Maryland Fire Service Health and Safety Consensus Standard

1. Maryland Fire Service Health and Safety Consensus Standard “…so our brothers and sisters will be provided every degree of safety in the delivery of emergency services…” Final Draft - January 2001

2. What’s the problem? • In 1999-- • 112 firefighters died in the line of duty • Increase of 21 from 1998 • 300,000 + firefighters sustained injuries in the line of duty

3. 32 volunteers 22 paid 1 prison inmate 1 federal forestry …21 heart attacks …13 asphyxiated …8 burned …6 internal trauma …4 crushed …3 electrocuted …1 heat stroke 56 died on the fireground:

4. 27 volunteers 4 paid 1 federal forestry …15 heart attacks …11 collisions or rollovers …2 strokes …2 aneurysms …1 drowned …1 fell from jump seat 32 died responding/returning

5. 10 died in non-fire emergencies 8 heart attacks-- 3 at motor vehicle accidents 2 at false alarms volunteers 1 medical call 1 in trench rescue 1 after dog attack 2 struck and killed at the scene of motor vehicle crashes

6. 10 died in non-emergency related on duty activities 7 in normal station activities-- …5 heart attacks …2 embolisms 1 heart attack on vehicle maintenance detail 1 hit by a backhoe he was repairing 1 explosion of fireworks waste

7. 4 died during training 1 heart attack 1 fall from a window while directing a ladder and handline 1 ruptured cerebral aneurysm during PT 1 drowned during SCUBA dive

8. Routine fires/incidents... • ...they kill firefighters • ...they injure firefighters • It’s the ones and twos…not the Worcester, MA

9. FSHR • Workgroup call by Secretary of Labor John O’Connor. • Workgroup comprised of paid and volunteer representatives, including labor & management. • Consensus: Paid & volunteer providers should be equally protected. • Chairperson Chief Roger Simonds. • Goal: safety, emergency scene accountability and command structure that matches NFPA 1500. • Why: prevent illness and injury.

10. FSHR • Accomplished without significant difficulty by most fire departments and rescue squads. • Recognize some Federal, State and local regulations affect operations now. • There are some costs (medical/fit testing). • Bottom line: a safer environment for the emergency service responder.

11. Status • Responses from several organizations. • Reviewed and changes made where appropriate. • Medical component completed. • Added method for revisions.

12. 1. Purpose 2. Scope 3. Definitions 4. Organizational statement 5. Implementation Period 6. Medical Standards Structure

13. 7. Substance abuse programs 8. Personal Protective Equipment 9. Emergency operations 10. Investigation of vehicle collisions and injuries 11. Vehicle safety Structure

14. 12. Tools/equipment 13. Facility safety 14. Workplace violence 15. PIA/Critiques 16. Revision to standard Appendices Structure

15. Purpose: “…to protect members during emergency operations.” • Scope: All fire, rescue and EMS departments in the state.

16. Definitions: • AHJ • Command Level Officers • Emergency responder • IDLH • Mayday

17. Definitions: • PAR • Qualified Personnel • Rapid Intervention Crew • Senior Command Level Officer • Standard Principles of Risk

18. Organizational Statement: • Statement or written policy: defines the organization’s purpose--what will it do? • Fight fire? • EMS? • Confined space? • High angle? • Swiftwater/underwater? • Guidelines in appendices

19. Implementation period • Develop a written implementation plan. • Remember some Federal, State and local regulations affect operations now. • ID compliance date with each element of the regulation. • Although not all adopted, be pro-active, get with it now!

20. Medical Standard • AHJ develops medical evaluation program • Supervising physician • Baseline evaluation for all • Aged based examination • Minimum requirements

21. Medical Standard • Specifics of evaluation provided • Collect data • Confidentiality • Reported either acceptable or unacceptable

22. Substance Abuse Programs • Establish policy • Includes entry and subsequent screenings

23. PPE • AHJ provides commensurate with the level of hazard and response expected • Train members on use and care • Inspect it annually • Provided and used

24. Respirators: • Type and compliance • Fit testing • Refill in fragmentation chamber • Hydro test • Air quality

25. Structural Firefighting NFPA 1971 • EMS NFPA 1999 • Hazardous materials NFPA 1991, 1992

26. High angle rescue • Under water and swiftwater • Wildland NFPA 1977 • Marine • Eye & ear protection

27. Emergency Operations • General: • Prevent injury or death • Adequate members assembled • Within organizational statement • Supervision

28. Incident Management System • Written • All trained in its use • Used in all activities-training, operations, special events

29. Incident Commander • All scenes, one in charge • Establish organization based on IMS adopted • Unity of command • Risk management

30. Incident Commander • At emergency scene the IC : • assumes command, is identified, • performs size up with risk assessment, • initiates/maintains/controls communications, • develops strategic and tactical plan, • initiates personnel accountability, • reviews, modifies as required, and • continues, transfers, terminates.

31. Command Officer Training • All trained on AHJ’s system, including simulations using that community • Senior command officers-more advanced, but again based on expected response • Refresh annually on AHJ system; use simulations

32. Personnel Accountability • Develop a system to include: • Activation • Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) • PAR at specific times and at certain benchmarks

33. Health & Safety Officer • Assign • Knowledgeable, compliance • Develop safety program for prevention • Scene safety officer

34. Emergency Scene Operations • Training • PPE • IC & standby team • Entry team • RIC • Multiple RICs

35. Emergency Scene Operations • IDLH atmospheres: • Interior- requires 2 out- for structures • Exterior- requires 1 out- car fires, dumpsters, etc.

36. Emergency Scene Operations • Basic Risk Management questions: • Risk Life for Life • Risk Little for Property • Risk Nothing for What’s Already Lost

37. Emergency Scene Operations • Mayday • Develop policy for disabled, trapped, missing • Rehabilitation • CISM

38. Emergency Scene Operations • Communications: • Plain English • SOP/G • Terminology • Use of IMS at all times

39. Investigating Collisions/Injuries • Adopt policies and procedures • Determine cause and provide recommendations for prevention

40. Vehicles, Tools and Equipment • Consider safety and health in specifications, design, maintenance, etc. • Facility Safety- • During renovation/construction of fire/rescue and EMS stations all work shall comply w/all applicable health, safety and building codes • Workplace Violence • Procedures to evaluate the potential

41. Post Incident Analysis & Critiques • Adopt policies and procedures for conducting PIAs and critiques.

42. Revisions... • Prepared in writing by members of the Work Group to the Secretary of Labor & Industry. • Workgroup meets annually to review. • Structure provided

43. Appendices • Provide support for various sections, give options, show examples

44. Comments Please!!! • Send your comments and suggestions via mail, e-mail, fax to your fire service organization representative by July 31, 2001.