Creating a Tradition of Safety

Bob DayNYS Certified Safety Officer

Chief is overall responsible for safety

Delegates Ensure improving safety on

a continual process Provide adequate resources Helps members understand

safety while on training , fireground, responding and returning, and in the station

Safety Officer

Direct obligation to focus on safety aspects of the operation

Has authority to alter, suspend, or terminate unsafe acts or dangerous activities

Can bypass the chain of command to correct any perilous actions and remove personnel from immediate danger

Develop a Safety Culture

Embrace the concept of working safely No longer tolerate behavior potentially

hazardous to members Have a Safety and Health committee Establish Safety goals and objectives Indoctrinate new members with the

importance of safety tradition there first day of training

Employ crew resource management

Refers to the effective use of all resources to minimize errors, improve safety and improve performance

Uses communications, skills, teamwork, task allocation, decision making, situational awareness

TEAMWORK – Everyone works together and watches out for each other

Accountability – Know where your FF’s are

Accountability Program

Required by PESH Accountability program all personnel know Incident Commander establish an

accountability officer, not done by the Safety Officer

Used when a Mayday is called

MARC

Member Accountability Roll Call Should be conducted every 20 minutes for

FF’s in an IDLH environment The IC shall make a report over the radio

of the progress of the incident. If no progress is being made, a change in

strategy and tactics is probably needed

Apparatus Safety is Paramount

25% FF fatalities occur responding or returning

Personnel in Full turnout before climbing aboard.

Don SCBA onboard SEATBELTS Driver and Officer

responsible for seated and seatbelted personnel aboard

Know where you are going

Map book When in doubt, ask

dispatcher to repeat location

Preplans Road construction MUTCD Traffic Vests for MVA

Develop and enforce driving standards

Training Requirements Annual training for

drivers True emergency Weather conditions POV’s to station or

scene SEATBELTS!!!

Be fully prepared for interior firefighting operations

Personnel operating in a hostile environment must have basic fire behavior and FF tactics

Incident Command Rapid intervention team Automatic Mutual Aid NFPA 1720

Implement and enforce respiratory protection standards

OSHA 2in/2out Chief is responsible Physicals/Fit tests Personal face piece 2 bottle rule enforced Line Officers

understand RPS program

Read the smoke

Fire Conditions can change rapidly

IC’s and Safety Officers responsible for monitoring immediate risks.

This should start with smoke assessment and ability to “read” smoke conditions.

How much volume, speed leaving.

Density and color Flashover and back draft

potential

Risk management assessment

Initial size-up on scene Offensive or defensive

attack Size, location, and stage of

fire GPM for size of structure Enough personnel for

structure Correct sized hand lines for

GPM High Frequency/Low risk???

10 Rules of Engagement

No building is worth the life of a FF All interior firefighting involves inherent risk Some risk is acceptable, in a measured and

controlled manner No level of risk is acceptable where there is no

potential to save live or savable property FF’s shall not be committed to interior offensive

operations in abandoned or derelict buildings

10 Rules of Engagement (cont)

All feasible measures shall be taken to limit or avoid risks though risk assessment by qualified officer.

It is the responsibility of the incident commander to evaluate the level of risk in every situation.

If conditions change and risk increases, change strategy and tactics.

10 Rules of Engagement (cont)

No building or property is worth the life of a firefighter.

Use Thermal Imaging cameras

Allows FF’s to see though smoke.

More effective primary and secondary search

Efficient and quick assessment of fire conditions and spread potential.

Ability to read temperatures Search for hot spots. Locate downed FF’s

Be aware of overhaul hazards

Use of full PPE required for overhaul

Measure Carbon Monoxide levels

SCBA for inhalation hazards such as CO and airborne contaminants ie- dust, asbestos, smoke

Tripping hazards, sharp objects such as nails, metals, or broken glass

Structural integrity of building

NFPA Standards 1710 & 1720

Guidelines for Career and Volunteer Depts for Initial Attack.

Adequate Staffing Offensive vs Defensive Capabilities to deliver

the required fire flow Proper sized hand lines

or master streams

Qualified Officers

Incident Command Training Experience Education Good ole boys Able to change with the

current times Encourage training for all

members Minimum qualifications for

Chiefs and Line Officers

Know when to call for Mayday

Lack of training May be too late to address

the problems Train on Mayday procedures Don’t become complacent It is not a sign of weakness

to call Mayday Know when to call mayday!!

Residential fires and Commercial structures are not the same

Train in both Know the different

types of building construction

Buildings kill Firefighters (Charleston, SC)

Preplan your buildings

Manage your air supply

Air consumption varies with the individual’s physical condition and level of training.

Waiting until the low-air alarm sounds may not provide adequate time for exiting the hazardous environment

30 min vs 45 mi vs 60 min SCBA’s

PPE vs Moisture

Moisture barrier and water absorption are critical factors in burn injuries

Changes in thermal environment can cause serious injuries.

Train so that you can recognize how moisture affects your PPE

Constantly be aware of your situation

Awareness Reality – what is really

going on Perception – what we

think is going on Maintain a high state of

alertness Remain vigilant for

conditions changing

REHAB

Set up on all working incidents

Medical evaluation, fluid replenishment, and rest to the rehab area.

2 bottle rule Assigned to rehab after 20-

30 of exhaustive work. Pre – medical sheet with

vitals for all dept members

Operating on highways

Never trust approaching traffic

Avoid turning you back to approaching traffic

Wear high-visibility reflective vests

Know the rules of MUTCD Have a blocker for

personnel Use traffic cones and flagger Watch out for the five “D”s –

Drunk, Drugged, Distracted, Drowsy, Dumb

Fire Attack Plan

2/3 nations fire depts are understaffed Worst shortage is volunteers NFPA 1720 – FD shall identify minimum

staffing requirements to ensure that sufficient numbers of members are available to operate safely and effectively.

In conclusion

Safety is everyone responsibility Dept’s should establish a safety and health

committee Safety Officer’s should take Incident Safety

Officers Course

THE END

References: Thomas W. Aurnhammer, 2007, Creating a

Tradition of Safety; Fire Engineering Magazine July 2007

Bob Day, 2007, NYS Fire Instructor, NYS Certified Safety Officer