Accountability Training Union County SOG 2 04 Accountability

Accountability Training Union County SOG 2. 04

Accountability Training n PURPOSE – To give Incident Commanders a fast and efficient means to account for all fire/rescue personnel that are working within a small geographical area (Hazard Zone) of an incident. – The system addresses the requirements for firefighter accountability as stipulated in NFPA 1500 and 1561

Accountability Training n OBJECTIVE – To establish a consistent approach to maintaining personnel accountability within the hazard zone of all incident in union county. – To provide training in the use of the Union County accountability system using the appropriate Nametags, Passports, and Status Boards carried by all Union County Fire Department personnel and on all Fire and EMS Apparatus.

Accountability Training n Core Elements of the Union County Accountability System – Incident Command § Command will always maintain an accurate tracking and awareness of where resources are committed at an incident. § Command will always be responsible for including accountability as a major element in strategy and planning, and must consider and react to any barriers to effective accountability. § The Incident Commander will appoint an Accountability Officer at any incident where crews will be deployed into a hazard zone. This will be done as soon as sufficient command staff is available

Accountability Training n Core Elements of the Union County Accountability System – Division/Group Officers § Division/Group Officers will always maintain accurate tracking and awareness of crews assigned to them. § Division/Group Officers will remain in his/her assigned area and maintain close supervision of crews assigned to them

Accountability Training n Core Elements of the Union County Accountability System – Crew Supervisors (Lieutenants, Senior FF) § Will insure that all crews work for Command or Division/Groups. NO FREELANCING!! § Will insure that their crews remain intact, are made up of two or more members, and that at least one radio is assigned to the crew. § Will insure that they identify themselves as the crew supervisor when he/she reports to Command or Division/Groups.

Accountability Training n Core Elements of the Union County Accountability System – Crew Supervisors (Lieutenants, Senior FF) § Will insure that their crews go into the hazard zone together, stay together, and come out together. § Will insure that at least one radio is operational at all times. If not, his/her entire crew must exit the hazard zone § Will insure that his/her crew’s passport is dropped off immediately prior to entering and immediately after exiting the hazard zone.

Accountability Training n Passport System – The passport system will be used at all incidents in Union County which require crews to be deployed into Hazard Zones. – The passport system requires specific equipment and hardware to operate efficiently. – It is the responsibility of the administration of each Fire Department in Union County to insure that the proper passport system equipment and hardware available to their personnel at all times.

Accountability Training n Passport System – Passport System Hardware § Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT) § Passports § Status Boards § Large Status Boards § Helmet Markings

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT) § Each member of the Department will be issued a PAT. § Each PAT will have the individual’s Fire Department unit number and name. § It will be each member’s responsibility to maintain their PAT. A missing or damaged PAT should be reported to his/her company officer immediately.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT) (cont. ) § Riders and Observers – A PAT marked “observer” should be maintained on each station. When riders or observers are assigned the “observer” PAT will be utilized by that individual. All observers will be briefed on the accountability system as part of their safety briefing at the beginning of their observation time. § When the PASSPORT system is activated, each crew member will attach their PAT to the PASSPORT assigned to the apparatus they are riding.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Personnel Accountability Tag (PAT) (cont. )

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Passports § Each emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a PASSPORT. § The PASSPORT will consist of a plastic card, 2 ¾ x 3 ¾ inches, white in color, with company designation (i. e. E=271) in black lettering/etching at the top. § The PASSPORT will have a metal hook and Velcro on the front and Velcro on the rear.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Passports (cont. ) § The PASSPORT will be attached to a Velcro strip located in each vehicle.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Passports (cont. ) § The hook on a PASSPORT receives the PAT of each crew member entering the hazard zone.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Status Boards § A plastic board 12 x 18 inches and white in color. § The status board will be labeled with black lettering/etching. § The status board will have Velcro stripes on the front and large rings attached to the sides. It will have Velcro on the back. § The status board will have positions for eight (8) PASSPORTS.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Status Boards § Will be located so as to be easily accessible to the apparatus driver/operator. § Will be used by the pump operator, Division/Group officer, or accountability officer to manage passports at the point of entry into the Hazard Zone.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Large Status Boards § A plastic board 12 x 16 inches and white in color. § The large status board will have Velcro stripes on the front and large rings attached to the sides. It will have Velcro on the back. § The large status board will have positions for twelve (12) PASSPORTS. § The large status board will be carried in Chief officers vehicles and use by Chief officers or accountability officers to manage passports at the point of entry into the hazard zone.

Accountability Training n Passport System Hardware – Helmet Markings § The shield on the front of each members helmet will bear the department name, Individual’s rank, and individual’s unit number.

Accountability Training n Passport System Implementation – At any incident that requires the use of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). – At any incident where personnel are working in a hazard zone. – At any incident where personnel are out of sight of the commander, Division/Group officer, or accountability officer.

Accountability Training n Passport System Implementation – PASSPORTS never enter a hazard zone. – PASSPORTS must be maintained on a status board at the point of entry. – Status Boards must reflect only those personnel presently in the hazard zone.

Accountability Training n Accountability Levels – Level I Accountability § Single company incidents § PATs placed on PASSPORT § Pump operator assumes accountability

Accountability Training n Accountability Levels – Level II Accountability ( “A” Assignment) § All incoming units will report to the Incident Commander with their PASSPORTS in hand for assignment. § PASSPORTS will be organized at the command post by utilizing the Large Status Board. § The Incident Commander will appoint one or more Accountability Officers as the situation demands and manpower allows to maintain a reasonable span of control.

Accountability Training n Accountability Levels – Level III Accountability ( “B” Assignments and greater/complex incidents) § The first piece of apparatus to arrive on a geographical side of the incident sets up Level I accountability for that area. § As Division/Group Officers or Accountability Officers are assigned to each geographical area they will set up Level II accountability for that area. § Division/Group Officers working in a Hazard Zone cannot be assigned accountability responsibilities.

Accountability Training n Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) – Tactical Benchmarks § Several accountability benchmarks are included in tactical operations. A PAR will be required at the following times: – Any MAYDAY – Any change of strategy (Offensive to Defensive) – Any sudden hazardous event (flash over, back draft, collapse, etc. ) – Any time a crew reports an “all clear” they should give a PAR. – Every 15 minutes of elapsed time – At the report of a “Situation Contained”.

Accountability Training n Terminating the PASSPORT System – PASSPORT accountability will be maintained until Command has determined that there is no longer a hazard and all personnel have been accounted for by a PAR. – It is each individuals responsibility to insure their PASSPORT is returned to their apparatus and all name tags are accounted for.

Accountability Training n Summary – Hazard zone accountability is the responsibility of every individual on the emergency scene. – Maintaining crew integrity is the single most important factor in good hazard zone accountability. – If Command does not know who you are, where you are, and what you are doing; it cannot help you in an emergency.