Training for contract fire brigade personnel
The Emergency Services Academy answers for the preparation, maintenance, and development of the curriculum for contract fire brigade personnel participating in rescue operations, instructor education, the maintenance of the instructor register, and the production of teaching material.
Contract personnel participating in rescue operations refers to the part-time personnel of rescue departments and to the personnel of contract fire brigades and other organisations operating under contract as referred to in section 2a, subsection 1, paragraph 5 of the Rescue Act (379/2011).
Contract fire brigade personnel participating in rescue operations are required to receive training in accordance with the Emergency Services Academy curriculum. Rescue departments must ensure that contract personnel have been trained as required by law.
Many of the tasks related to rescue operations are physically and psychologically demanding, which means they require special competence and capabilities from the personnel. The tasks are regulated by several statutes and guidelines, which have been taken into account in the curriculum.
Become an instructor-in-charge
The training of the instructor-in-charge consists of both pedagogical and thematic education. The Emergency Services Academy prepares and implements the training of the instructor-in-charge. Pedagogical education provides the instructors with pedagogical skills, and thematic education provides them with subject-specific knowledge required for the preparation of the contents and organisation of each course.
The instructor-in-charge will answer for the implementation of the course based on the curriculum and the implementation plan. Educational competence and self-development are particularly important for the role of an instructor-in-charge.
Courses for contract personnel
The training provided to contract personnel consists of courses, the implementation of which is the responsibility of the local rescue department. The courses focus on basic knowledge and skills needed in rescue operations.
After passing the courses, contracted employees will be able to safely build their competence in the practice sessions of their fire brigade. Competence is built through continuous practice and experience gained from the operations.
Officer courses for contract personnel
The Emergency Services Academy organises contract fire brigade officers’ courses and basic courses for the part-time chief fire officers of industrial fire brigades. The basic tasks of contract fire brigade officers include the management, organisation, and development of the fire brigade’s operations. The officers must be able to make fire brigade members actively participate in the activities and ensure that new members are being recruited.
The task of the chief fire officer of an industrial fire brigade is to see to the correct planning and organisation of the plant’s or facility’s preventive measures and to the operative organisation of the accident and damage prevention measures.
Development network
The planning of the training system for contract personnel is supported by the development network consisting of rescue service professionals.
Network members:
- Minna Hirvonen (Chair), Director of Education, Emergency Services Academy
- Kirmo Savolainen (Secretary), Data Systems Designer, Emergency Services Academy
- Mika Hyvärinen, Fire Chief, Lapland Rescue Department
- Mari Latvala, Chief of Volunteer Fire Department, Huittinen VFB
- Aleksi Peurala, Finnish Association of Contract Fire Brigades SSPL
- Johanna Vuorensyrjä, Head of Training, Uusimaa Rescue Association
- Markku Savolainen, Development Manager, SPEK
- Pasi Uurasmaa, Finnish Fire Officers’ Association SPPL
- Jaakko Linko, Contract Person
- Harri Setälä, Chief Executive Officer of Rescue Services, South Ostrobothnia Rescue Department
Contact information
Do you wish to know more about the training system for contract personnel?
Feel free to reach out to sopimushenkilostokoulutus@pelastusopisto.fi
