Chapter 5 Firefighter Safety Introduction Fire service knows

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 • Firefighter safety is grounded in understanding risks and risk/benefit thinking 5. 2

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 injuryprevention helps the fire service address safety issues 5. 3

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 firerelated causes has increased • Understanding historical data helps us reduce deaths and injuries (see Figures 5 -1 and 5 -2) 5. 4

Safety Standards and Regulations • OSHA is responsible for enforcement of safety-related regulations in the workplace • Firefighting fatalities and injuries have noticeably decreased • OSHA/NFPA alliance furthers the importance and accountability placed on fire safety • NIOSH writes recommendations based on investigations of firefighter fatalities 5. 5

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

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 5. 7

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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 5. 9

The Safety Triad • Most fire service operational environments are made up of three key components: – Procedures – Equipment – Personnel 5. 10

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

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 5. 13

Figure 5 -5 Sample SOP index. 5. 14

Figure 5 -6 Sample SOP format. 5. 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 5. 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 5. 17

Figure 5 -8 Basic skills must be practiced on a regular basis. 5. 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) 5. 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. 5. 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 5. 21

Figure 5 -11 Developing a positive safety attitude and practicing safe habits will demonstrate safe examples to others. 5. 22

Firefighter Safety Responsibilities • Dependent on the efforts of everyone • Responsibility for firefighter safety rests in one of three areas: – Department – Working team – Individual 5. 23

(A) (B) (C) Figure 5 -12 Firefighter safety is dependent on all partners holding up their responsibilities: (A) administration, (B) teams, and (C) individual firefighters. 5. 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 5. 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 5. 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 5. 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 5. 28

Figure 5 -13 Freelancing endangers individuals and the team. This firefighter is working alone in a collapse zone— for what gain? 5. 29

Figure 5 -14 Firefighters should perform a mental incident engagement checklist for every response. 5. 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 5. 31