OSHA / PESH ANNUAL SAFETY WELCOME Westchester County OSHA / PESH ANNUAL SAFETY PROGRAM

INSTRUCTOR Bill Dingee - Ex-Chief- Vista Volunteer Fire Department (NY) - Assistant Chief- Westport Fire Department (CT) - New York State Fire Instructor - County Fire Instructor - Fairfield County ( CT) Hazmat Team Leader

Class Outline Firefighter Safety Fire Behavior SCBA Confined Space Lockout / Tag out Hazmat / Hazard Communication Blood / Airborne Pathogens Sexual Harassment

LESSON 18 FIREFIGHTER SAFETY

GOALS OF A FIREFIGHTER SAFETY PROGRAM TS 1B–1 Preventing human suffering, deaths, injuries, and exposures to hazardous atmospheres and contagious diseases Preventing damage/loss of equipment Reducing the incidence and severity of accidents and hazardous exposures Safety practices cannot simply be taught – they must be practiced and enforced.

FIREFIGHTER HEALTH GUIDELINES TS 1B–2a Stay informed about job-related health issues. Follow recommendations for vaccination against hepatitis B. Use precautions to avoid exposure to HIV. Learn proper lifting techniques. Use tools designed to assist in lifting heavy objects. Properly clean and store tools and equipment used in patient care.

FIREFIGHTER HEALTH GUIDELINES (cont.) TS 1B–2b Maintain a regular exercise program to sustain physical fitness. Maintain a diet that reduces cholesterol, fat, and sodium intake. Be aware of cardiovascular and cancer risks. Have regular physicals and medical check-ups.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AREAS OF ASSISTANCE TS 1B–3 Alcohol abuse Drug abuse Personal problems Stress Depression Anxiety Divorce Career development Nutrition Hypertension Smoking cessation Weight control

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Physical Hazards Falling Objects Flying Debris Projectiles Abrasive / Rough Edges Sharp Edges Pointed Objects Slippery Surfaces Excessive Vibration

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Environmental Hazards High Heat / Humidity Ambient Cold Water High Winds Insufficient / Bright Light Excessive Noise

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Thermal Hazards High Convective Heat Low Radiant Heat Flame Impingement Steam Hot Liquids Molten Metals Hot Solids Hot Surfaces

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Chemical Hazards Inhalation Skin Absorption / Contact Liquefied Gas Contact Chemical Flashover Chemical Explosions

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Biological Hazards Blood borne Pathogens Airborne Pathogens Biological Toxins Biological Allergens Radiation Hazards Ionizing Radiation Non-Ionizing Radiation

Hazards/Risks Areas for Structural Firefighting Electrical High Voltage Electrical Arc Flashover Static Charge Build up

BENEFITS OF AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TS 1B–4 Is available to all members and their families Provides referrals Provides health education and counseling Assists with handling critical incident stress Prebriefing Debriefing (CISD) Defusing

From “50 Ways Firefighters Live” Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief FDNY (Ret) FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL From “50 Ways Firefighters Live” Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief FDNY (Ret) When stretching a hoseline to an upper floor of a building, do not pass fire. Notify your officer when going above a fire to search for victims or vertical extension of flame or smoke. When climbing or descending a stairway between the fire floor and the floor above, stay close to and face the wall.

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL If you enter a smoke and heat filled room and you suspect flash over conditions behind you, locate a second exit, window with a portable ladder to it. Crouch down and keep one leg outstretched in front of you when advancing an attack into a smoke filled room. To prevent getting driven off a fire floor by fire, close door to fire room while waiting for a hoseline. SCBA must worn even in light smoke, Carbon Monoxide, a colorless odorless gas, quickly builds up in unventilated areas.

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Do not let the presence of a sprinkler system Wear your SCBA ( sprinklers will create a high amount CO from incomplete combustion.) When forcible entry is required for an inward opening door behind which is intense heat and fire, the inward swing must be controlled. A firefighter entering a room from a ladder should first place the tools inside the window on the floor before entering. Maintain your grip on the window while entering.

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL The priorities of removing a victim from a burning building are : smoke proof tower, interior stair, fire escape, aerial platform, aerial ladder, portable ladder. Whenever there is a danger of wall collapse, a collapse zone must be established a min. of the height of the wall. After a fire has been extinguished, and before overhaul begins, fresh air must be pumped into the area, portable lights set up and safety survey of the building must be completed.

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL The most likely place for a local floor collapse in a burned out residence is the bathroom. To protect a propane tank from a nearby fire direct a hose stream at the top of the tank. When walking in a peaked roof straddle or stay near the ridge rafter. Where there is danger of burn through or collapse of a peaked roof decking, use a roff ladder.

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Roof operations should be conducted from an aerial ladder or platform when peaked roofs are in danger of collapsing. Firefighters should not walk on a roof more than 30 degrees steep. To reduce the chances of being severely injured by a flashover during a search, a safe, organized search method must be used. Firefighters must know the warning signs of flashover. ( High heat, rollover)

Firefighters Death and Injury Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief FDNY (Ret) FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Firefighters Death and Injury Vincent Dunn, Deputy Chief FDNY (Ret) Auto exposure Backdraft BLEVE Carbon Monoxide

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Below grade fires Collapse Commercial buildings Convection Currents Disorientation Electrical shock Explosives

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Falling Objects Flammable Vapors Flameover Flare Ups Flashover Hazardous Materials Heat

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Heat Hyperthermia High Ceilings Large Areas Mushrooming Overhaul Parapet Walls

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Peaked Roofs Plastics Responding to and returning Rollover Smoke Smoke Explosions Speed

FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL Stress Tunnel Vision Truss Construction Uncontrolled environment Reduced visibility Wind

APPARATUS SAFETY RULES TS 1B–5 Seat yourself in the apparatus. Do not ride standing anywhere on the apparatus. Do not dress while apparatus is in motion. Ride within fully enclosed portion of cab; if unable, wear helmet and eye protection. Wear ear protection if noise level exceeds 90 decibels. Fasten your seat belt. Never ride on the tailboard. Use handrails when dismounting apparatus. Jump clear of apparatus that may be in contact with electrical wires.

PERSONAL SAFETY RULES IN THE FIRE STATION TS 1B–6 Use proper lifting techniques to prevent back injury. Keep floors clean and free of slipping hazards. Watch your footing on stairs and uneven surfaces. Keep traffic areas free of tripping hazards. Be sure that aisles are unobstructed and that stairs are well lighted. Maintain handrails, slide poles, and slides in a safe condition.

TOOL & EQUIPMENT SAFETY RULES TS 1B–7 Replace damaged or broken tools. Return tools to storage after use. Inspect and clean tools before storing. Secure manufacturer’s approval before modifying a tool. Use spark-resistant tools in flammable atmospheres. Wear appropriate PPE. Remove all jewelry. Select the appropriate tool for the job. Know the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them. Inspect tools before use to determine their condition.

HAND & POWER TOOL SAFETY RULES TS 1B–8 HAND TOOLS Inspect all tools before each use. Never use a “cheater” to supply additional leverage. POWER TOOLS Ensure that trained, authorized personnel make repairs. Ensure that any electrical tool not marked “double insulated” has three-prong plug.

POWER SAW SAFETY RULES TS 1B–9a Match the saw to the task and the material to be cut. Wear proper protective equipment. Have hoselines in place when using a power saw to force entry into an area where fire is suspected and when using a power saw to perform vertical ventilation. Avoid the use of all saws when working in a flammable atmosphere.

Power Tool Safety

POWER SAW SAFETY RULES (cont.) TS 1B–9b Keep unprotected and unessential people out of the work area. Follow manufacturer’s procedures for proper saw operation. Use caution to avoid igniting gasoline vapors when refueling a hot, gasoline-powered saw. Keep blades and chains well sharpened.

Provide a Safe Work Area

TRAINING SAFETY TS 1B–10 NFPA 1500 requires monthly training for all who may engage in structural fire fighting. Other training sessions should be required as needed or at least twice a year.

PERSONAL SAFETY TS 1B–11 All training at a drill site must include protective gear. Trainees with any symptoms of illness should have a medical examination before they continue training. Horseplay during training is forbidden.

MAINTAINING & SERVICING EQUIPMENT TS 1B–12 Training equipment must be maintained in peak condition. All tools and equipment should be inspected before each drill.

EMERGENCY SCENE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS TS 1B–13 Is it safe or feasible to undertake the emergency operation? Does operation require rescuing victims or stopping property loss? Do risks involved warrant limiting the actions of firefighters? Remember that the IC’s first priority is firefighter safety; the second, victim safety.

CROWD CONTROL TS 1B–14 Know that law enforcement is usually responsible for crowd control. Keep all bystanders away from the incident for their own safety and that of victims and emergency personnel. Keep friends and relatives of victims away from the incident but treated with sensitivity and understanding in an area of their own. Know that zone boundaries are affected by work space, hazard degree, and topography.

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY TAG SYSTEM TS 1B–15 A simple tag system can help account for personnel within the fireground perimeter. Identification tags are attached to a control board for quick reference.

PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY SCBA TAG SYSTEM TS 1B–16 An SCBA tag system provides accountability for personnel inside a structure. Tags allow supervisor to record time of entry and exit of each firefighter.

Lockout / Tag Out Control of Utilities Secured with Locking device and Tag FF with radio