such as radio & television
gather & process info from 1st hand investigations & 2ndary sources to identify
the phone numbers for the relevant services in the local region
the disasters that each service deals w/
the sequence of coordinated help involving these services
The Police
They help control bystanders
They also co-ordinate every other services in making sure they are doing there jobs
Investigate causes
c.

The Fire Brigade

They help put out the bushfires & attend to other fires
Evacuation
Fire prevention
First aid
Clean up
Assist to in resuces
The Ambulance
They provide First Aid to injured people
They also rush the extremely injured people to hospital
Rescuing of victim (esp. paramedics)
SES (State Emergency Service)
They are volunteers helping communities cope w/ emergencies
It is almost made up of all volunteers
While our major responsibilities are for flood & storm operations, the SES also provides the
majority of general rescue effort in the rural parts of the state
Search & rescue
Clean up
RFS (Rural Fire Service)
Assists w/ fires (bushfires & all)
Clean up
evacuation
Red Cross

Their main task is to provide a search for missing people from disasters
Food
Shelter
Medical help

St Vincents De Paul
They provide food
They provide clothes
They provide temporary homes