Developing Department Safety Awareness In Support of National Firefighter Safety Stand Down and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation “Life Safety Summit Initiatives” Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute University of Maryland

Stand Down Is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks.

IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli “Firefighters are being killed at an alarming rate. The fire service simply cannot continue to do business as usual when so many of its own are dying. We are conducting the stand down to raise awareness of the need for increased vigilance toward fire fighter safety.”

Enabling Objectives Explain the puropose for developing department safety awareness List resources readily available to fire department personnel Describe activities that can be conducted for safety awareness Developing a plan of action for safety improvements

Overview Introduction Resources Activities Plan of Action

INTRODUCTION ‘The IAFC and its partners are urging you and all fire departments throughout the country to suspend all non-emergency activity and focus entirely on firefighter safety.’ ‘Talk about line-of-duty deaths; check all apparatus and equipment; discuss health safety regulations; review fire ground safety issues; and take stock of training exercises and fitness goals.’

On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities

How does the culture of your fire department impact safety? You have a right to stop unsafe practices Too many members indoctrinated with a traditional sense of unquestioning discipline You have the right and the responsibility to stop any action you believe is unsafe, or could be unsafe No different than your obligation to avoid unethical or immoral behavior/actions

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

RESOURCES National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives NIOSH reports NIST simulations NFPA VFIS USFA/NFA IAFC MSFA Firehouse.com Respondersafety.com OSHA MIEMSS Firefightrerclosecalls MFRI

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability, and personal responsibility.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability, and personal responsibility. The need for safety must start at the top of the organization. It must be practiced by all and enforced as an organizational priority.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the service.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the service. The organization shall provide the members with the proper PPE and SCBA to complete their duties. Members shall utilize the PPE and SCBA to carry out their duties as prescribed by the manufacturer and departmental procedures.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities. Risk Management – NFA- USFA We will risk our lives a lot to protect a savable life. We will risk our lives a little to protect savable property. We will not risk our lives at all in an attempt to protect lives and property that are already lost.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 4. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe acts.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 4. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe acts. Watch out for our brother and sister firefighters. We are our brother’s keeper. Point out unsafe acts before they cause injury or death.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform. Advocate the use of the Maryland Fire Service Professional Qualification system. All responders should be certified to the level of their response capabilities.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform. Advocate physicals for all members when they join and at regular intervals.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relate to the initiatives.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relate to the initiatives. All counties should require detailed reports from all departments concerning responses, incidents, injuries, and fatalities. This report should also include training records for each member.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety. Use thermal imaging cameras, combustible gas indicators, and charged electric wire alerting devices to indicate dangerous conditions at incidents scenes to response personnel.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses. Develop a program to define ‘near misses’. Investigate all injuries and near misses. Cooperate with agencies that conduct fatality investigations. Utilize this information to improve the safety and welfare of responders.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 10. Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 10. Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement. When writing grant requests include safety criteria as part of the specifications.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 11. Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 11. Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures. Adopt and follow NFPA standards for emergency response such as NFPA 1500 and NFPA Comply with federal regulations such as 29 CFR , Respiratory Protection, and 29 CFR Hazardous Materials Response. These are examples only. There are numerous standards and regulations that apply to emergency responders.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 12. Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 12. Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents. Work with law enforcement agencies to develop and comply with protocols for response to violent incidents.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 13. Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and psychological support.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 13. Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and psychological support. Develop local and state resources for members and their families for counseling and psychological support services.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 14. Provide public education more resources and champion it as a critical fire and life safety program.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 14. Provide public education more resources and champion it as a critical fire and life safety program. Develop your department’s ability to provide public education services to your community. Resources can be obtained in grant requests.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 15. Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 15. Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers. Provide your members with basic training in the use of the applicable Fire Prevention Code for your jurisdiction. Ascertain the correct procedure to report violations to the responsible agency. Become an advocate for home automatic sprinkler systems. Enlist the assistance of other community groups in your area.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 16. Make safety a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 16. Make safety a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment. When writing specifications for new apparatus and equipment include the appropriate NFPA specifications. The equipment and apparatus should carry the applicable NFPA approval labels.

NIOSH Reports Trusses Report Photos Case studies Diagrams Safety practices /

NIOSH FF Fatality Reports NIOSH investigates most fatalities. List by states List of all investigations Can be used to enhance safety

NIOSH Fatality Report Summary of incident Recommendations Photos Detailed report

NIOSH Alert Reports Detailed report Example - Fire ground structural collapse Expanded coverage needed for one area that affects safety

NIST Fire Simulations Fire in a One-Story Restaurant, Texas February 14, 2000 Truss roof construction Fire involvement of roof area Roof collapse Two firefighters killed CD-ROM 13 minutes

NFPA – Many services available NFPA standards available on-line for reading only – Hazardous Materials Response – Live fire Training – 1981 – Open-circuit SCBA Fire Prevention and Public Education materials – for purchase Departments can have memberships Investigations - example – Residential House, Pittsburgh, PA, 2/14/95, 3 fatalities. NFPA members: Download this report for free (PDF, 1.7 MB) Free summary in English (PDF, 56 KMB) and Spanish (PDF, 6 KB)Download this report for freeEnglishSpanish

Pittsburg Fire – Free Summary Report

Pittsburg Fire – Full Report 21 Pages Photos and diagrams Points – 3 firefighters deceased – Not found for 1 hour – Poor ICS – No accountability – Poor communications

USFA/NFA National Fire Academy NIMS EMI On-line classes Firefighter s Grant Program

International Association of Fire Chiefs Home page for Stand Down for Safety Many links National Near Miss Reporting system

MSFA State training committee Funding grants State legislation

Firehouse.com Extensive coverage of the emergency services Company drills Latest incidents

Respondersafety.com Highway safety for responders Traffic incident manageme nt systems

OSHA Federal regulations Training programs Enforcement interpretations

MIEMSS EMS Protocols EMS certification Matching Grants EMS WMD issues

Firefighterclosecalls.com Excellent site Personal reports of close call incidents Reports and training items for download

MFRI State and regional training On-line classes Registration Links Contacts Company Drills

ACTIVITIES Station Operations Responding/Returning Fire Ground Operations Other Emergency Operations Training

Stations Operations Moment of silence for LODD at shift change or company meetings Apparatus checks Equipment checks Slip, trip, and fall issues Air compressor/cascade air quality Health and Safety Officer designated Physicals for all members Critical Incident Stress for members

Responding/Returning Is POV allowed? Driver qualifications All members seated and belted Stop for all stop signs, red lights, and railroad crossings Spotters for backing apparatus Maps and response routes Avoid bridges with ratings less than the vehicle weight

Fire Ground Operations Use of ICS/IMS Safety Officer clearly designated SOP’s Mandatory SCBA usage requirements Continuous water supply established Clearly understood Plan of Action Offensive or defensive operations announced Accountability system in place and utilized

Other Emergency Incidents Blood borne pathogen requirements followed Highway safety procedures followed Air monitoring for Hazmat and Confined Space operations Technical Rescue incident trained responders

Training Minimum training requirements for all members Instructors qualified to teach in their area NFPA 1403 followed for all live burns Driver training programs and refreshers should be mandatory Training records for all members Certification system fees paid by the departments

4. Plan of Action Identify areas of departmental and personal weaknesses. List items that can be changed immediately List items that require training and/or resources to accomplish List items that are long range goals that require extensive changes to operations, equipment, or organizational culture

4. Plan of Action Make a plan for immediate changes Make a plan for changes that require changes in training or procedures and resource allocation Make a plan for long range changes These plans need a timetable and bench marks. Regular progress reports to management and the membership. The need to change must be sold to the responders and accepted Any changes made require support and enforcement

Review Introduction Resources Activities Improvement Plan

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