Congratulations to HSR and UFU BCOM firefighter representative LFF Peter Schroder on his well deserved AFSM. His dedication to the health and wellbeing of firefighters is second to none, and will continue to influence improvements in the fire services right across Australia and internationally. We can’t thank Pete enough for all his hard work.
We asked a few of his colleagues to summarise the dedication Pete has shown in his work with firefighter health and safety:
“I first met Pete back in 2017 at an OHS representative conference. It was clear even then that he had a genuine passion for firefighter health and safety — particularly regarding exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM).
Fast forward to 2021, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to join the FRV Diesel Emission Working Group (DEWG) — a project Pete had already been driving for years prior to FRV’s inception, and one that has continued to gain momentum ever since.
Through his work ethic, persistence and passion, many FRV stations and appliances have since undergone the installation and modification of diesel extraction systems designed to capture diesel emissions at their source and remove them directly to the atmosphere.
Pete’s work in this space is far from finished. Put simply, he wants every FRV firefighter to come to work without being unnecessarily exposed to a known carcinogen like diesel particulate matter. The years of effort he has invested — not only to get this work to its current point, but to continue pushing for further improvements with the same level of passion and determination — is something truly deserving of this AFSM”
LFF Jono Gawthrop
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“Peter’s determination in ensuring operational firefighters and members have access to nation-leading, world-class health monitoring has been inspiring to watch.
The continuous improvement approach taken with the Medical Incident Management Teams and his focus now with the Branch Secretary ensuring coordinated care of firefighters injured at incidents demonstrates his dedication to continuing to ensure we have access and are never left to walk the road of injury recovery alone.
The health monitoring program Pete has shaped, and continues to fight for, is now the leading example for other Australian fire services and even our comrades over in Europe” SLFF Danny Ward
