INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER

INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER LEARNING OUTCOMES Describe what on ISO is and their role at training sessions and emergency scenes Discuss legislation and standards that apply to the ISO Discuss and describe authority of an ISO List and describe specific functions of the ISO during training Demo required documentation to be used during training sessions by the ISO and Training Division

INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER An ISO is a member of the command and/or training staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations. ISO’s develop measures for ensuring FF safety.

INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER Fire fighting is a dangerous job. Injuries and death will never stop, however the risks can be reduced. An ISO can reduce this chance and help protect firefighters. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RISKS WHEN PERFORMING FIREFIGHTING DUTIES

INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER RISKS DURING TRAINING THERE IS NO LEVEL OF ACCEPTABLE RISK DURING TRAINING SESSIONS INJURIES AND FATALITIES DURING TRAINING ARE 100% UNACCEPTABLE

Benefits of the Incident Safety Officer Diminishes accident potential and enhances safety culture Minimizes time lost due to injuries Helps protect against liability Maximizes Incident Commander focus Instills safety-consciousness in the Firefighters themselves Enhances efficiency and effectiveness

Who Will Benefit From This Course? Chief Officers responding to incidents Officers serving as IC Designated ISO’s Health & Safety Officers Company Officers Anyone wishing to become above

Annual death rates still too high – Approx 50% of injuries occur at emergency scenes or en route 50% of these are soft tissue Sprains and Strains top the list Structural Collapse, Falls, Training Firefighter Death and Injury Rates

RECENT EVENTS According to Ministry Of Labour 20 Critical Injuries 3 Fatalities So Far 1 FF Fatality in 2012

Recent Events Critical FF Injury - Meaford Fatal FF Accident - Point Edward OFC was asked by Ministry of Labour to provide records and lesson plans –Training was ongoing and documented –Missing Lesson Plans OFC / Ministry of Labour Review –Standards in Ontario –Best Practices (NFPA) –Section 21 Guidance Notes 2-2 – Buddy System 2-4 – Incident Safety Officer Accountability 7-1 – H&S During Training Documentation

Regulatory Compliance OHSA/OSHA Guidance Notes ( #2 – 4 (32) Related regulations NFPA 1500 (set in 1987) NFPA 1561 ( SCENE REHAB ) NFPA 1521 ( seperates the HSO and ISO ) NFPA 1582/1584 ( Rehab & Documentation ) Dept. policy & SOG’s

Guidance Note 2-4 Incident Safety Officer –Who can be an ISO? Any member of the department who has the knowledge, training and experience Must be formal and identified –When do we need and ISO? SOG’s should establish – however industry best practices play a role in this determination Emergency Scene Training

Guidance Note 7-1 H&S During Training –External Agencies –Assume something will go wrong and plan for it –A PLAN FOR EVERY TRAINING EXERCISE Applies to internal and external training activities –Fire Chief or designate must sign off on training plan

Guidance Note 7-3 Training Documentation –MOL WILL REQUIRE YOU TO PRODUCE TRAINING RECORDS Training records include –Lesson Plans –Training Plans –Individual Records –Stored and available for review

NFPA 1521 This standard describes the role of an ISO as well as the authority given to the ISO An ISO has the authority to HALT ALTER SUSPEND

HALT, ALTER, SUSPEND Soft Intervention : make crews and command staff aware that a hazard or potential for injury exists Firm Intervention : immediately halt, alter or suspend an action or operation due to an imminent threat. THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ORDER Imminent Threat : an activity or condition or action that will most likely lead to injury or death.

Ontario Standards and NFPA Ontario Standards will be looked to and fire departments will be held to that standard as a minimum. Does the investigation end there? –NO – MOL will look to NFPA as the recognized industry leader and best practices –They are not enforceable prior to an accident but are used as a model after an accident

ISO Course Goal Helping You To Make a Difference

Baseline Values of the ISO Injuries aren’t a natural part of Firefighting Human Resources shouldn’t be “thrown” at a fire Standards try to keep us from making the same mistake again The ultimate GOAL is to INSTILL safe behaviors in ALL firefighters

Risk Management

Risk : A chance of damage, injury, or loss Risk management: process of minimizing the –chance –degree or –probability of damage, loss or injury

Classic Risk Management 5 step process Hazard identification Hazard evaluation Prioritize hazards Control hazards Monitor hazards Alternate intervention if required

Monitor Hazards Is control working? Revisit hazards Re-evaluate –conditions –operations –environment Prioritize hazards Develop safety plans co and countermeasures

Alternate Interventions Is control working? How bad can it get? What has changed? Getting better or worse? Other solutions? Benefit worth the risk? Have all reasonable precautions been taken?

Significant Loss: Potential to Save Lives

Inherent Risks: Protect Property

No Possibility to Save Lives or Property

ISO As Risk Manager ISO identifies hazards Provides an assessment of hazards for IC Provides solutions to the IC Develops credibility Minimizes potential for loss Makes a difference

Group Exercise 1: Hazard Identification Hand Out slides for group work, 10 min. review as class with the slides displayed

1. Group Observations Look at the following slides Discuss the hazards present; –the severity of the hazard –the potential for an injury –Potential hazards to emergency responders –Alter, Suspend, Terminate

DON

Command Dysfunction Did he say he wanted water? Over there! I think we should just do it our way! How many guys do we need? How many do we have ?

Command Dysfunction NIOSH reports continue to uncover cases of COMMAND DYSFUNCTION as a contributing factor to firefighter fatalities. It is IMPAIRATIVE that the ISO understands what equates to IMS Dysfunction and proactively eliminate this potential.

Command Dysfunction Classic Signs of IMS Dysfunction: Incomplete/Missed Communications Use of Readiness Unit numbers versus IMS Common Terminology (“612” vs. “Fire Attack Group”) Span of Control too wide Two “Commanders”

Command Dysfunction No apparent Action Plan Crew/Individual Freelancing Failure to declare/communicate a “Risk Mode” Inadequate resources for the “plan” Others?

Obtain a Briefing w/Command The ISO MUST know: 1. Situation Status 2. Resource Status 3. Known Hazards 4. The RISK MODE the IC has adopted

Communicate Concerns to IC

ISO Effectiveness Triggers and Traps Triggers and Traps

Triggers and Traps Triggers – Those things the ISO can do to help instill safe operations. Traps – General approaches that will render the ISO ineffective.

TRIGGERS to Safe Operations BE VISIBLE – Display the word “Safety” like a banner

Triggers to Safe Operations: Lead by Example Lead by example “Walk the talk”

TRIGGERS to Safe Operations SOFT Intervention Advice, Sharing observations, Humor, etc. FIRM Intervention Alter, Suspend or terminate operations Stern Advisories.

TRAPS to Avoid The “Bunker Cop” Syndrome

TRAPS to Avoid The “CYA” Mode

TRAPS to Avoid The “Worker”

Traps to Avoid “Killing the Messenger” mode

Your Goal: Present tangible - well articulated hazard observations Don’t subvert IC Offer solutions and contingencies - credibility! Regular contact - face to face Be a Valuable Consultant

How To Make a Difference Lead by example –Others need to see consistent behavior –If cautioned or criticized about safety – smile – it helps them to buy into the system –The goal is to put ourselves out of a job! Practice ISO concepts Use the action model

END QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?