Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Firefighting
Staff Death and Disability) Award 2024
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Application by Industrial Relations Secretary.
(Case No. 68974 & 301376 of 2024)
|
Before Commissioner McDonald
|
13 March 2026
|
AWARD
1. Introduction,
Intentions and Commitments
1.1 This Award shall
be known as the "Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Firefighting Staff
Death and Disability) Award 2024".
1.2 The intentions
and commitments of this Award are to: -
1.2.1 Promote
firefighters’ health and fitness and to assist firefighters in meeting the
occupational requirements of their job.
1.2.2 Provide practical
support, education and assistance to firefighters through structured health and
fitness programs.
1.2.3 Provide
rehabilitation and retraining for permanent firefighters suffering partial and
permanent incapacity.
1.2.4 Provide benefits
in the event of the death or the termination of employment of permanently
incapacitated firefighters.
2. Index
1. Introduction,
Intentions and Commitments
2. Index
3. Definitions
4. Health
Screening
5. Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund
6. Contributions
to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund
7. Other
Benefits Applicable to Firefighters
8. Medical
Retirement
9. "On
Duty" Death Benefits
10. "On
Duty" Total and Permanent Incapacity Benefits
11. "Off
Duty" Death and Total and Permanent Incapacity Benefits
12. Rehabilitation
and Retraining for Permanent Firefighters who suffer Partial and Permanent
Incapacity
13. Partial and
Permanent Incapacity Benefits
14. Assessment
of Entitlement to Benefits
15. Grievance
Mechanism
16. Anti-Discrimination
17. Area,
Incidence, Duration and Parties Bound
Schedule 1 - 2022 Award Health Checks Provisions
3. Definitions
"actuary" means an actuary appointed by the
Trustee of the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund.
"compulsory employer superannuation contributions
"has the same meaning as it has in sub-sections 8(1) and (2) of the Aware
Super Act 1992.
"Deemed annual salary" means the "Per
Week" rate of pay of a Qualified Firefighter as set out at Table 1 of
Schedule 1 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent Firefighting
Staff) Award multiplied by 52.1785.
"Deemed fortnightly salary" means the "Per
Week" rate of pay of a Qualified Firefighter as set out at Table 1 of
Schedule 1 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent Firefighting
Staff) Award multiplied by 2.
"Death and Disability Superannuation Fund" means
the superannuation fund established in accordance with this Award.
"Electricity Industry Superannuation Scheme"
("EISS") has the same meaning as it has in the Superannuation
Administration Act 1996.
"FBEU" means the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union of
New South Wales.
"FRNSW" means Fire and Rescue New South Wales,
established by the Fire Brigades Act 1989 and as a Public Service
Executive Agency under Schedule 1 of the Government Sector Employment Act
2013.
"firefighter" means either a permanent firefighter
or a retained firefighter as defined in this clause.
"First State Superannuation Scheme"
("FSS") means the superannuation scheme established under the Aware
Super Act 1992.
"Judges Pension Scheme" ("JPS") means
the superannuation scheme established under the Judges’ Pensions Act
1953.
"Local Government Superannuation Scheme"
("LGSS") has the same meaning as it has in the Superannuation
Administration Act 1996.
"off duty injury" means any personal injury or
disease which is not an on duty injury.
"on duty injury" means personal injury arising out
of or in the course of employment as a firefighter and includes a disease which
is contracted by a firefighter in the course of his/her employment as a
firefighter and to which the employment was a contributing factor, and the
aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any disease, where
his/her employment as a firefighter was a contributing factor to the
aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration but does not include a
personal injury or disease arising out of or in the course of journeying to or
from work subject to the proviso that a retained firefighter responding to an
incident shall be considered to be on duty from the time of call.
"ordinary duties" means the full range of work
that was usually performed by the firefighter immediately prior to suffering
the condition, illness or injury that caused them to cease to perform, in whole
or in part, such work.
"Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund"
("PCSF") means the fund referred to in section 5 of the
Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1971.
"partial and permanent incapacity" means that a
firefighter is no longer fit to carry out the full range of his/her ordinary
duties with FRNSW.
"PBRI" means the Police Blue Ribbon Insurance
arrangements established under the Police Amendment (Death and Disability)
Regulation 2011.
"permanent firefighter" has the same meaning as
‘employee’ under the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent
Firefighting Staff) Award.
"Police Superannuation Scheme" ("PSS")
means the superannuation scheme established under the Police Regulation
(Superannuation) Act 1906.
"retained firefighter" has the same meaning as
‘employee’ under the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Retained Firefighting
Staff) Award.
"spouse" means a person who falls within the
definition of "spouse" or "de facto partner" in the Superannuation
Act 1916.
"State Authorities Non-contributory Superannuation
Scheme" ("SANCS") means the superannuation scheme established
under the State Authorities Non-contributory Superannuation Act 1987.
"State Authorities Superannuation Scheme"
("SASS") means the superannuation scheme established under the State
Authorities Superannuation Act 1987.
"State Superannuation Scheme" ("SSS")
means the superannuation scheme established under the Superannuation Act
1916.
"total and permanent incapacity" means that the
firefighter is unlikely, by reason of ill-health (whether physical or mental)
to ever again engage in gainful employment for which the firefighter is
reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.
4. Health Screening
4.1 The parties
agree and accept the need for a non-compulsory and non-punitive health screening
program that is underpinned by practical support, education and assistance
provided by FRNSW.
4.2 The parties
agree that the Health Screening Program will be in accordance with clause 60 of
the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent Firefighting Staff) 2024
Award for permanent firefighters and clause 53 of the Crown Employees (Fire and
Rescue NSW Retained Firefighting Staff) Award 2024 for retained firefighters.
4.3 The Health
Screening program referenced in subclause 4.2 will replace the current Health
Checks system provided for under this Award and will operate for a trial basis
for 36 months commencing on a date to be agreed between FRNSW and FBEU. The
current clauses relating to Health Checks (as contained at clause 8 and
Annexure A of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Firefighting Staff Death
and Disability Award 2022 and replicated at Schedule 1 of this Award) will have
no application (with the exception of that provided for by clauses 8.1 (c),
14.1 and Fitness Drills at 8 (a) and (b) of Annexure A of Schedule 1) until the
expiry of the 36 month trial period at which point they will either be removed
from the Award by consent of the parties or become re-operative, following
consultation between the parties in accordance with clause 9 of the Crown
Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent Firefighting Staff) 2024 Award and
clause 8 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Retained Firefighting
Staff) Award 2024.
5. Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund
5.1 FRNSW will
maintain, with the agreement of the FBEU, a Death and Disability Superannuation
Fund to pay the benefits prescribed by clauses 9, 10 and 11 of this Award. The
Fund shall operate in accordance with relevant Commonwealth legislation and the
terms of the trust deed by which it is created.
5.2 The terms of the
trust deed by which the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund is created
shall provide that the Trustee of the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund
is required to reduce the benefits otherwise payable from the said fund so as
to offset any benefits prescribed by this Award that have previously been paid
from the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund or by FRNSW pursuant to this
Award.
6. Contributions to
the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund
6.1 Subject to
subclause 6.2, permanent firefighters who are less than 67 years of age and who
are covered by FSS or who are contributors to SASS or who have elected under
section 9 of the Aware Super Act 1992 to make other arrangements shall
each fortnight contribute an amount equivalent to 0.8 per cent of the Deemed
fortnightly salary to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund.
6.2 Permanent
firefighters who contribute to SASS and who contribute for additional benefit
cover shall within three months of commencing employment make an election on a
"once only" basis, whether they wish to contribute to the Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund. Permanent firefighters who elect to not
contribute to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund shall not be
eligible to receive a pension or lump sum payment prescribed by this Award.
6.3 The
contributions prescribed by this Award in relation to permanent firefighters
who are contributors to SASS are additional to the contributions that they are
required to make under the State Authorities Superannuation Act 1987.
6.4 Notwithstanding
the provisions of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent
Firefighting Staff) Award and the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Retained
Firefighting Staff) Award, a firefighter who is required or elects to make
contributions pursuant to this clause will do so by sacrificing an amount of
unearned salary equivalent to the firefighter’s contribution pursuant to this
clause, unless they elect to contribute from their post-tax salary. Such salary
sacrifice shall not be taken into account for the purpose of calculating the
remuneration that the firefighter would have received in the event that no
salary sacrifice had been applicable.
6.5 Subject to
subclause 6.6, FRNSW shall each fortnight contribute an amount equivalent to
0.5 per percent of the Deemed fortnightly salary to the Death and Disability
Superannuation Fund in respect of each retained firefighter who is less than 67
years of age.
6.6 FRNSW shall each
fortnight contribute an amount equivalent to 0.2 percent of the Deemed
fortnightly salary to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund in respect
of each retained firefighter who is less than 67 years of age and who, by
virtue of their primary employment, is already a member of SSS, PSS, the LGSS
or EISS Division D "Defined Benefit Scheme", the JPS, PCSF, PBRI or
who is a LGSS or EISS Division B "Retirement Scheme" member with
additional benefit cover or who is a SASS member with additional benefit cover.
6.7 FRNSW shall
contribute to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund such sum as may be
necessary to meet any shortfall between the Fund’s reserves and that sum that
it needs in order to pay the superannuation pensions and superannuation lump
sum benefits prescribed by this Award (or past Awards).
6.8 A firefighter on
any form of leave without pay shall continue to be covered by this Award and
shall be required to make the contributions that he/she would otherwise have
made had he/she not been on leave without pay.
6.9 FRNSW shall each
fortnight deduct the contributions that firefighters are required or elect to
make pursuant to this clause from their salaries and forward such contributions
together with the contributions that FRNSW is required to make in respect of retained
firefighters to the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund.
7. Other. Benefits Applicable to Firefighters
7.1 The benefits
conferred upon firefighters by this Award shall be in addition to those
benefits otherwise payable under the FSS Scheme, the SASS scheme and/or the Workers
Compensation Act 1987 and Workplace Injury Management and Workers
Compensation Act 1998, as varied from time to time.
8. Medical Retirement
8.1 A firefighter
who has either:
(a) been directed
to access their benefits under this Award by FRNSW in accordance with clause 60
of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent Firefighting Staff) Award
and Clause 53 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Retained Firefighting
Staff) Award; and/or
(b) has reason,
supported by medical information, to believe that they may be unfit for duty,
permanently or otherwise;
can access the benefits provided for under clause 10,
11 and 13 of this Award.
(c) Where FRNSW
disagrees with the medical information at subclause 8.1 (b) above, Clause 8 at
Schedule 1 will apply.
9. "On Duty"
Death Benefits
9.1 The benefits
prescribed by this clause are payable from the Death and Disability
Superannuation Fund.
9.2 In the event
that an on duty injury results in the death of a firefighter for whom the Death
and Disability Superannuation Fund is receiving contributions pursuant to
subclause 6.1 or 6.5, a fortnightly pension equivalent to 40% of the Deemed
fortnightly salary shall be paid to the deceased firefighter’s spouse until
that spouse’s death.
9.3 Children’s
pensions shall be payable in addition to the spouse pension payable under subclause
9.2 on the same basis as in SSS, provided that such fortnightly pensions shall
be set at a rate equivalent to 5% of the Deemed fortnightly salary in respect
of each eligible child.
9.4 Pensions shall
be able to be commuted on the same basis as in SSS.
9.5 The provisions
of the other subclauses of this clause shall not apply in the event that an on
duty injury results in the death of a firefighter who does not have a spouse at
the time of his or her death. In such cases, the firefighter’s death shall, for
the purposes of this Award, be treated as if it was the result of an off duty
injury and a lump sum payment shall be paid from the Death and Disability
Superannuation Fund in accordance with the following table.
|
Age
|
Benefit as a
multiple of the Deemed Annual Salary
|
|
59 and under
|
4.8
|
|
60
|
4.2
|
|
61
|
3.6
|
|
62
|
3.0
|
|
63
|
2.4
|
|
64
|
1.8
|
|
65
|
1.2
|
|
66
|
0.6
|
|
67
|
0.0
|
9.6 A minimum guaranteed
lump sum benefit is payable in the same circumstances as prescribed in section
31A of the Superannuation Act 1916, but the "minimum benefit"
as defined in section 31A(7) will not apply and for the purposes of this Award
the minimum benefit shall be the amount that would have been payable under
subclause 9.5 had the firefighter not had a spouse at the time of the
firefighter’s death.
9.7 The fortnightly
pensions payable under this clause shall continue to be adjusted throughout the
life of each such pension in line with movements in the Deemed salary.
9.8 In the case of a
retained firefighter for whom the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund is
receiving contributions pursuant to subclause 6.6 and who suffers death as the
result of an on duty injury and who, by virtue of his/her primary employment,
was already a member of SSS, PSS, the LGSS or EISS Division D "Defined
Benefit Scheme", the JPS, PCSF (or such other public sector defined
benefit schemes as agreed between the parties), PBRI or who was a LGSS or EISS
Division B "Retirement Scheme" member with additional benefit cover
or who was a SASS member with additional benefit cover, the other benefits of
this clause shall not be payable and a lump sum benefit equivalent to 20% of
the Deemed annual salary shall instead be paid to the deceased retained
firefighter’s estate.
10. "On
Duty" Total and Permanent Incapacity Benefits
10.1 The benefits prescribed
by this clause are payable from the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund.
10.2 In the event that
an on duty injury results in the total and permanent incapacity of a
firefighter for whom the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund is receiving
contributions pursuant to subclause 6.1 or 6.5, a fortnightly pension
equivalent to 60% of the Deemed fortnightly salary shall be paid to the
firefighter until his or her 67th birthday or death (whichever the earlier).
10.3 Pensions shall be
able to be commuted at age 60 or any time thereafter, with the commuted lump
sum to be determined in accordance with the table at subclause 9.5.
10.4 Where a former
firefighter in receipt of a total and permanent incapacity pension suffers
death prior to his or her 67th birthday then a lump sum amount determined in
accordance with clause 11 shall be paid to the deceased former firefighter’s
estate.
10.5 To avoid doubt,
the lump sum payments under subclauses 10.3 and 10.4 shall be determined by the
former firefighter’s age at the time of commutation or death, as the case may
be, and not their medical retirement
10.6 The fortnightly
pensions payable under this clause shall continue to be adjusted throughout the
life of each such pension in line with movements in the Deemed salary
10.7 In the case of a
retained firefighter for whom the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund is
receiving contributions pursuant to subclause 6.6 and who suffers total and
permanent incapacity as the result of an on duty injury and who, by virtue of
his/her primary employment, is already a member of SSS, PSS, the LGSS or EISS
Division D "Defined Benefit Scheme", the JPS, PCSF (or such other
public sector defined benefit schemes as agreed between the parties), PBRI or
who is a LGSS or EISS Division B "Retirement Scheme" member with
additional benefit cover or who is a SASS member with additional benefit cover,
the other benefits of this clause shall not be payable and the retained
firefighter shall instead be paid a lump sum benefit equivalent to 20% of the
Deemed annual salary.
11. "Off
Duty" Death and Total and Permanent Incapacity Benefits
11.1 The benefits
prescribed by this clause are payable from the Death and Disability
Superannuation Fund.
11.2 Subject to
subclause 11.4, in the event that an off duty injury results in the death or
total and permanent incapacity of a firefighter for whom the Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund is receiving contributions pursuant to subclause
6.1 or 6.5, a lump sum payment in accordance with the scale set out in
subclause 11.3 shall be paid to the firefighter or his/her estate.
11.3 For the purposes
of this subclause, a firefighter’s age shall be his/her age at the time of
his/her death or at the date that he/she ceases to be employed by FRNSW or at
such earlier date as may be determined by the Trustee of the Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund.
|
Age
|
Benefit as a
multiple of the Deemed Annual Salary
|
|
59 and under
|
4.8
|
|
60
|
4.2
|
|
61
|
3.6
|
|
62
|
3.0
|
|
63
|
2.4
|
|
64
|
1.8
|
|
65
|
1.2
|
|
66
|
0.6
|
|
67
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
11.4 The Benefit as a
multiple of the Deemed annual salary as set out in clause 11.3 shall only apply
to permanent firefighters. In the case of retained firefighters, their Benefit
shall be determined as 62.5 percent of the corresponding benefit for permanent
firefighters.
11.5 Retained
firefighters for whom the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund is receiving
contributions pursuant to subclause 6.6 and who suffer death or total
incapacity as the result of an off duty injury and who, by virtue of their
primary employment, are already members of SSS, PSS, the LGSS or EISS Division
D "Defined Benefit Scheme", the JPS, PCSF (or such other public
sector defined benefit schemes as agreed between the parties), PBRI or who are
LGSS or EISS Division B "Retirement Scheme" members with additional
benefit cover or who are SASS members with additional benefit cover shall not
be entitled to the other benefits of this clause and a lump sum benefit
equivalent to 20% of the Deemed annual salary shall instead be paid to such
retained firefighters or their estate.
12. Rehabilitation and
Retraining for Permanent Firefighters Who Suffer Partial and Permanent
Incapacity
12.1 Every permanent
firefighter who suffers partial and permanent incapacity (PPI) shall receive
extensive rehabilitation/retraining with the objective placing them in a
suitable position within FRNSW. All reasonable efforts will be made by FRNSW to
ensure that a permanent firefighter who suffers PPI is so placed, including by
identifying potential employment opportunities as soon as practicable and
directing the firefighter’s rehabilitation/retraining to that end, and in
consultation with the firefighter concerned and the FBEU (unless the
firefighter expressly declines to agree to the FBEU being informed).
12.2 Where FRNSW
believes that, notwithstanding every reasonable effort to the contrary, a
suitable position may not be found for a permanent firefighter who, by reason
of PPI, is undergoing rehabilitation/retraining, the firefighter concerned and
the FBEU (unless the firefighter expressly declines to agree to the FBEU being
informed) shall be informed at the earliest possible opportunity.
12.3 The employment of
a permanent firefighter who suffers PPI will not be terminated because of the
lack of a suitable position within FRNSW without the firefighter’s consent. In
the event that the firefighter does not consent, an adequate opportunity will be
given to the firefighter concerned and the FBEU (unless the firefighter
expressly declines to agree to the FBEU being informed) to consider FRNSW’s
opinion that no suitable position is available and to put that opinion into
dispute in accordance with the dispute resolution clause in this Award.
12.4 The parties agree
that it is anticipated that the rehabilitation/retraining and associated
forward planning associated will minimise the likelihood that any permanent
firefighter who suffers PPI will be terminated because at the end of their
rehabilitation/retraining, a suitable position is not available.
13. Partial and
Permanent Incapacity Benefits
13.1 The partial and
permanent incapacity benefits prescribed by this clause are provided and
payable by FRNSW.
13.2 FRNSW may
terminate the employment of a firefighter who suffers partial and permanent
incapacity. Subject to subclause 13.3, a firefighter whose employment is
terminated because the firefighter suffers partial and permanent incapacity
shall be given the option of:
13.2.1 being paid a lump
sum payment in accordance with this clause immediately upon termination; or
13.2.2 deferring a lump
sum payment in accordance with this clause pending the determination of the
firefighter’s claim for a total and permanent incapacity benefit.
13.3 Subject to
paragraph 13.2.2, a firefighter whose employment is terminated because the
firefighter suffers partial and permanent incapacity shall be paid a lump sum
payment in accordance with the scale set out below:
|
Age
|
Benefit as a
multiple of the Deemed Annual Salary
|
|
|
for permanent
firefighters
|
for retained
firefighters
|
|
52 and under
|
3.08
|
0.308
|
|
53
|
2.81
|
0.281
|
|
54
|
2.53
|
0.253
|
|
55
|
2.25
|
0.225
|
|
56
|
1.95
|
0.195
|
|
57
|
1.65
|
0.165
|
|
58
|
1.34
|
0.134
|
|
59
|
1.02
|
0.102
|
|
60
|
0.69
|
0.069
|
|
61
|
0.35
|
0.035
|
|
62
|
0
|
0
|
14. Assessment of
Entitlement to Benefits
14.1 Entitlement to the
partial and permanent incapacity benefits provided by FRNSW pursuant to this
Award shall be assessed through the mechanism provided for in the provisions
contained at Schedule 1 of this Award titled "Clause 8. Assessment of
Fitness for Duty and Permanent Incapacity".
14.2 Entitlement to
receive a total and permanent incapacity or death benefit from the Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund shall be assessed in accordance with relevant
Commonwealth legislation and the terms of the trust deed by which the Fund
operates.
14.3 To avoid doubt, a
firefighter can receive either a total and permanent incapacity benefit, or a
partial and permanent incapacity benefit, but not both. FRNSW shall advise the
Death and Disability Fund the name of any firefighter who receives a partial and
permanent incapacity lump sum payment, and of the amount so paid.
14.4 Subject to subclause
14.2, any dispute as to the entitlement to receive a benefit from the Death and
Disability Superannuation Fund or any other dispute arising under or regarding
the application of this Award may be referred to the Industrial Relations
Commission of New South Wales for final determination.
14.5 To avoid doubt,
the provision at subclauses 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 whereby the FBEU is to be
informed "unless the firefighter expressly declines to agree to the FBEU
being informed" is intended to allow the firefighter to seek the FBEU’s
advice before authorising or agreeing to any course of action or signing any
document associated with those subclauses and unless the firefighter does
expressly decline to agree to the FBEU being informed then FRNSW will neither
expect nor allow a firefighter to authorise or agree to any course of action
nor sign any document associated with their rehabilitation/retraining or
possible termination until such time as the FBEU has been notified in writing
and been given adequate opportunity to confer with the firefighter.
15. Grievance
Mechanism
15.1 If an issue gives
rise to a dispute it shall be dealt with in accordance with the Dispute
Procedure in clause 11 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Permanent
Firefighting Staff) Award.
16.
Anti-Discrimination
16.1 It is the
intention of the parties bound by this Award to seek to achieve the object in
section 3(f) of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 to prevent and
eliminate discrimination in the workplace. This includes discrimination on the
grounds of race, sex, marital status, disability, homosexuality, transgender
identity, age and responsibilities as a carer.
16.2 It follows that
in fulfilling their obligations under clause 15 of this Award the parties have
obligations to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the operation of the
provisions of this Award are not directly or indirectly discriminatory in their
effects. It will be consistent with the fulfilment of these obligations for the
parties to make an application to vary any provision of this Award, which by
its terms or operation, has direct or indirect discriminatory effect.
16.3 Under the Anti-Discrimination
Act 1977, it is unlawful to victimise an employee because the employee has
made or may make or has been involved in a complaint of unlawful discrimination
or harassment.
16.4 Nothing in this
clause is taken to affect any conduct or act which is specifically exempted
from anti-discrimination legislation; offering or providing junior rates of pay
to persons under 21 years of age; any act or practice of a body established to
propagate religion which is exempted under section 56(d) of the Anti-Discrimination
Act 1977; and/or a party to this Award from pursuing matters of unlawful
discrimination in any State or Federal jurisdiction.
16.5 This clause does
not create legal rights or obligations in addition to those imposed upon the
parties by legislation referred to in this clause.
17. Area, Incidence,
Duration and Parties Bound
17.1 This Award shall
apply to all permanent firefighters and retained firefighters, as defined in
clause 3, Definitions, who are employed by FRNSW.
17.2 This Award shall
rescind and replace the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Firefighting Staff
Death and Disability) Award 2023.
17.3 This Award shall
be binding upon the FBEU and FRNSW.
17.4 This Award shall
take effect on and from 26 February 2024 and shall remain in force until 25
February 2027.
Schedule 1 - 2022 Award Health Checks Provisions
Clause 8. Assessment
of Fitness for Duty and Permanent Incapacity
8.1. The procedures
set out at subclauses 8.2 to 8.5 inclusive will apply if:
8.1.1 FRNSW has reason
to believe that:
8.1.1.1 a
firefighter may be unfit for duty, permanently or otherwise, and that
firefighter disagrees; or
8.1.1.2 it may
be necessary to impose certain medical/physical conditions or restrictions on a
firefighter, permanently or otherwise, and that firefighter disagrees with the
need for some or all such conditions or restrictions; or
8.1.2 A firefighter
has reason, supported by medical information, to believe that:
8.1.2.1 the
firefighter may be unfit for duty, permanently or otherwise, and FRNSW
disagrees; or
8.1.2.2 it may
be necessary to impose certain medical/physical conditions or restrictions on
the firefighter, permanently or otherwise, and FRNSW disagrees with the need
for some or all such conditions or restrictions; or
8.1.3 A firefighter has
already been assessed as defined at paragraphs 8.6.2, 8.6.3 or 8.6.4 and
subsequently obtains more contemporary information which suggests that they may
be fit or that their requirements or restrictions should be changed, and FRNSW
disagrees.
8.2 If the medical
assessment is initiated by FRNSW at subclause 8.1.1 then FRNSW will advise the
firefighter in writing of their need to undergo an immediate health assessment
by a medical practitioner nominated by FRNSW, and its reason(s) for such
referral.
8.3
8.3.1 If FRNSW believes
at any point in time that a permanent firefighter’s condition is such that by
remaining on-duty he/she may endanger themselves, their colleagues or the
public, FRNSW will, having regard to the firefighter’s circumstances, either
assign appropriate alternative duties for the firefighter or direct the
firefighter on special leave (which is not to be deducted from any of the
firefighter’s leave balances) pending the determination of their condition in
accordance with this clause. A permanent firefighter who is stood down from
their ordinary duties in accordance with this subclause will continue to
receive their ordinary pay until such date as the Industrial Relations
Commission determines that the firefighter has failed to cooperate with the
reasonable directions of FRNSW under this Clause, or the assessing medical
practitioner reports pursuant to subclause 8.6. To avoid doubt, a permanent
firefighter’s ordinary pay shall be the pay to which the permanent firefighter
would have been entitled had they been on sick leave.
8.3.2 Subject to
paragraph 8.3.3, if FRNSW believes at any point in time that a retained
firefighter’s condition is such that by continuing to attend emergency incidents
he/she may endanger themselves, their colleagues or the public, FRNSW will
allow the firefighter to respond to their station, but not the incident, for
all calls received by their brigade, and to attend all drills pending the
determination of their condition in accordance with this clause. A retained
firefighter who is placed on non-response duties in accordance with this
subclause will continue to be permitted to - 6 - attend the station for calls
and drills until such date as the Industrial Relations Commission determines
that the firefighter has failed to cooperate with the reasonable directions of
FRNSW under this clause, or the assessing medical practitioner reports pursuant
to subclause 8.6.
8.3.3 If FRNSW believes
at any point in time that a retained firefighter’s condition is such that by
continuing to attend the station he/she may endanger themselves, their
colleagues or the public, FRNSW will direct the firefighter to not attend their
station pending the determination of their condition in accordance with this
clause. A retained firefighter who is excluded from their station in accordance
with this subclause will be paid a fortnightly amount equivalent to the
retained firefighter’s highest fortnightly pay within the three month period
immediately prior to their exclusion, and such payment shall continue until
such date as the Industrial Relations Commission determines that the
firefighter has failed to cooperate with the reasonable directions of FRNSW
under this clause, or the assessing medical practitioner reports pursuant to
subclause 8.6.
8.4 Whether the
medical assessment is initiated by FRNSW at paragraph 8.1.1 or a firefighter at
paragraph 8.1.2, FRNSW will arrange for a reasonable appointment for the
firefighter as soon as possible, if not with FRNSW’s preferred medical
practitioner then with some other suitable medical practitioner, and will
notify both the firefighter and the assessing medical practitioner in writing
setting out:
8.4.1 the time, date
and location of the appointment;
8.4.2 the inherent
requirements of the firefighter’s ordinary duties and the firefighter’s typical
work environment(s);
8.4.3 the
health-related issue(s), if any, which FRNSW believes may be affecting work
performance;
8.4.4 the manner in
which it is believed work performance has been/is being and/or may be affected,
including evidence where available;
8.4.5 any specific
question(s) from FRNSW. It will not be sufficient to simply request an
assessment of a firefighter’s "fitness to continue" or assume such
question(s) would be inferred by the assessing medical practitioner from the
general background information provided; and
8.4.6 a summary of all
relevant documents in checklist format.
8.5 The assessing
medical practitioner should take into account any and all relevant material
supplied by FRNSW, the firefighter and/or the firefighter’s own medical
practitioner(s). FRNSW will ensure that any material provided to the assessing
medical practitioner will at the same time also be provided to the firefighter
and/or the medical practitioner(s) nominated by the firefighter.
8.6 The assessing
medical practitioner’s report, which will be in writing and provided to both
FRNSW and the firefighter, should conclude that the firefighter is, in that
medical practitioner’s opinion, either:
8.6.1 fit to perform
the firefighter’s ordinary duties without any requirements or restrictions; or
8.6.2 fit to perform
the firefighter’s ordinary duties with specified requirements or restrictions;
or
8.6.3 temporarily unfit
to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties but fit to perform alternative
duties, either with or without specified requirements or restrictions; or
8.6.4 temporarily unfit
to perform any FRNSW duties; or
8.6.5 permanently unfit
to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties.
8.7 FRNSW will write
to the firefighter within 7 days of receipt of the assessing medical
practitioner’s report stating that it has either:
8.7.1 wholly accepted
the assessing medical practitioner’s report; or
8.7.2 partially
accepted the assessing medical practitioner’s report, together with the
reason(s) for its non-acceptance of the relevant part(s); or
8.7.3 accepted none of
the assessing medical practitioner’s report and its reasons for same.
8.8 If the FRNSW
determination at subclause 8.7 is that the firefighter is permanently unfit to
perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties then the firefighter shall be deemed
for the purposes of this Award to have suffered partial and permanent
incapacity until determined otherwise in accordance with this clause. FRNSW
shall inform the FBEU (unless the firefighter expressly declines to agree to
the FBEU being informed) at the earliest possible opportunity.
8.9 A firefighter
may request by way of report that the Commissioner review the FRNSW
determination at subclause 8.7 within 14 days of receipt of that written
determination or within 7 days of the Department having informed the FBEU,
whichever is the later. A firefighter who makes such a request shall then be
allowed 28 days, or such additional time as the Commissioner may allow, in
order for a medical practitioner of the firefighter’s choosing to:
8.9.1 review all
previous reports and documentation relating to the matter; and
8.9.2 confer with a
FRNSW-nominated medical practitioner with a view to maximising the areas of
agreement and minimising any areas of disagreement between them. In order to
facilitate such conferences, FRNSW and the firefighter must, by no later than
close of business on the next working day following the firefighter’s request
for a review, exchange the contact details of their respective nominated
medical practitioners and in the case of the firefighter, written authorisation
for their nominated medical practitioner to discuss their medical information
with the FRNSW nominated medical practitioner; and
8.9.3 produce a report
(and, if the FRNSW-nominated medical practitioner is agreeable, a joint report)
of their conclusions.
8.9.4 The Commissioner
will consider all previous reports and documentation relating to the matter,
together with any additional information (including the medical practitioner’s
report at paragraph 8.9.3) submitted by the firefighter and will within 14 days
supply the firefighter concerned with a written and final FRNSW determination
of the matter.
8.10 If the
firefighter does not agree with the Commissioner’s determination at subclause
8.9 then the matter may be referred to the Industrial Relations Commission (the
Commission) for final determination of the matter, i.e. whether the firefighter
is;
8.10.1 fit to
perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties without any requirements or
restrictions; or
8.10.2 fit to
perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties with specified requirements or
restrictions; or
8.10.3 temporarily
unfit to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties but fit to perform
alternative duties, either with or without specified requirements or
restrictions; or
8.10.4 temporarily
unfit to perform any FRNSW duties; or
8.10.5 permanently
unfit to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties.
8.11 Where a dispute
cannot be settled by conciliation, the parties agree in principle that the
preferred method of adjudication will be by the Commission utilising the
‘Bluescope model’. The ‘Bluescope model’ will be adopted except where the
Commission orders otherwise or where one of the parties elects not to use the
Bluescope model and notifies the other party of this election as soon as
practicable before or at the time the dispute is notified to the Commission.
8.12 A firefighter who
is found to be temporarily unfit as per paragraphs 8.6.3 or 8.6.4 or 8.10.3 or
8.10.4 will be given the appropriate period of time, as advised by the
assessing medical practitioner, necessary for the firefighter to return to
their ordinary duties.
8.13 A firefighter who
fails to return to their ordinary duties within the appropriate period of time,
or within six months from the date they last performed their ordinary duties or
previous assessment (whichever occurs first) will be referred for medical re-assessment.
8.14 FRNSW will bear
the cost of any assessment conducted by a medical practitioner pursuant to
subclauses 8.4, 8.5 and 8.6, and of any independent assessment conducted at
subclause 8.13, provided that in the case of any review conducted at subclauses
8.8 and 8.9 (only), the firefighter and FRNSW will each be responsible for the
costs of their own nominated medical practitioner.
8.15 A firefighter who
fails to comply with a reasonable direction to attend and participate in a
medical assessment under this mechanism may be subject to disciplinary action.
8.16 A firefighter who
has been determined as suffering partial and permanent incapacity may at any
time elect to be assessed by the Death and Disability Superannuation Fund for
total and permanent incapacity, in which case FRNSW will make all reasonable
efforts to assist the Fund in concluding such assessment as soon as
practicable.
8.17 The employment of
a firefighter who is determined as suffering partial and permanent incapacity
will be terminated in accordance with clause 13, or otherwise upon such
firefighter’s consent or request.
ANNEXURE A
Principles and Procedures of the Firefighters’ Health and
Fitness Program
1. Objectives
• To promote the health and
fitness of firefighters and to assist them in meeting the occupational
requirements of their job.
• To provide practical support, education
and assistance to firefighters through a structured health and fitness program.
2. Benefits for
the firefighter
• A compulsory health assessment
as recommended for the firefighter on medical advice.
• A comprehensive individual
report.
• Access to individual health and
fitness counselling sessions.
• Access to health and fitness
resource materials.
• Identification of negative
lifestyle habits and risks.
• Identification of some medical
conditions.
• Early intervention and
management of medical conditions.
• Health statistics over the
lifetime of career as a firefighter.
• Decreased risk of death, injury
or disability from disease.
• Increased ability to cope with the
physical and emotional stresses of firefighter duties.
• Heightened job performance and
satisfaction.
3. General
benefits for the employer
Supplementary to saving lives, improving performance
and achieving compliance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation and
Australian and international standards, it is anticipated that the health and
fitness program will make a significant positive contribution to:
• the number and cost of worker’s
compensation and death and disability claims.
• payroll costs due to sick or
injured workers.
• identification of negative
health factors (work-related or other) for FRNSW.
4. Outcomes
• A healthy and fit workforce.
• Increased capacity to cope with
the physical and psychological demands of firefighting.
• Decreased risk of injury,
illness and disease, leading to a reduction in the number and cost of health
related absences, workers compensation claims/premiums and Death and Disability
claims.
• Compliance with relevant Work
Health and Safety legislation and Australian Standards.
• Identification and analysis of
trends for the purpose of developing firefighter specific health and safety
interventions.
5. Focus Areas
• Support Program - Introduction
of a comprehensive program designed to support firefighters in their efforts to
improve personal health outcomes.
• Health and fitness checks -
Introduction of a firefighter-specific health assessment program designed to
identify significant health issues.
6. Principles
• Broad consultation with all
stakeholders in the development and delivery of programs is critical to
success.
• Collaboration with international,
national and state initiatives is essential for a sustained and systematic
approach to health promotion and injury/disease prevention.
• Linking relevant programs and
taking a comprehensive/holistic approach to health promotion and injury/disease
prevention will provide maximum impact.
• Long term ‘capacity building’
will prolong and multiply health gains for both firefighters and FRNSW.
7. Key Strategies
Infrastructure
Develop the physical and organisational infrastructure
needed to implement program components. This includes support structure (e.g.
health/fitness and return to work professionals), related systems and
procedures (e.g. data management, pathways for rehabilitation), resources (e.g.
educational materials).
Education
Increase awareness and understanding of general and
firefighter-specific health issues and provide the necessary skills to take
ownership of personal health outcomes. Focus on physical activity, nutrition,
smoking cessation, occupational and environmental exposures, and critical
incident stress as they relate to firefighter performance, mental health,
injury prevention and chronic disease development (cardiovascular disease,
cancer, diabetes, etc.).
Environments
Create work environments that promote and encourage
healthy lifestyle behaviours (a ‘healthy’ organisational culture). Focus on
provision of healthy lifestyle education.
Monitoring/Evaluation
Monitor health and fitness outcomes over time to
determine efficacy of programs. Including broad surveys of lifestyle changes
(e.g. physical activity patterns), monitoring of injury and illness trends,
participation rates for health and fitness activities, and periodic health
assessment and ‘Return to Work’ program outcomes.
8. Health Checks
and Fitness Drills
Fitness Drills
(a) The health and
fitness program will include a compulsory fitness drill, commencing in January
2018, for all firefighters who may be called upon to perform operational
firefighting duties in order to enhance their personal understanding of their
functional capacity. The compulsory fitness drill will be subject to
negotiation and agreement or, in the absence of agreement, determination by the
Industrial Relations Commission (and the status quo will apply in the interim),
but will be undertaken annually, locally and when on duty by not less than two
firefighters utilising readily available operational equipment.
(b) The annual fitness
drill for retained firefighters will be considered and paid for as if it is a
regular drill provided that attendance at the fitness drill will not count
towards the 75% regular drill attendance requirement of subclause 22.1.2 of the
Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW Retained Firefighting Staff) Award 2024
and will be additional to the two regular drills per station, per month
provision of subclause 12.10.2 of the Crown Employees (Fire and Rescue NSW
Retained Firefighting Staff) Award 2024.
Health Checks
(c) The health and
fitness program will also include regular health checks for firefighters by the
firefighter’s nominated medical practitioner in accordance with a health check
pack.,. Following implementation, the health check pack will remain subject to
negotiation and agreement and it will be open to either party to refer any
matter that is not agreed to the Industrial Relations Commission for
determination and the status quo will apply in the interim. The health check
pack will include the inherent requirements of the firefighter’s ordinary
duties and the firefighter’s typical work environment(s), a template medical
report and the tests to be conducted as part of the health check.
(d) The
implementation of the health and fitness checks will help to ensure:
• that
firefighters are medically and physically capable of performing their required
duties;
• that the risk
of injury or illness is reduced through constant monitoring of health trends
and the implementation of focussed health interventions;
• that FRNSW
satisfies its statutory obligations under all relevant legislation;
• the provision
of current and accurate health/medical information for the purposes of resource
allocation and planning.
(e) The health
checks will include:
• Medical
examination (primary focus on cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal
systems);
• Pathology
testing (general health markers; e.g. lipid profile, blood glucose level);
• Urinalysis;
• Twelve lead
ECG;
• Cardiac Risk
Profile (risk score based on Framingham study);
• Spirometry
(lung function), if recommended by the firefighter’s nominated medical
practitioner;
• Vision;
• Audiometry (hearing),
if recommended by the firefighter’s nominated medical practitioner;
• Other medical
assessments as indicated.
(f) The health
checks (which will commence not prior to 31 January 2019 and in respect of any
commencement date, upon four weeks formal advance notice to the FBEU) will be
arranged and undertaken by each firefighter within the twelve month period
following their fourth anniversary of employment, and again within the twelve
month period following their ninth anniversary of employment, and so on, so
that health checks are undertaken at least once every five years up until the
age of 60, at which age health checks will then be arranged and undertaken by
each firefighter no more than three years after their last health check until
the age of 67, at which age health checks will then be arranged and undertaken
by each firefighter annually.
(g) The pathology
tests, urinalysis and 12 lead ECG testing will all be undertaken on referral by
the independent occupational physician prior to the health check, which will
then be conducted by a local medical practitioner nominated by the firefighter
having regard to the most reasonable option in terms of practicality and cost.
A nominated medical practitioner who recommends spirometry and/or audiometry
testing but, is unable to conduct such test(s), may refer the firefighter.
FRNSW will ensure that the health checks (including spirometry and audiometry
referrals) and any consequent referrals required by FRNSW will be arranged and
conducted without any cost to the firefighter.
(h) Firefighters who
attend a health check while off duty will be compensated for their attendance
and travel expenses by way of a payment equivalent to 4% of the Award’s deemed
fortnightly salary for each such attendance, and unless transport is provided
by FRNSW, payment at the Official Business rate for the actual return distance
necessarily and reasonably travelled between the firefighter’s normal residence
or place of work and the location(s) of each health check.
(i) The
firefighter’s nominated medical practitioner will forward their report on the
firefighter’s health check, together with the results, to both the firefighter
and the independent occupational physician nominated by FRNSW. The independent
occupational physician will in turn review the firefighter’s health check
results against the firefighters’ health and fitness standard and the nominated
medical practitioner’s report and advise FRNSW that the firefighter is:
• fit to perform
the firefighter’s ordinary duties without any requirements or restrictions; or
• fit to perform
the firefighter’s ordinary duties with specified requirements or restrictions;
or
• temporarily
unfit to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties but fit to perform
alternative duties, either with or without specified requirements or
restrictions; or
• temporarily
unfit to perform any FRNSW duties; or
• permanently
unfit to perform the firefighter’s ordinary duties.
(j) The independent
occupational physician will provide no other information or advice to FRNSW
concerning the firefighter’s health and fitness without the firefighter’s
consent apart from such information regarding the specified requirements or
restrictions as, in the professional opinion of the independent occupational
physician, is necessary for the safe management of the firefighter. If the
firefighter disagrees with the independent occupational physician’s advice to
FRNSW, then it will be open to the firefighter to seek a determination of their
fitness for duty under clause 8.
(k) Where a medical
issue is identified during a health check, the health risk will be assessed
against the inherent requirements of the firefighter’s job (safety critical).
(l) The results of the
health checks will be collected and collated by an agreed independent third
party and provided to both parties to allow them to assess and respond to
firefighters’ health risks.
(m) FRNSW will not
cover the cost of treatment for non-compensable injuries or illness. The
treatment cost associated with compensable injuries or illness will be
addressed through the Workers’ Compensation system.
J. McDONALD, Commissioner
____________________
Printed by
the authority of the Industrial Registrar.