RISK VS. BENEFIT DURING AVIATION

OPERATIONSJohn Burfiend

Kris DamsgaardJami Anzalone

Facts Regarding Aviation Use

There will always be some risk associated with utilizing aviation assets (necessary risk)

Risks should be mitigated to an acceptable level. (this may include not flying)

Why do we use aerial resources?

What are the benefits?

BenefitsRotor & Fixed Wing delivery of retardantRotor wing water deliveryAerial ignitionLong line supply missionsPersonnel delivery“Eyes in the sky”

IDENTIFY AT LEAST 3 HAZARDS ASSOCIATED

WITH AERIAL FIREFIGHTING

Hazards Smoky Turbulent Congested Airspace Congested Radio Traffic What else?

HazardsRisk Transfer

From ground personnel to aviation personnel

“Can Do” Philosophy

Public Perception

STATISTICALLY THERE ARE FEWER AVIATION RELATED ACCIDENTS THAN

GROUND RELATED ACCIDENTS IN WILDFIRE

True Statement?

What percentage of wildland fire fatalities 1999-2009 involved aviation?

a. 14%

b. 9%

c. 27%

d. 46%

e. None of the above

41

16

11

85

5

DOI/USDA Wildland Fire-fighter Fatalities

1999 - 2009Aviation Burnover

Driving Heart Attack

Hazard Tree Other

Is this the answer?

Risk Principles

Accept no unnecessary risk Make risk decisions at the appropriate

level Accept necessary risk when benefit

outweigh cost Integrate risk management at all

planning levels

WHAT DO WE DO TO MITIGATE THE RISKS?

STEPS TO RISK MANAGEMENT

1. Identify Systems Involved2. Identify Hazards3. Assess Hazards4. Identify Risk Level5. Make Risk Decisions 6. Implement Controls7. Supervise

STEPS TO RISK MANAGEMENTIdentify Systems Involved (people,

procedures, materials, facilities, equipment, training, tools, software…)

Identify Hazards (Have ALL hazards been indentified?)

Assess Hazards (Exposure time X probability of hazard occurrence = Risk)

Identify the risk level

STEPS TO RISK MANAGEMENT

Make Risk Decisions (The right person with good information makes the tough calls)

Implement Controls (Deliberate action designed to get the job

done safely)

Supervise (Stay on top of the situation and adjust as

necessary)

Risk Management Workbook

What Are Some Other Ways to ManageAviation Risks?

Questions to ConsiderFixed vs. Rotor Wing? Water vs. Retardant? March vs. June? (Identify Systems)

Does someone have the big picture? (Identify Hazards)

Is the air operation supporting the ground directly? (Assess Hazards)

Questions to Consider

Has the requesting official (line officer, IC or Ops) truly considered the risk?

Is the right person/position making the call? (Identify Risk Level)

Does the benefit warrant the necessary risk? Are we looking at the next ridge or the best ridge?(Make Risk Decisions)

What is the overall plan for the fire? (Implement Controls)

Questions to Consider

Which is more effective water or retardant? Are we flying retardant just to fly retardant?(Supervise)

The Benefit

So… the ATGS has answered the questions and is now responsible for managing all the risks.

Right? Right! Right.

Does everyone in the decision process understand and accept the risk level?

Is the necessary risk worth the benefit?

Grass fire burning and an aggressive suppression response

The next day….. the results are retardant did not make a difference.

You need to ask yourself this question and ensure everybody else on the fire has asked

this question

Is the benefit worth the necessary risk?

We have discussed what you can do to manage risk

Peer to Peer Tools

Peer Reviews An objective of the Forest Service SMS Falls under the Quality Assurance Pillar of

SMS There will be four evaluations in R3 this

fire season John Burfiend will be one or the first one Would like three additional ATGS’s to

volunteer for an review. (If not RO will select)

Review team will consist of two to three people with at least one of the members being a R3 ATGS

A positive productive experience

Goals of the Peer ReviewUnderstanding safety performance through feedback and monitoring. (Field Management Field)

Is what we think is happening (mitigations, risk acceptance) really happening? Feedback allows us to make adjustments if necessary (training, policy etc.).

Identify and record valuable decisions for future operations (lessons learned).

Provide mentoring opportunities for future operations(succession planning).

The Region is going to do quality assurance as part of our SMS, your input and guidance will make it a positive process. The plan to implement this process will be completed soon.

The EndAny Questions