Responder Safety Awareness
Training Aid
For All-Hazards Response
Table of Contents
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Introduction
Physical & Chemical Hazards
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Falls
Driving & traffic
Electrical
Chainsaw operation
Eye injuries
Confined spaces
Structural integrity/collapse
Debris piles/unstable surface
Overhead hazards
Heavy equipment
Flash floods
Temperature stress
Noise
Chemical exposure
Dusts
Carbon monoxide
Hazard Communication
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Health Hazards
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Wildfires
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Standing water
Trench foot
Mold
Water-borne disease
Food-borne disease
Sanitation/hygiene
Blood-borne disease
Animals & insects
Snakes
Poisonous plants
Traumatic stress
FIRE Orders
FIRE Watch Outs
LCES and Checklist
Fire Environment Factors
Credits/Resources
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Employer and Worker Responsibilities
Employers and workers have responsibilities under the
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.
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The OSH Act requires employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace, free
of recognized hazards, and follow Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
standards. Employers' responsibilities also include providing training, medical
examinations, and recordkeeping.
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Workers must follow the employer's safety and health rules and wear or use all
required gear and equipment; follow safe work practices for their job, as directed
by their employer; report hazardous conditions to a supervisor; and report
hazardous conditions to OSHA if employers do not fix them.
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Introduction
• History has shown physical injuries are primary contributors to
responder morbidity during major weather events.
• Many hazards created by natural disasters are similar or
identical to those created by man-made events, i.e. structural
collapse.
• Injuries may result from
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Vehicle accidents
Struck by
Falls
Contusions
Lacerations
Introduction
General Considerations
• Walking over and handling debris that is unstable can
cause cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, etc.
– Remain current with tetanus vaccination.
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Revaccinate for a dirty wound if current vaccination is over 5 years old.
If you will be performing direct patient care or otherwise expected to have contact with bodily
fluids, get the Hepatitis B vaccine series.
• Avoid contact with stagnant water.
– Wash and sanitize immediately if exposed.
• Consider steel toe/shank non-slip footwear if available.
• Use durable gloves when handling debris.
• Use hearing protection for noisy environments.
• Know your medicines, allergies, and blood type.
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Introduction
Emergency in the Field
If there is an emergency field:
• Consult the Medical Plan (ICS Form 206).
• Follow your agency Standard Operating Procedures.
• Notify your supervisor immediately!
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Falls
• Responders must be protected from potential falls
when working more than six feet above next lower
level.
• Fall protection such as guardrails, coverings over
floor holes, or personal fall arrest systems shall be
installed conforming to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M.
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Falls - Ladders
• Ladders can create a falling hazard. Make sure
your ladder is heeled & secured:
– Position portable ladders so the side rails extend at least 3
feet above the landing with a 75° angle.
– Use only ladders that comply with OSHA or NFPA standards.
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Falls - Aerial Apparatus & Lifts
• Only trained and authorized people may operate the lift. Read
and understand the safety and operating instructions including all
warning decals or labels.
• The lanyard should be properly attached to the worker’s harness
and designated anchor point on the lift as per manufacturers
recommendations for all equipment involved.
• Check for overhead obstructions before driving or elevating the
platform.
• Never use near electric lines unless they are deenergizied or
adequate clearance is maintained.
• Refuel tanks only when the unit is off and charge batteries in a
well ventilated area away from open flames.
• Conduct a visual inspection and a function test prior to use.
• Elevate the lift only when it is on a firm and level surface.
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Driving
Every year in the U.S. there are 15,000 fire
apparatus accidents. Accidents range from open
doors being knocked off to incidents that have
resulted in 5,500 lost-time firefighter injuries.
Cost: > $7 billion.
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Traffic Issues
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Be prepared for delays.
Watch for other drivers.
Flaggers may be hidden or obstructed by larger vehicles.
Potential Hazards:
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Congestion
Power lines
Multiple entrances/exits to roadway
Hidden entrances/exits
2 way traffic
No signage entering the zone
Limited visibility for traffic
Worker with multiple tasks
Flagging & truck loading
Work Zone Safety
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High visibility garments: While such garments may make a worker m
conspicuous to approaching drivers, they do not offer any actual protection from
traffic. Such garments must be used in conjunction with other traffic safety
means.
Before work begins in the vicinity of vehicular or pedestrian traffic that may
endanger employees, warning signs and/or flags or other traffic control devices
shall be placed conspicuously to alert and channel approaching traffic. Where
further protection is needed, barriers shall be utilized. At night, warning lights
shall be prominently displayed, and excavated areas shall be enclosed with
protective barricades.
Any crossed or fallen wires which create or may create a hazardous situation at
the work area must be identified and reported.
Signs and symbols shall be visible at all times when work is being performed, and
shall be removed or covered promptly when the hazards no longer exist.
If work exposes energized or moving parts that are normally protected, danger
signs shall be displayed and barricades erected, as necessary, to warn other
personnel in the area.
Component Parts of a
Temporary Traffic Control Zone
• When operations are such that signs, signals, and
barricades do not provide the necessary protection
on or adjacent to a highway or street, flagmen or
other appropriate traffic controls shall be provided.
Advan
ce
Warnin
g Area
Transition
Area
Termination
Area
• Hand signaling by flagmen shall be by use of red
flags at least 18 inches square or sign paddles, and
in periods of darkness, red lights.
• Flagmen shall be provided with and shall wear a
yellow or orange warning garment while flagging.
Warning garments worn at night shall be of
reflectorized material.
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Minimum Signs Recommended in the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
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Downed Power Lines and Cables
• Treat all down lines as energized.
• Verifying that a power line is not energized may
not ensure safety.
– Lines on both the load and supply sides must be
grounded.
• Generators must be grounded to protect from
feedback electrical energy.
• Ground fault interrupters (GFI) must be used.
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Downed or Exposed Power Lines
• Look for overhead power lines and buried power line indicators. Post
warning signs.
• Contact utilities for buried power line locations.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Unless you know otherwise, assume that overhead lines are energized.
• Get the owner or operator of the lines to de-energize and ground lines
when working near them.
• Other protective measures include guarding or insulating the lines.
• Use non-conductive wood or fiberglass ladders when working near power
lines.
• All electrical equipment, including generators, extension cords, lighting,
and power tools, shall meet applicable OSHA, NFPA, and NEC standards.
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) shall be installed on all 15A and
20A temporary wiring circuits.
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Chain Saws
• Operate, adjust, and maintain per manufacture’s
instructions.
• Keep chain properly sharpened and lubricated.
– Periodically check chain tension.
• Choose the the right saw for the right job.
• Wear appropriate PPE:
– Hard hat, gloves, eye protection,
chaps, hearing protection, and boots.
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Chain Saws
• Avoid all contact with power lines until verified to
be de-energized by power company.
• Always work with saw at waist level or below.
• When felling a tree, no one closer than 2 tree
lengths away (min. 150’).
• When cutting a fallen tree, no one should be
closer than 30 feet.
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Eye Injuries
• Use safety glasses with side shields as a minimum.
– An eye wear retainer strap is suggested.
• Consider safety goggles for protection from fine dust particles or
for use over regular prescription eye glasses.
• Any worker using a welding torch for cutting must have special eye
wear to protect against welding flash.
– Welding flash causes severe burns to the eyes and surrounding tissue.
• Use only protective eyewear that has an ANSI Z87 mark on the
lenses or frames.
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Confined Spaces
What is a Confined Space (CS)?
• Limited access & egress
• Large enough to enter
• Not designed for occupancy
What is a Permit-Required CS?
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O2 deficiency/enrichment
Entrapment
Engulfment
Hazardous atmosphere
Any other recognizable
hazardous environment
Your Safety Officer Must Approve Confined Space Entry!!!!
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Confined Space
Questions to ask:
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Entrant & attendant trained?
Monitor & ventilate?
Lock-out & tag-out?
Issue appropriate PPE?
Establish traffic barriers?
Provide means of entry & egress?
Communication & alarm systems?
Rescue equipment/personnel on-call or stand-by?
Structural Collapse
Collapse may be the result of
earthquakes, wind, or flooding.
• Specific hazards and
effects may include:
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Aftershocks
Damage to utilities
HazMat releases
Landslides
Avalanches
Fires
What is an Earthquake?
• An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking
of the ground caused by the breaking and
shifting of rock beneath the earth's
surface.
• Earthquakes occur along fault lines.
• Earthquakes have three different shifting
patterns (illustrated to the left).
• Earthquakes may occur at any time with
little or no advanced warning.
• An earthquake’s magnitude or “energy
release” is measured on the Moment
magnitude (Mw) scale.
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What is the Meaning of Earthquake
Magnitude?
In 1935, while at the Seismological Laboratory, Charles Richter worked with Beno Gutenberg
to develop a rating scale for earthquakes. The scale has become known as the
Richter Scale. The scale had the following classifications for earthquakes and their severity:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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7.
8.
9.
Felt by instruments only.
Felt by sensitive people and sensitive animals.
Felt by many people.
Felt by everyone; pictures fall off of walls.
Damage.
Destructive earthquake in populated areas.
Major earthquake causing serious destruction.
Total destruction of nearby communities.
An earthquake more than one 100 million times more powerful than category one.
For decades, the Richter Scale proved to be the accepted measurement for earthquakes. In
recent years, scientists have begun to use the Moment Magnitude Scale, which is much more
precise than the Richter Scale. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2666
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Where Is an Earthquake Most Likely to
Occur in the U.S.?
The greatest likelihood of a major earthquake is in:
• The western United States; residents of California face the highest risk.
• The New Madrid Fault Zone crosses Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas,
Kentucky & Tennessee; four million people along the New Madrid Fault
Zone are at risk.
• A few pockets on the east coast; for example,
Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Fifteen percent of the U.S. population lives in zones of
potential major disaster.
San-Andreas Fault
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High Risk Earthquake Zones
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Fact
Sheet 017-03
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What is an Aftershock?
• An earthquake that occurs after a previous quake.
• Occurs in the same area as the main quake.
– Lesser magnitude.
– May still cause damage and
instability.
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Landslides and Avalanches
• A landslide is an abrupt downhill movement of soil
and bedrock.
• They can be triggered by earthquakes, hurricanes,
floods or other natural causes.
• They can create ground movement from rock falls,
deep failure of slopes, and shallow debris flows.
• An avalanche is flow of snow or ice down a
mountain.
• Both may contain victims.
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Structural Fires
• Structural fires are often
the leading cause of
property damage and
casualties in the
aftermath of a natural
disaster.
• Debris left from a fire may
smolder for days to
weeks.
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Structural Collapse Risk Factors
The following increase risk of structural collapse:
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Areas near fault lines
Structures built on unstable soil and rock
Structures not built to earthquake grade standards
Structures built on steep slopes and areas prone to
landslides and liquefaction.
Structural Collapse Events
• Structural Integrity
– Earthquakes can severely damage structures, such as
buildings, bridges, and dams.
– Never assume that damaged structures or ground is stable.
– Assume all stairs, floors, and roofs are unsafe until inspected.
– Look up and be aware of hidden
and/or overhead risks.
– Determine if any hazardous materials
have been on the property.
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Structural Collapse
• How to reduce injuries at structural collapse
− Engineered shoring and bracing plans are required.
– Ensure all workers are trained and authorized to be
in the work area.
– Create a limited access zone around the structure.
– Be alert for signs of a secondary collapse.
– Wear appropriate PPE:
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Examples of Unstable Structures
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Debris Piles and Unstable Surfaces
• Do not walk on unstable surfaces.
• Use other ways to get to work, such as bucket trucks
or designated walk-ways.
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Look for smoldering material on or beneath the surface.
Lookout for hazardous materials.
Wear personal protective equipment.
Wear fall protection with appropriate anchor points.
Handling Debris and Sharp Materials
• Before disasters, always remain up-to-date on
tetanus vaccinations.
• Wear appropriate PPE:
– Hard hat, safety shoes, eye glasses, and heavy work
gloves
• Clean all/any wounds with soap and water and
apply antibiotic ointment.
• Contact doctor/medical aid to determine if
additional medical assistance is necessary.
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Overhead Hazards and Falling Debris
• Injuries to disaster site workers are often the
result of falling material and debris related to
unstable structures.
• Overhead falling hazards may include:
– loose debris,
– building components, and
– unsecure building contents
such as bathtubs, refrigerators,
furniture, and HVAC units.
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Take extra precaution when
working in these areas.
Follow safe work practices
and wear appropriate PPE,
such as hard hat, work
clothes, safety shoes,
gloves, safety glasses, and
respirator.
Heavy Equipment
• Be alert to the activities around you.
• Do not exceed the load capacity of cranes and other
lifting equipment.
• Do not walk under or through areas where cranes and
other heavy equipment are lifting objects.
• Do not climb onto or ride loads being lifted or moved.
• Use outriggers when
operating equipment
on unstable ground.
• Do not ride in or on buckets,
forks or blades of heavy
equipment.
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Flash Floods
Flash Floods:
What to do:
• Rapid flooding of low-lying
areas.
• Flooding occurs in less than
six hours.
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Know the area you are working in.
Find higher ground.
Wear personal floatation device.
Do not cross rapid moving water.
Do not wear turnout gear.
Temperature Stress
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Heat Illness Prevention
• Drink lots of water (5 to 7 ounces every 15 -20
minutes).
• Know the signs of heat stress/illness.
• Work in the shade when possible.
• Use cooling fans or take breaks.
• Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy meals.
• Take shelter and remove PPE when safe.
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Heat Illnesses: Signs & Symptoms
• Heat Stress/Cramps
– Headache, thirst, profuse sweating, muscle aches
and cramps.
• Heat Exhaustion
– Dizziness, confusion, nausea, pale-clammy skin,
rapid/weak pulse.
• Heat Stroke
– Hot, flushed dry skin, body temp greater than
104°F, disoriented or unresponsive or unconscious.
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Cold Stress
Hypothermia
Fist Aid
• Early Symptoms
• Alert the supervisor and
request medical assistance.
• Move the victim into a warm
area.
• Remove wet clothing.
• Warm the core area first.
• After body temp increases,
keep the patient warm and dry.
• If no pulse, begin CPR and
request ALS treatment.
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Shivering
Fatigue
Loss of coordination
Confusion and disorientation
• Late Symptoms
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No shivering
Blue skin
Dilated pupils
Slowed pulse and breathing
Loss of consciousness
Cold Stress
Frost Bite Symptoms
First Aid
• Reduced blood flow to hands and
feet (fingers or toes can freeze)
• Numbness
• Tingling or stinging
• Aching
• Bluish or pail, waxy skin
• Get into a warm room as soon as
possible.
• Unless absolutely necessary, do
not walk on frostbitten feet or
toes.
• Immerse the affected area in
warm - not hot – water.
• Warm the affected area using
body heat.
• Do not rub or massage the
frostbitten area.
• Do not use a heating pad, heat
lamp, or the heat of a stove,
fireplace, or radiator for warming.
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Sunburn
• Wear clothing to prevent overexposing skin.
• Use protective eyewear.
• Sunglasses, if used, must be ANSI approved for
use as safety glasses.
• Use sunscreen and lip balm.
• Limit exposure time in sun.
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Noise
• Worksite is considered “noisy” if you have to
shout to communicate within 3 feet.
• Use hearing protection whenever around noisy
equipment.
– Saws, dozers, extrication tools, sirens, etc.
• Hearing protection prevents
temporary hearing loss so that
you can hear victims.
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Chemical Releases
• Hurricane Katrina 2005
– A Chlorine tank found in downtown Gulfport, MS.
– 78,000 barrels of oil released at two spills.
– Diesel, gasoline, motor oil, chlorine, liquid oxygen,
medical waste and corrosives encountered by crews.
– 22,000 facilities in area had underground storage tanks.
– Industrial and household
hazardous chemicals were
everywhere!
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Potential Chemical Exposures
Symptoms: Eye, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract,
and skin irritation; flu like symptoms; central nervous
system depression, fatigue, loss of coordination,
memory difficulties, sleeplessness, mental confusion.
Chronic effects depend on the extent and the duration
of exposure.
Jobs affected
– Debris removal
– Site clean-up
Protection
Hazard specific as identified by supervisor or safety
officer.
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Air Borne Dusts
• Use only NIOSH-approved respirators.
– Fit testing is required.
• N-95 (or greater) respirators are typically suitable for
most outdoor activities involving standard building
materials.
– If asbestos is present, use N,R,P-100 half masks.
• If airborne contaminants are causing eye irritation, use
full face APR with P100 OV/AG combination cartridge.
• Replace filters or masks if breathing becomes difficult
or chemical odors break through.
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NIOSH Particulate Respirator Classification
Efficiency
P – Series
Oil Proof
R – Series
Oil Resistant
N – Series
No Oil Present
99.97%
P100
R100
N100
99%
P99
R99
N99
95%
P95
R95
N95
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Carbon Monoxide from Equipment/Tools
• Symptoms Include:
– Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea; progressing
to vomiting, unconsciousness, collapse, and ultimately
leading to death.
• Use CO sensors when using or working around
combustion sources.
• Shut off engines when not used.
• Do not use engines in confined spaces.
• Do not work in open areas near exhaust.
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Hazard Communication
• Employers must inform
employees of the hazards
they work with.
• MSDS for materials
provided by employer
must be available.
• Containers of chemicals
shall be labeled with the
contents, hazards, and
target organs.
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Health Hazards
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Standing water
– Trench foot
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Mold
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Water-borne disease
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Food-borne disease
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Sanitation/hygiene
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Blood-borne disease
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Animals & insects
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Snakes
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Poisonous plants
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Traumatic stress
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Standing Water
• After Katrina, standing water in New Orleans was found to have
elevated levels of contamination from raw sewage and
hazardous substances.
• Avoid contact with standing water.
• Workers should wear waders and waterproof gloves when
coming in contact with standing water.
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Standing Water
• If your clothes get contaminated, wash them
separately from other clothes or discard.
• If skin contacts standing water, wash with soap and
water.
• If broken skin contacts standing water, wash with
soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment.
• Absolutely do not get standing flood water in your
mouth.
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Trench Foot
• Trench Foot occurs when the feet are wet for long
periods of time.
Symptoms:
• Tingling, itching, pain, swelling, cold and blotchy
skin, and numbness.
– Foot may be red, dry, and painful when warmed.
– Blisters may form and necrosis can follow.
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Trench Foot
• To prevent trench foot:
– Elevate and air dry feet.
– Exchange wet shoes and socks for dry ones.
• To treat trench foot:
– Clean and dry feet.
– Use clean socks.
– Keep warm with packs or warm water for 5 minutes when
removed from cold conditions.
– Do not wear socks when sleeping.
– Seek medical attention ASAP.
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Mold
• Exposure to mold can cause wheezing and severe
nasal, eye, and skin irritation.
– Avoid breathing dusts from wet materials.
– Use NIOSH N-95 at a minimum (fit testing).
– Wear protective gloves with gauntlets when using
biocide (10% bleach.)
– Wear goggles without vent holes.
– Articles with visible mold should be discarded.
– Wash or shower after work.
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Water-Borne Disease
• Communicable disease outbreaks of diarrhea and
respiratory illness can occur when water and sewage
systems are not working and personal hygiene is hard to
maintain.
• Look for posted “Boil Water Notices” or contact
Incident Safety Officer or county/state public health
officer if Boil Water Notices have been issued for tap
water in disaster areas.
– If tap water is not safe, use bottled water or boil/disinfect
tap water.
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Water-Borne Disease
• Wash or disinfect your hands often.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you develop any
of these symptoms:
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High fever
Vomiting
Jaundice
Nausea
Diarrhea
Flu-like symptoms
Food-Borne Disease
• Do not eat food that has come in contact with flood water.
• Throw food away if it has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• Throw away perishables after 2 hours if warmer than
40°F.
• Throw away food containers (open or not) if they come in
contact with flood water.
• Keep fridge/freezer doors closed as much as possible.
– If the power is out for more than 4 hours, use block or dry ice to
keep food cold.
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Sanitation
• Sanitation and personal hygiene
- Always wash your hands with soap.
- Use hand sanitizers frequently.
- Exercise good housekeeping.
- Only drink from proven potable water sources.
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Blood-Borne Disease
• Body Substance Isolation:
– Replace gloves if punctured or torn (double glove).
– Do not handle human remains if you have skin cuts
or punctures.
– Use goggles or face shield and mask for handling or
recovering bodies.
– Transport human remains
in
closed, leak-proof,
labeled
containers.
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Handling Bodies of Victims
• There is no direct risk of infectious disease from being
near human remains, but when directly handling
bodies, precautions must be taken.
• Human remains may/will contain blood-borne viruses
and bacteria.
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Wear gloves.
Eye protection, gowns, and masks .
Wash hands frequently.
Use body bags to reduce risk of contamination.
Insect-Borne Disease
• Mosquitoes (West Nile and Dengue Fever)
– Use screens on shelters.
– Wear long pants and long sleeve shirts.
– Use insect repellant with DEET or Picaridin.
• Fire Ants
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Ants will be disturbed by flood waters and very aggressive.
Protect skin with long sleeve shirts and long pants.
Treat stings with over-the-counter medicines.
Seek EMS care for any signs of sever reaction.
Animal-Borne Disease
• Flood water and storm damage will displace wild and domestic
animals.
• Dead and live animals can spread diseases.
• Avoid wild or stray animals.
• Avoid contact with rats or rat-contaminated dwellings.
• If contact with animals occurs, wash skin with soap and water
and wash or decon PPE.
• If bitten or scratched, wild or domestic, seek medical attention.
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Snakes
• Be on alert for snakes swimming in water trying to get
to higher ground.
• Do not approach any snake and back away slowly.
• If you or someone else is bitten:
– Remember color and shape of snake.
– Keep person calm.
– Seek EMS.
– Lay person down with bite below
level of heart.
– Cover bite with clean, dry dressing.
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Poisonous Plants
Poison Ivy & Oak
- Train workers on hazardous plant recognition
- Use gloves and wear long pants and longsleeved shirts when possibility of contacting
poisonous plants.
at the beach
it climbs
it creeps
summer
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spring
fall
it's a bush
where it grows
Traumatic Stress
• Pace yourself and take frequent breaks.
• Watch out for team mates.
• Be aware of others around you, others are suffering too.
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Traumatic Stress
• Accept what you cannot change.
• Talk to others when you feel like it.
– If formal mental health support is offered, use it.
• Flashbacks will occur and are normal, but will
diminish over time.
• Call home as much as possible.
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Traumatic Stress
• What you can do at home:
– Reach out to others.
– Reconnect with family.
– Keep a journal.
– Do not make big personal decisions.
– Make as many small everyday decisions as needed to
feel more in control.
– Spend time with self or families to help unwind.
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Traumatic Stress
• You may be hyper-protective of your family
members - this will decrease over time.
• Getting back to normal takes time, let others
carry the load for a while.
• Use humor to alleviate stress, but be careful.
• Avoid use of alcohol or drugs, do not complicate
your life with substance abuse.
• Get back to normal rest and exercise routines.
• Eat well-balanced, regular meals.
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Wildland Firefighting
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FIRE Orders
TEN STANDARD FIRE ORDERS
FIRE BEHAVIOR
1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts.
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire.
FIRELINE SAFETY
4. Identify escape routes and safety zones and make them
known.
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL
7. Maintain prompt communication with your forces, your supervisor, and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and ensure they are understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
IF YOU CONSIDERED 1 THROUGH 9, THEN
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.
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FIRE Watch Outs
WATCH OUT SITUATIONS
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Fire not scouted and sized up.
In country not seen in daylight.
Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
Instructions and assignments not clean.
No communication link with crewmembers or supervisor.
Constructing line without safe anchor point.
Building fireline downhill with fire below.
Attempting frontal assault on fire.
Unburned fuel between you and fire.
Cannot see main fire; not in contact with someone who can.
On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below.
Weather becoming hotter and drier.
Wind increases and/or changes direction.
Getting frequent spot fires across line.
Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.
Taking nap near fireline.
Wild Land Fires
72
• LCES must be established & known to ALL
firefighters BEFORE needed.
73
1.
2.
3.
4.
74
All personnel need to be informed
Update throughout the shift
Lookouts/Communications
•
Competent and trusted individuals?
•
Radio and frequencies?
•
Watch or time piece?
•
Map and communication plan?
•
Knowledge of crews location on
division?
•
Good vantage and safe location
Escape Routes
•
Scouted?
•
Walkable?
•
Timed?
•
Marked?
•
Away from fire head?
5.
Safety Zone (No Shelters Needed)
•
Clean burn / Natural / Man-made
/Vehicles.
•
Scouted?
•
Timed?
•
Close enough?
•
Large enough? Consider number of
people. Consider fuels / flame length.
•
Terrain? Avoid saddles; Chutes; box
canyons.
•
Snags or rolling rocks?
• Terrain – Scout
– Steep slopes (>50%)
– Chutes, box canyons, saddles, &
narrow canyons
• Wind – Observe
– Surface winds above 10mph,
lenticular clouds, High-fast moving
clouds, approaching cold front,
cumulonimbus development, sudden
calm, and battling winds
• Stability – Observe
– Good visibility, gusty winds and dust
devils, cumulus clouds, castellatus
clouds in the a.m., smoke rising
straight up, inversion beginning to lift,
and thermal belt.
75
• Fire Behavior – Watch
– Leaning column, sheared column,
well developed column, smoke color
changes, trees torching, smoldering
fires picking up, small firewhirls
beginning, and frequent spot fires.
• Remember to Expect Diurnal
Changes!
–
–
–
–
Relative Humidity
Temperature
Winds
Stability
Credits/Resources
The content of this booklet was adapted from training tools entitled:
Safety Awareness for Responders to Hurricanes: Protecting Yourself While Helping Others
AND
NIEHS Earthquake Response Training Tool: Protecting Yourself While Responding to
Earthquakes
These tools were developed by by the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health
Training. The National Clearinghouse is funded by the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences’ Worker Education and Training Program. The National Clearinghouse is
operated under NIEHS contract 273-05-C-0017 by MDB, Inc.
These and other helpful resources are available at http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp
76
Notes
77