An aerial device is a mechanical device that is generally used for a broad range of different temporary, flexible applications by building companies, technical relief organizations, armed forces and public as well as corporate firefighters amongst others. They are widely used in any European member state. Although the construction of aerial devices is already heavily regulated with corresponding European standards and norms, aerial devices for firefighters have to comply with further specifications: • Firstly, aerial devices for firefighters are highly customized products, reflecting local or regional conditions. Therefore, they are usually the most expensive device in the fleet of vehicles for firefighting (the cost for one aerial device alone amounting to around 700,000 to 1,000,000 EUR – most of which is funded by the taxpayer). • Secondly, aerial devices for firefighters are the most complex technical devices in firefighting; its range of application is extremely broad and will increase even further with the growing urbanization across Europe. • Thirdly, aerial devices for firefighters are designed to protect the affected people and firefighters in state of emergencies, under substantial time constraints and in situations with unknown or unforeseen variables. These specifications can only be acknowledged by clear and transparent vocational instructions that are educated and trained in a comprehensible manner (#3). The instructions/ the training has to be adapted to local or regional conditions for the use of these complex devices on the one hand (#1). On the other hand, it should set a comparable standard for a cross-national application at European level (#2). This can be ensured by a European vocational education and training scheme for the use of aerial devices (EUROFFAD) – a standard that is currently missing at European as well as at national level and that should be the starting point for further European integration in vocational training and education of firefighting. The vocational education and training objective of this three-year programm will be that –starting from the commander in chief across all operating units – all important actions relating to the use of aerial devices are summarized in a logical order and therefore aiding to minimize the stress-levels of crews and victims during incidents. The scheme will be further developed to allow vocational training and education of trainers and comply with the ECVET-standard. It shall be applicable and adaptable to all manufacturers in use and independent of the year of manufacturing.

A tunnel is one of the most complex building in construction and maintenance. Generally, they are used to ease transit and reduce travel times. The available safety concepts are shared according to national frameworks between firefighters, technical relief organizations and armed. They is no common concept in firefighting in tunnels between these organisations and between the European members states. Professional exchange should be mandatory but it is spare and unstructured. SAFEINTUNNELS will close a knowledge and action gap for firefighters and victims by:• Firstly, firefighting in tunnels are highly customized strategies reflecting local and/or regional conditions (place, type and age of tunnel, rescue scheme applied etc.) on the one hand, but on the other hand, it has common nominators that can and should be shared. EU-Platforms for this purpose are neither available nor established – difficult to believe.• Secondly, for firefighting in tunnels the technical devices are often derivations of other complex devices in firefighting; their range of applications are extremely broad and will increase even further with the Trans-European transport network and the growing urbanization across Europe– e.g. the reciprocal dependence of tunnels and bridges orchestrating the different types of traffic through the Alps.• Thirdly, devices for firefighting in tunnels are designed to rescue the affected people and safeguard firefighters in this special state of emergencies, under substantial time constraints and in situations with unknown or unforeseen variables. Therefore, the firefighters usually use the most expensive devices in the fleet of vehicles and rescue trains for firefighting (most of which are funded by taxpayers).The scheme will be further developed to allow vocational training and education of Vet teachers and comply with the ECVET-standard. It shall be applicable and adaptable to all tunnels in use independent of the year of construction.

The aim of the HyResponder project is to develop and implement a sustainable trainer the trainer programme in hydrogen safety for responders throughout Europe, supporting the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies by informing responders involved in the permitting process, improving resilience and preparedness, and ensuring appropriate accident management and recovery. The specific objectives of the project include the development of clear and updated operational, virtual reality, and educational training for trainers of responders to reflect the state-of-the-art in hydrogen safety. The European Emergency Response Guide for responders will be revised to reflect advancements. The materials will incorporate identified intervention strategies and tactics for liquefied hydrogen applications. A Pan-European Network of responder trainers will be established and trainers from at least 10 European countries will attend a bespoke course in hydrogen safety pertinent to responders. Using feedback from the network on national specificities, educational training materials will be adapted where required to reflect regional peculiarities. The materials for responders will be translated and made available in 8 languages via an e-Platform. The translated materials will be utilised by the newly trained trainers to deliver workshops in 10 countries across Europe enhancing the reach and impact of the programme. National Training Clusters will be developed to consolidate links between the hydrogen safety and responder communities and to support the delivery of workshops at a national level. Through the establishment of an International e-forum for responders, and the integration of the translated materials in the e-Platform, it is anticipated that a sustainable pan-European training programme in hydrogen safety for responders will be developed, which will be recognised as the standard in hydrogen safety training across Europe.