Let's hear another story from the frontline of BAI Communications.
Meet Mel, a team leader in North Queensland.
Based at Townsville, Mel worked to get services back to air after Cyclone Yasi in 2015. This intense cyclone crossed the coast at Mission Beach and left 61 homes destroyed.
A cyclone moving in from offshore.
Upgraded to category 5, before making landfall.
Based at Townsville, Mel worked to get services back to air after Cyclone Yasi in 2015. This intense cyclone crossed the coast at Mission Beach and left 61 homes destroyed.
With services off at Mount Myrtle, and family in the Tully area, Mel was eager to head north. But first, he needed to know whether safe access was possible.
After a few calls, Mel had learned that the route was open, provided he travelled with care. However, the area didn’t have any power and it would be difficult to buy food or water.
It took most of the day to prepare to head out. Mel and his coworker packed carefully, carrying everything they would need to be self-sufficient for a few days.
Generators
Fuel
Food
Heading off on a Saturday, they’d just gotten past Cardwell when police told them they couldn’t get through to Tully. They were told to wait, even though radio services were down at Mount Myrtle.
But by the next morning, they were allowed to travel through with care. Finally, they made it to Tully and set up camp on Mel’s brother’s verandah.
They soon pushed on.
Even though conditions were unpredictable, they made it through to Mount Myrtle without any difficulty.
Let’s hear from Mel, as he explains what it was like when they arrived
But when they arrived, they were surprised to find the site in good condition. This made it easier than expected to get services back to air — a welcome end to a long journey.
Working while worrying for family
This successful outcome was only possible because of the careful thought and planning Mel and his team prioritised before heading out from Townsville. Complicated logistics were needed to meet the simple need for food, drink and sleep.
All the while, Mel was worried about his many family members living around Tully. They had suffered damage to their homes and crops were decimated.
When an extreme weather event happens, always make a good call.
Get a copy of the guidance notes
Your quick summary of the critical controls we use at BAI to control our critical risks.
Thank you for taking the time to learn how we stay safe at BAI Communications during and after an extreme weather event.
Being someone you can rely on is all about making two good calls. Getting them right could make all the difference.
- Check in — every time, no exceptions.
- Stop, assess the risk, then act.
If you need more support to control critical risks in your work, talk to your team leader. You can also contact the Health & Safety team for any additional help managing safety risks.
