Creating a Tradition of Safety
Bob Day
NYS Certified Safety
Officer
Chief is overall responsible for safety
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Delegates
Ensure improving safety on
a continual process
Provide adequate resources
Helps members understand
safety while on training ,
fireground, responding and
returning, and in the station
Safety Officer
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Direct obligation to
focus on safety aspects
of the operation
Has authority to alter,
suspend, or terminate
unsafe acts or
dangerous activities
Can bypass the chain
of command to correct
any perilous actions
and remove personnel
Develop a Safety Culture
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Embrace the concept of working safely
No longer tolerate behavior potentially
hazardous to members
Have a Safety and Health committee
Establish Safety goals and objectives
Indoctrinate new members with the
importance of safety tradition there first day
of training
Employ crew resource management
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Refers to the effective use of all resources to
minimize errors, improve safety and improve
performance
Uses communications, skills, teamwork, task
allocation, decision making, situational
awareness
TEAMWORK – Everyone works together and
watches out for each other
Accountability – Know where your FF’s are
Accountability Program
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Required by PESH
Accountability program all personnel know
Incident Commander establish an
accountability officer, not done by the Safety
Officer
Used when a Mayday is called
MARC
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Member Accountability Roll Call
Should be conducted every 20 minutes
for FF’s in an IDLH environment
The IC shall make a report over the radio
of the progress of the incident.
If no progress is being made, a change in
strategy and tactics is probably needed
Apparatus Safety is Paramount
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25% FF fatalities occur
responding or returning
Personnel in Full turnout
before climbing aboard.
Don SCBA onboard
SEATBELTS
Driver and Officer
responsible for seated and
seatbelted personnel aboard
Know where you are going
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Map book
When in doubt, ask
dispatcher to repeat
location
Preplans
Road construction
MUTCD
Traffic Vests for MVA
Develop and enforce driving standards
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Training Requirements
Annual training for
drivers
True emergency
Weather conditions
POV’s to station or
scene
SEATBELTS!!!
Be fully prepared for interior
firefighting operations
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Personnel operating in
a hostile environment
must have basic fire
behavior and FF tactics
Incident Command
Rapid intervention team
Automatic Mutual Aid
NFPA 1720
Implement and enforce respiratory
protection standards
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OSHA
2in/2out
Chief is responsible
Physicals/Fit tests
Personal face piece
2 bottle rule enforced
Line Officers
understand RPS
program
Read the smoke
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Fire Conditions can change
rapidly
IC’s and Safety Officers
responsible for monitoring
immediate risks.
This should start with smoke
assessment and ability to
“read” smoke conditions.
How much volume, speed
leaving.
Density and color
Flashover and back draft
potential
Risk management assessment
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Initial size-up on scene
Offensive or defensive
attack
Size, location, and stage of
fire
GPM for size of structure
Enough personnel for
structure
Correct sized hand lines for
GPM
High Frequency/Low risk???
10 Rules of Engagement
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No building is worth the life of a FF
All interior firefighting involves inherent risk
Some risk is acceptable, in a measured and
controlled manner
No level of risk is acceptable where there is no
potential to save live or savable property
FF’s shall not be committed to interior offensive
operations in abandoned or derelict buildings
10 Rules of Engagement (cont)
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All feasible measures shall be taken to limit
or avoid risks though risk assessment by
qualified officer.
It is the responsibility of the incident
commander to evaluate the level of risk in
every situation.
If conditions change and risk increases,
change strategy and tactics.
10 Rules of Engagement (cont)
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No building or property is worth the life of a
firefighter.
Use Thermal Imaging cameras
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Allows FF’s to see though
smoke.
More effective primary and
secondary search
Efficient and quick
assessment of fire
conditions and spread
potential.
Ability to read temperatures
Search for hot spots.
Locate downed FF’s
Be aware of overhaul hazards
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Use of full PPE required for
overhaul
Measure Carbon Monoxide
levels
SCBA for inhalation hazards
such as CO and airborne
contaminants ie- dust,
asbestos, smoke
Tripping hazards, sharp
objects such as nails,
metals, or broken glass
Structural integrity of
building
NFPA Standards 1710 & 1720
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Guidelines for Career
and Volunteer Depts for
Initial Attack.
Adequate Staffing
Offensive vs Defensive
Capabilities to deliver
the required fire flow
Proper sized hand lines
or master streams
Qualified Officers
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Incident Command Training
Experience
Education
Good ole boys
Able to change with the
current times
Encourage training for all
members
Minimum qualifications for
Chiefs and Line Officers
Know when to call for Mayday
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Lack of training
May be too late to address
the problems
Train on Mayday procedures
Don’t become complacent
It is not a sign of weakness
to call Mayday
Know when to call mayday!!
Residential fires and Commercial
structures are not the same
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Train in both
Know the different
types of building
construction
Buildings kill
Firefighters
(Charleston, SC)
Preplan your buildings
Manage your air supply
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Air consumption varies with the individual’s
physical condition and level of training.
Waiting until the low-air alarm sounds may
not provide adequate time for exiting the
hazardous environment
30 min vs 45 mi vs 60 min SCBA’s
PPE vs Moisture
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Moisture barrier and
water absorption are
critical factors in burn
injuries
Changes in thermal
environment can cause
serious injuries.
Train so that you can
recognize how moisture
affects your PPE
Constantly be aware of your situation
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Awareness
Reality – what is really
going on
Perception – what we
think is going on
Maintain a high state of
alertness
Remain vigilant for
conditions changing
REHAB
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Set up on all working
incidents
Medical evaluation, fluid
replenishment, and rest to
the rehab area.
2 bottle rule
Assigned to rehab after 2030 of exhaustive work.
Pre – medical sheet with
vitals for all dept members
Operating on highways
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Never trust approaching
traffic
Avoid turning you back to
approaching traffic
Wear high-visibility reflective
vests
Know the rules of MUTCD
Have a blocker for
personnel
Use traffic cones and flagger
Watch out for the five “D”s –
Drunk, Drugged, Distracted,
Drowsy, Dumb
Fire Attack Plan
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2/3 nations fire depts are understaffed
Worst shortage is volunteers
NFPA 1720 – FD shall identify minimum
staffing requirements to ensure that sufficient
numbers of members are available to
operate safely and effectively.
In conclusion
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Safety is everyone responsibility
Dept’s should establish a safety and health
committee
Safety Officer’s should take Incident Safety
Officers Course
THE END
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References:
Thomas W. Aurnhammer, 2007, Creating a
Tradition of Safety; Fire Engineering
Magazine July 2007
Bob Day, 2007, NYS Fire Instructor, NYS
Certified Safety Officer