NSW: Emergency volunteers risking their lives in clean up

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-1999
NSW: Emergency volunteers risking their lives in clean up

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Emergency service volunteers were risking their lives to help in the
clean up following Sydney's violent hail storm, the State Emergency Service said today.

SES spokesman Peter O'Neill said the high winds and wet conditions had threatened the
safety of the workers, who will again be out in force to assist people today.

The SES has received 500 calls from people needing assistance since 9am (AEST) yesterday,
including a number of first-time callers.

Several volunteers had sustained minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, while a Rural
Fire Service volunteer cracked his spine, broke his leg and received minor cuts on Thursday,
he said.

Meanwhile, police appealed to people in the eastern suburbs to allow emergency services
personnel easy access to the damaged areas.

"Onlookers in the area are preventing emergency services personnel from doing their work,"
a spokeswoman said.

Mr O'Neill told AAP that while the workers had been reasonably safe to date, there were
serious risks.

"If you consider the scale of the operation, the steepness of the roofs, the rain and the
slippery tiles, these people are literally risking their lives," he said.

Tiredness and morale was another factor which may affect the workers' safety.

Mr O'Neill said while there were rigid procedures in place regarding resting every second
day, many volunteers had been involved in the operation off-and-on since the storm almost two
weeks ago.

The SES's state training team had been working with all SES personnel including the defence
forces, the Rural Fire Brigade and the NSW Fire Brigade, National Parks and Wildlife Service,
the ambulance service and police, he said.

AAP km/trm

KEYWORD: HAIL SAFETY

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.