Saving Lives Through Lessons Learned National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System Location DATE Annual Report

Overview The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System is a voluntary, confidential, non-punitive and secure reporting system with the goal of improving firefighter safety. Presenter may want to consider inserting slide with current Line of Duty Death statistics prior to Overview slide so that audience has a greater understanding. Current LODD information can be found at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fatalities.

All Hazards Reporting System No statute of limitations on reporting. Reports reviewed and coded by fire service professionals.

When Things Go Wrong . . . How It Is Now . . . How It Should Be . . . You are highly trained You are human and and Humans make mistakes If you did as trained, you would not make mistakes so so Let’s also explore why the system allowed, or failed to accommodate your mistake You weren’t careful enough so and You should be PUNISHED! Let’s IMPROVE THE SYSTEM!

What is a Near Miss? Unintentional, unsafe occurrence. Could have resulted in an injury, fatality or property damage. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or property damage. Video can be found in Presentation folder of Annual Report CD. It will not run unless they are saved in the same location as the PowerPoint.

Program Goals Provide an opportunity for firefighters to share experiences which can help prevent injuries and protect the lives of other firefighters. Collect information which can assist in formulating strategies to reduce the number of firefighter injuries and fatalities. Foster a safety-focused culture that recognizes errors as an inherent part of human behavior.

Firefighter Fatality and Injury Statistics There have been an average of 100 fatalities and 100,000 injuries per year since 1977. These statistics have essentially increased over the last 15 years due to the decline in the number of structure fires. Improvements in PPE, equipment and training have created a “Catch-22.” Better protection, aggressive tactics, lighter weight construction and improved handling capabilities of heavy apparatus are putting firefighters at greater risk. Non-fatal firefighter injuries and prevention efforts cost anywhere from $2.8 billion to $7.8 billion per year. (NIST Report on Consequences of Fire Fighter Injuries – 2005)

The Near-Miss Connection 1 Opportunity to learn 1 Serious Accident 300 Opportunities to learn 15 Major Accidents 300 Near Misses 15,000 Observed Worker Errors

Why Share Near-Miss Experiences? To share lessons learned with firefighters on a national scale. To prevent another firefighter from getting injured or killed. To identify patterns in injury-producing behaviors. Aviation industry found that sharing near-misses improved overall safety. Emphasize fire service tradition of passing information along around the kitchen table. Near-miss reporting takes the kitchen table and makes it a “cyber” kitchen table.

Experience of Others Aviation industry found that sharing near-misses improved overall safety. Medical Industry experiencing reduction in patient errors. Military seeing reduction in injuries and errors.

Who can submit a report and does it need to be a recent experience? Any member who is involved in, witnesses, or is told of a near-miss event. There is no “statute of limitations.” All reports contain valuable information. Stress “no statute of limitations.” More detailed a report is, the greater the lesson learned.

Home Page Screen If possible, it is recommended to go through the pages of the Web site live (if you have Internet capabilities) rather than follow the screen shots.

Demographics Questions Seven questions about the reporter (title, years of fire service experience, department type, etc.) Questions

Event Questions Eight questions about the event (type, cause, etc.)

Use the topic suggestions for help Event Description Describe the event in your own words. Mention topic suggestions/memory joggers. NEW! Spell check can be found in both narrative sections. Use the topic suggestions for help

Use the topic suggestions for help Lessons Learned Describe the lessons learned. Mention topic suggestions/memory joggers. NEW! Spell check can be found in both narrative sections. Use the topic suggestions for help

Optional Contact Information Providing your name and contact information is optional. Reports can be submitted anonymously without contact information. Stress that contact information is optional. Reviewers may call reporter to complete review.

Search Reports Screen Search reports submitted from others. Users can fill drop downs with home department characteristics to create department profile. Reports yielded will indicate near-miss occurrences for similar department structures.

How the reporting system works: Near-Miss Report Trail

2006 Reports by Department Type Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by Job/Rank Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by FEMA Region Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by Age* *of Reporter Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics. *of Reporter

2006 Reports by Experience* Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics. *of Reporter

2006 Reports by Event Type Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by Event Participation Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by “Hours into shift” Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by Contributing Factors Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

2006 Reports by Loss Potential Check the Resources Section of www.firefighternearmiss.com for updated charts and statistics.

What is being done with the collected information? Officers are using the reports in drills. Training academies are incorporating near-miss reports in building curriculum. Fire service associations and publications using reports as part of improved emphasis on member safety. Analysis beginning to determine if any patterns are evident that could lead to new/improved training techniques. “Equipment failures” are being documented and investigated to identify if failure is product failure or human error.

Report of the Week Weekly e-mail featuring a report & follow-up questions. Provides ready-made drill. To receive the “Report of the Week”, e-mail nearmiss@iafc.org with the word “Subscribe-AR” in the subject line. Free feature. Highlights events of special interest. Provides a free, ready to use drill. Distributed each Friday.

Get involved Encourage the members in your command to file reports. Even if the event occurred in the past, a firefighter can benefit. Add www.firefighternearmiss.com to your “My Favorites.” Promote use of the system by printing off reports to use as safety briefings. Contact nearmiss@iafc.org for materials and strategies to get your members interested in near-miss reporting.

For more information Visit www.firefighternearmiss.com. Read the FAQ section. Use the “Contact Us” on the Home Page Call the Near-Miss Office Project Managers Amy Hultman, 703-273-9815, x. 364 John Tippett, 703-273-9815, x. 367 To receive a “Report of the Week” via e-mail, please e-mail nearmiss@iafc.org with the word “Subscribe-AR” in the subject line.

This project is funded by grants from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The project is supported by Chief Billy Goldfeder of FirefighterCloseCalls.com in mutual dedication for firefighter safety and survival.

The project is administered by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in consultation with the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System Task Force. The project is endorsed by IAFC, International Association of Fire Fighters and the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section of the IAFC.

If we continue on the current LODD/injury path, the fire service will experience 1000 fatalities and 1,000,000 injuries in the next ten years. “If not now, when? If not us, who?” Based on 100 fatalities and 100,000 injuries per year.