RIG in Mumbai

Instructors from RIG have just returned from Mumbai, India assisting the Special Rescue Training Academy to establish India's first swiftwater and flood rescue academy. We hope to return to Mumbai towards the end of the year to commence rope rescue training.

Jim's Arials

Every now and then we come across an excellent company with a like-minded approach to working at height. Jim, for the past 12 months, has been reviewing access systems onto roofs using ladders. His critical approach which questions existing practice is commendable and if you are reading this with a view to using his company, we thoroughly recommend his services. You only have to review his health and safety section to get a feel for the professional standards he applies.

AssetCo acquires RIG Systems

AssetCo plc, listed on the AIM and a leading provider of support services to the UK Fire and Rescue Service, acquired the issued share capital of RIG Systems Limited in March 2008. Jez Hunter, MD RIG Systems says “RIG’s integrated rescue approach has propelled our civil resilience business forward at a tremendous rate. AssetCo is driven by the same core values, passionate about exceeding client expectations, regardless of the complexities of the project. AssetCo’s Emergency Resource business is a perfect home for our innovative offerings, affording us immediate access to the resources and expertise required to scale our training, equipment and consultancy solutions. With greater reach, investment and market profile, we now feel we are well placed to fulfil our ambition to become the UK technical rescue provider of choice.”

Emergency Services Show

RIG Systems will be exhibiting at the Emergency Services Show in Stonleigh Park, Coventry on 28-29 No 07. Come and see us if you want to see the latest technology from North America.

Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Online Programme

RIG Systems unveils the new online Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Awareness course designed to train ALL first responders and public safety personnel for swiftwater and flood rescue emergency duties.

City and Guilds 5831 Confined Spaces

As an Outreach Partner of Duchy College (part of Cormwall College Group), RIG has just been successfully audited by City and Guilds and will shortly be offering City & Guilds Certificate 5831 - Confined Spaces, Units 821-826 and 972. This enables RIG to offer all clients a nationally recognised and externally verified confined space training programme from simple access to using self contained open circuit breathing apparatus.

ISO 9001: 2000

RIG Systems were successfully audited on 4 April 2007 by Bureau Veritas and awarded compliance with BS EN ISO 9001:2000. Mark Bilney from Redpoint Consultancy guided us through the maze.

Preferred Suppliers of CTP

RIG have just been awarded Preferred Supplier status with Career Transition Partnership. This partnership recognises RIG's additional services to accommodate the special needs of Service Leavers on resettlement.

Jim Segerstrom 1946-2007

The international search and rescue community lost one of its most influential and visionary pioneers on 5 Feb 07. Jim Segerstrom, Advanced Rescue Technology editorial advisory board member and director of Special Rescue Services Group of Sonora, California, died of a massive stroke at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, with his wife Shiree, son Christian, mother Mary Etta, and siblings at his side. Jim was 60 years old. One of the founding members of the Tuolumne County Search and Rescue Team in 1975, Jim was instrumental in the development of swiftwater rescue education and training. Jim was a founding partner of Rescue 3 in 1979. He was also one of the first swiftwater rescue pioneers to receive the prestigious Higgins & Langley Memorial Award in Swiftwater Rescue Lifetime Achievement honors in 1995. Jim will be sadly missed by his friends in the UK and all those who were lucky enough to have served an apprenticeship under him.

RIG Technology

RIG Systems are launching a dedicated eCommerce site in the new year. It will feature hundreds of rescue related products covering SAR, Confined Space, Rope, Swiftwater and USAR disciplines. There will be brand new products available from international equipment manufacturers including CMC, Rock Exotica, Oceanid and Timus. More information to follow.

ARIZONA VORTEX

RIG Systems are now importing the renowned Arizona Vortex from the US. This multi-purpose artificial high directional, designed by Reed Thorne and manufactured by Rock Thompson, is the most versatile rescue frame of its type. It has just completed full trials with the Isle of Wight Specialist Rescue Team who tested it in the Tripod, Easal and Sideways A Frame configurations. For more information email the technology team or view the gallery for pictures.

Confined Space Rescue

RIG Systems are now supporting industrial cleaning company Beeclear with a confined space rescue capability for their tank cleaning operations on ships and submarines. Using open circuit breathing apparatus alongside surface supplied air feeds, our rescue team is providing a complex multi-level traverse rescue capability from an atmosphere dangerous to life and health.

Lyon Technical Symposium

Jez Hunter, from RIG Systems, delivered a presentation on "Redlining the Rescue" at the 2006 Lyon Technical Symposium. A précis of the research paper presented can be found in the members area publications section under rope rescue.

Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Field Operations Guide

Jez Hunter, of RIG Systems, has just completed the first edition of the SFR FOG Guide, a handy A6 sized technician level, swiftwater reference guide. It is an extremely comprehensive publication covering Talk, Reach, Wade, Throw, Row and Go Tow Rescues with an additional section on unstable surface rescues. The FOG Guide is used as a Technician level reference manual. It is available for £14.99 through the RIG Systems office.

Western Power Distribution

RIG instructors have just completed pole top rescue, tower rescue and electrical sub-station rescue training programmes and are now able to offer these training course to clients working in the electricity/radio frequency industry.

Launch of New Members Area

RIG have just launched their new members area which is crammed with useful resources and information for those interested in technical rescue. The free access area includes incident bulletins, resource library, forthcoming events and industry news. For RIG students there are also updated course notes and additional technical information. Please follow the link to sign up.

RIG support the development of Jungle Canopy Access training

RIG, in partnership with Canopy Access Limited and the Global Canopy Programme, have completed the pilot of the Basic Canopy Access Proficiency Programme. Two Canopy Access Instructors have recently returned from delivering this programme in Sabah Malaysia. The programme will be launching open courses throughout 2006.

Rooftop Safety Research

RIG have just completed field research into the effectiveness of common rooftop safety systems used by the Fire Brigade. Commissioned by a Fire Authority from the South West, our technicians tested a variety of temporary work platforms combined with fall arrest systems. The film footage collated will be used on future training programmes to validate and discount common safe systems of work. See the gallery for photos.

IRATA Full Membership

RIG Systems were awarded full IRATA membership in December 2005. We are now able to offer clients a choice of roped access training venues in the South of England with courses running every month. Please call 0845 257 4370 for details of our forthcoming courses.

Work at Height for Policing Symposium - 22 March 2006

RIG Systems joint hosted The "2006 Working at Height for Policing Symposium" which was attended by numerous Police Constabularies, Customs & Excise, Immigration Officers, Prison Officers and specialist security personnel on 22 March 06 at Cleveland Police HQ. Presentations included: The Work at Height Regulations "One Year On", Civil Protest at Height, The Rapid Deployment Airbag and Draft British Standards 8454 - Code of Practice for delivery of training and education for work at height and rescue.

RESQMAX Rocket

RIG Systems joined forces with Rescue Source International to distribute the legendary Rescue Rocket within the UK. The ResQmax™ is a new generation line-throwing appliance specifically designed to deploy a line only, or an auto-inflating flotation sling & retrieval line to an otherwise inaccessible point in both land-based and maritime environments, providing an emergency response capability without putting the rescuer at risk. Please keep an eye on our products page for further information.

Technical Rescue Magazine Issue 43

Jez Hunter, on behalf of RIG Systems, has just published preliminary research on "Lessons Learned From Boscastle" in Technical Rescue Magazine. This excellent trade journal can be ordered from the Editor, Ade Scott (ade6@aol.com.

RIG Systems launch Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technican (SFRT) Programme

Rig Systems returned from the US in Jan 05 with license to run Jim Segerstrom's SFRT Programme. The SFRT programme is the most current and internationally accepted programme available, compliant with both NFPA 1006 and the International Rescue Instructors Association Level III. The programme reflects the fact that swiftwater rescue no longer encapsulates the severity or magnitude of the problems confronting public safety responders worldwide.