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Chapter 5

Chapter 5 . Firefighter Safety. Introduction. Fire service knows what injures and kills firefighters Firefighting profession carries significant risk Risk: chance of injury, damage, or loss Risk management: process of minimizing risk

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Chapter 5

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  1. Chapter 5 Firefighter Safety

  2. Introduction • Fire service knows what injures and kills firefighters • Firefighting profession carries significant risk • Risk: chance of injury, damage, or loss • Risk management: process of minimizing risk • Firefighter safety is grounded in understanding risks and risk/benefit thinking

  3. Safety Issues • Understand what events and circumstances lead to injury or death • Fire and safety professionals have created standards, procedures, and initiatives • Prevent injuries and deaths • Efforts directly affected training and tactics employed today • Being aware of safety and injury-prevention helps the fire service address safety issues

  4. Firefighter Injury and Death Trends • 70 percent of all duty deaths and injuries occur during emergency activities • Heart attacks are the leading type of death-producing injury • Firefighting fatalities as a result of fire-related causes has increased • Understanding historical data helps us reduce deaths and injuries (see Figures 5-1 and 5-2)

  5. Safety Standards and Regulations • OSHA is responsible for enforcement of safety-related regulations in the workplace • Firefighting fatalities and injuries have not noticeably decreased • OSHA/NFPA alliance furthers the importance and accountability placed on fire safety • NIOSH writes recommendations based on investigations of firefighter fatalities

  6. Figure 5-3 An example of a NIOSH Alert issued to address disturbing trends in firefighter injuries and deaths.

  7. Firefighter Safety Initiatives • In 2004, USFA and NFFF developed sixteen Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives • In 2005, organizations agreed that a collective time-out was needed • Stand-down safety day • In 2007, the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives were revisited • Time and more focused preventative energy are necessary

  8. Preventive Actions • Goal of exploring safety issues is to reduce potential for further injury and deaths • “Safety triad” and assigning action responsibilities create firefighter safety system • All firefighters should be empowered to stop unsafe actions • Those whose actions are stopped should view the intervention as positive

  9. The Safety Triad • Most fire service operational environments are made up of three key components: • Procedures • Equipment • Personnel

  10. (B) (A) Figure 5-4 The safety triad includes (A) procedures, (B) equipment (Photo courtesy of Richard W. Davis), and (C) personnel.

  11. (C) Figure 5-4 (cont’d.) The safety triad includes (A) procedures, (B) equipment (Photo courtesy of Richard W. Davis), and (C) personnel. 5.12

  12. Procedures • Describe formal and informal processes • Formal processes are in writing: • Standard operating procedures • Standard operating guidelines • Departmental directives and temporary memos • Informal procedures are part of the department’s routine but are not written

  13. Figure 5-5 Sample SOP index.

  14. Figure 5-6 Sample SOP format.

  15. Equipment • Equipment makes an operation more safe • Least important factor • Most critical equipment is designed to meet NFPA standards • Must be inspected and maintained • Complete documentation of repairs and maintenance is essential • Choosing the right tool for a given job is paramount for safety

  16. Personnel • Human factors cited as cause of injuries and deaths • Safety triad must address personnel issues • Everything learned in basic academy should be drilled • Firefighter must strive to retain information and skills • Firefighter's body must be capable of handling stress

  17. Figure 5-8 Basic skills must be practiced on a regular basis.

  18. Personnel (cont’d.) • Improve physical health and safety: • Annual health screening • Work hardening and fitness • Nutrition education • Keys to addressing mental health • Training and understanding of critical incident stress management (CISM) • Utilizing available member assistance programs (MAP)

  19. Figure 5-10 Critical incident stress is inevitable and unpreventable. CISM can be addressed through recognition (know the signs and symptoms), peer support, and debriefings.

  20. Personnel (cont'd.) • Attitude is the hardest to address • Factors that affect safety attitudes: • Fire department’s safety culture • Fire department’s history • Example set by others • Ways to have a positive attitude: • Practice good habits • Learn from others • Be vigilant

  21. Figure 5-11 Developing a positive safety attitude and practicing safe habits will demonstrate safe examples to others.

  22. Firefighter Safety Responsibilities • Dependent on the efforts of everyone • Responsibility for firefighter safety rests in one of three areas: • Department • Working team • Individual

  23. (A) (C) (B) Figure 5-12 Firefighter safety is dependent on all partners holding up their responsibilities: (A) administration, (B) teams, and (C) individual firefighters.

  24. The Department (cont'd.) • Fire chiefs must create and enforce: • Rules • Procedures • Expectations • Create a health and safety committee • Develop standard procedures • Personal protective equipment • Firefighter injuries • Training safely • Many others

  25. The Department (cont'd.) • Implement risk management plan • Risk a life to save a life • Reduce risk for valued property • Take no risk for that which is lost • Retreat when risk excessive or deteriorating quickly • Research and purchase appropriate equipment • Development and delivery of awareness training

  26. The Team • Must hold up its part of the safety partnership • Team should follow these procedures • Utilize an ICS • Work together and remain intact • Look after each other

  27. The Individual Firefighter • Readiness is an attitude as well as a physical state • Each individual must fill a role • Perform as trained • Working alone or outside the action plan endangers individuals and the team • Use an incident engagement checklist

  28. Figure 5-13 Freelancing endangers individuals and the team. This firefighter is working alone in a collapse zone—for what gain?

  29. Figure 5-14 Firefighters should perform a mental incident engagement checklist for every response.

  30. Lessons Learned • Firefighter safety is dependent on many factors • 70 percent of injuries and deaths occur during emergency activities • Majority due to overexertion • Accident prevention mitigates hazards • Use safety triad between department administration, working teams, firefighter • Individuals must develop safe habits and attitudes

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