Safety to our firefighters …… What Happened?

1. Lee Shaffer Asst Chief of Special Operations Kirtland AFB, NM Safety to our firefighters……What Happened?

2. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS • May 2003, during time trials for FAA inspection, a P-23 goes into dirt, does a 180, and almost rolls • Fire Chief told young airman “Put the pedal to the metal and don’t stop until you get to Fox-3”

3. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS • Aug 04, while responding to a smell of smoke, basket of 102’ aerial hits roll up door. • Driver failed to ensure door was fully raised, could not see door

4. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS • Aug 09, during a wild land fire response, driver of 5000 gal tanker was backing vehicle when vehicle slid off road into ditch • Vehicle totaled because of bent frame • Driver failed to ask for assistance or get out and check area

5. EQUIPMENT DAMAGE • Mar 08, door and window of P-19 damaged due to gust of high winds • Passenger failed to close door

6. EQUIPMENT DAMAGE • Feb 08, while pulling vehicle out, radio fell off of front bumper of R-3 and was crushed • Feb 10, while pulling vehicle out during morning check out, ran over and destroyed two saws • Mar 10, during morning check out, driver pulling out vehicle when MSA mask falls and is crushed by vehicle • Driver’s failed to secure equipment

7. INJURIES • May 08, during a fast moving wild land fire, 4 members received 1st and 2nd degree burns • Members failed to wear PPE properly • Crew chief failed to take proper survey of situation

8. INJURIES • Oct 09, passenger receives head laceration when P-19 drives over dip in the road • Failure to wear seat belt

9. WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN? • All incidents just mentioned and will be discussed happened at Kirtland AFB over several years • Had a very serious incident happened • May introduce incidents from other jurisdictions

10. GAME RULES • During this presentation, think of incidents that happened at your department, what was the investigation result, what was the outcome, and please share • Please hold all questions and comments until the end, may answer your question

11. Overview • Kirtland AFB, who are we • Incidents at Kirtland AFB • The “SCBA SCARE” • Lessons Learned • What are we doing as Chiefs and FF

12. KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT • Kirtland AFB is located in the southeast quadrant of Albuquerque, N.M., adjacent to the International Airport • Response area covers approximately 53,000 acres; third largest base in the AFMC command.

13. KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT • Response area includes the airport in which we have a joint use agreement with the city • Average 158,000 landing and takeoffs • Average over 5,888,000 passengers in and out of the airport • Commercial, cargo, and general aviation aircraft to include Eclipse International

14. KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT • With 5 fire stations, we protect on average over 30,000 people, 1800 homes, two elementary schools, three day cares, several laboratories & research centers, a dozen dormitories, many aircraft, and a complex maintenance facility. • We average about 2500 to 3000 emergencies annually.

15. KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT • Employees 108 personnel • 88 shift personnel working 48/72,48/72, 48/48 in a two week period • 9 administrative personnel working a 60 hour work week and are shift qualified • 2 fire inspectors and 1 logistics person • 8 dispatchers working 12 hour shift • All personnel are IFSAC certified to their assigned position

16. KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT • Structural Vehicles • 3 pumpers • 1 102’ aerial • 3 water tankers; 1 5000 gal and 2 2000 gal • Crash • 2 P-23 CFR, 3300 gal of water, 500 gal foam • 3 P-19 CFR, 1000 gal of water, 130 gal foam • Support • Hazmat/IC, hazmat response trailers

17. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS • 2005 – 2009 • 34 incidents • 7 Backing accidents – failure to use spotter • 3 Emergency response – failure to maintain control and clearance • 16 Vehicle movements – failure to maintain clearance, striking building/stalls, inexperience • 8 Nature/accident – winds, rocks, accident avoidance, equipment failure

18. VEHICLE ACCIDENTS • 2010 • 5 incidents • 2 Backing accidents – failure to use spotter • 1 Emergency response – failure to maintain control and clearance…new driver • 1 Vehicle movements – failure to maintain clearance • 1 Nature/accident –accident avoidance

19. EQUIPMENT DAMAGE • 2005 – 2009 • 9 incidents • 3 Emergency response – failure to secure equipment, failure to close compartments • 1 Vehicle movement – failure to ensure clear path of travel…radio crushed • 1 Training – damage to building from equipment • 4 Equipment – failure to maintain control…radio dropped through hole while fighting fire • 14 PPE – contaminated with fuel from tanker roll over

20. EQUIPMENT DAMAGE • 2010 • 4 incidents • 3 Vehicle movements – 1 MSA mask crushed, 1 radio crushed, and 2 saw damaged….failure to ensure clear path of travel • 1 SCBA incident – failure to maintain control, catastrophic event

21. INJURIES • 2005 – 2009 • 108 injuries • 22 FD training – 1 failure to wear PPE properly, 3 dismounting vehicle wrong, 4 improper lifting • 18 Emergency response – 8 failure to wear PPE, 1 fell off truck while getting out • 31 Sport – 9 improper lifting, 5 improper warm up • 37 Other – 16 improper lifting, 5 slipping or tripping, 1 ladder not secure, 1 failure to wear ladder belt falling from aerial, a bunch of not paying attention

22. INJURIES • 2010 • 5 injuries • 3 FD training – 1 improper lifting • 1 Emergency response – 1 improper lifting • 1 Sport – 1 improper lifting • 1 Other – 1 improper lifting

23. MEDICALS • 2005 – 2009 • 9 medicals • 2 insect bites • 2 lightening strikes – fire station was not properly grounded • 2 anxiety – stress • 4 heart attacks – stress, improper diet, smoking, over weight; one individual has had 2 heart attacks in a three year period

24. MEDICALS • 2010 • 0

25. COST and TIME LOST

26. SCBA SCARE • Jan 2010 • During morning check out, individual was checking reserve air bottles assigned to R-4 • Individual took air bottle out of holder to replace another bottle

27. SCBA SCARE • Bottle slips out of hands and strikes rim of right rear wheel cracking head • Bottle starts spinning around • People start running for cover

28. SCBA SCARE • Head of SCBA completely releases causing catastrophic failure resulting in “Pin Ball Wizard” action. • Air bottle takes off striking several objects resulting in several thousands of dollars of damage

29. SCBA SCARE

30. SCBA SCARE

31. SCBA SCARE

32. SCBA SCARE

33. SCBA SCARE

34. SCBA SCARE

35. SCBA SCARE

36. SCBA SCARE

37. SCBA SCARE

38. AFTER ACTION • Each Assistant Chief ordered to look at their perspective area’s • Records • Causes • Corrective actions • NFPA, OSHA, and AFI updates • Contact peers from other bases and departments • Think outside of the box

39. AFTER ACTION • Requested assistance from wing safety and vehicle maintenance • Looked at all equipment, vehicle reports, work orders, and inspections • Looked at all station inspections and work orders • Assisted in Safety Down Day inspections • Report findings…this was not a hit nor a write up because we requested assistance

40. AFTER ACTION • Safety Down Day • Each station inspected for safety violations • All vehicles inspected inside and out • All equipment inspected for defects • All personnel received safety briefings from the use of PPE, lifting techniques, to driving GOV and POV to include motorcycle and ATV riding

41. FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT • Fire Chief? • Chief Officers? • Company Officers? • Firefighters? • Kirtland AFB was second highest in the Air Force for injuries and accidents

42. FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT • PPE violations – failure to wear PPE for 4 burn injuries, 2 chemical exposures, and 2 body fluid exposures • Where were the buddy/safety checks • Driving accidents – backing incidents, driving into stall doors, buildings…. • Where were the spotters

43. FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT • Equipment damage – running over saws, radio, mask, tools falling out of compartments • Where was the walk around by operator/crew • Why was the equipment placed in path of travel • Injuries/Medicals – lifting injuries, heart attacks, jumping off vehicles

44. FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT • Chief Officers – • Failure to enforce safety standards and policies • Lack of supervision to include disciplinary actions • Not up to date with current issues • Paper work not filled out properly • Staying in the office

45. FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT • Company Officers – • Failure to follow/enforce safety standards and policies • Lack of leadership skills – these are my friends • Firefighters – • Failure to follow/enforce safety standards and policies

46. FAULT - WHOSE IS IT • Fault is with ALL personnel • SAFETY is the RESPONSIBILITY of EVERYONE, from the fire chief to the firefighter

47. FINDINGS • Safety forms (KAFB Form 300), and CA forms not filled out • Lack of situation awareness • Lack of enforcement from all parties • Laziness

48. CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS • Panel of peers • Consisted of Deputy Fire Chief, 2 Asst. Chief, 2 Bat Chief, 4 Lt’s, and 8 firefighters • Asst. Chief, Bat Chief 2 Lt’s, and 4 firefighters must be off duty at time of incident • All incidents will be looked at; depending the nature, those incidents will be investigated • Good idea and had the support by most bargaining unit members, but union shot it down

49. CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS • Light installed on aerial doors • Green for door is up, red for door is down • Spotters to ensure doors are up • Any time vehicle moves – in/out • 2 spotters for back up • Ensure all compartments and doors are closed before movements • Operator and crew chief must walk around vehicle to secure vehicle equipment

50. CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS • Hold all personnel responsible • Before – incidents were swept under carpet • Depending on nature of incident, two off duty chief officer’s and/or outside agency will investigate • Disciplinary action and/or paying for damages may be enforced • All reports must be turned in with in 24 hours of incident • Major accidents or supervisors discretion - driver’s will be drug tested