Safety Committee Introduction 2004 Lessons Learned Larry Smith

Safety Committee Formed in fall of 2004 Membership will be comprised of: 1 advisory member from Management (Dave Allen) 1 voting member from each of the modules in FMO Engine 72 currently Greg Ver Engine 51 currently Larry Smith Helitack currently Fred Mason Arrowhead Hotshots currently Pat Morgan Crew 91 currently Mike Brown Fire monitors currently Joel Metcalfe (Chairman)

Purpose The purpose of this committee is to assist the fire management officer in the development, implementation, critique and review of the fire management program. The committee does not manage fire operations; it is advisory in nature.

Procedures The committee is responsible to the Fire Management Officer for all reviews and critiques Reviews and critiques will be presented at the spring and fall operations meetings Meetings will be held a minimum of three times a year; prior to the spring operations meeting, the beginning of August, and prior to the fall operations meeting. Additional meetings can be scheduled anytime as the need arises

Procedures A committee member will be assigned to take minutes and record decisions for each meeting. The minutes will include a list of attendees Members that can not attend will send a representative

New Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) /AAR procedure 1. After each operational shift supervisors should perform an After Action Review. Format can be found in IRPG 2. Any significant findings should be forwarded to the respective modules safety committee representative 3. At each meeting, or more frequently if the need arises, the committee will discuss any findings and make recommendations to Fire Management Officer 4. JHA’s will be revised according to findings by committee and FMO

2004 Lessons Learned During the April 2005 Safety Committee Meeting There were seven identified lessons learned from 2004 Research Burn Smoke Effects on Adjacent roads Prescribed fires with high energy slope components Effects of non-fire personnel on prescribed fire operations Radio Traffic Poison Oak Pile Burning

1. Research Burn - Maintain LCES, ensure escape routes and safety zones are established and identify multiple escape routes if needed, revise burn plans for specific sites due to hazards encountered

Talking Points Escape Routes Alternative Plumbing techniques Alternative Tactics for that unit How to React/ Decision Making Process Maintain Situational Awareness

2. Poison Oak - Hazard mitigation plan developed by Ben Jacobs, create “Working in and around Poison Oak” JHA Talking Points Most of the exposure to poison oak occurs during chainsaw operations when the plant is actually being cut and the oils are easily spread Employees who have demonstrated some resistance to poison oak will be required to take on more of the responsibility of chainsaw operations

Talking Points Employees who have been identified as being susceptible to poison oak will be placed towards the rear of the crew during line construction activities to reduce their exposure Employees with severe susceptibility may be kept on the road depending on the urgency of the fire situation Any employee exposed to poison oak will be given access as as soon as possible, to either the river or a bathroom to wash off the oils. They will also be given immediate access to Tecnu and allowed to change their clothes

Talking Points Opportunities for subsequent intervals of Tecnu washing will be made available to employees as soon as is convenient and needed Each module in Fire Management will dedicate one safety meeting to the subject of poison oak covering at a minimum the topics of identification, avoidance and treatment

This could be you if you don’t utilize proper care while working in the woods