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

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 injury-prevention helps the fire service address safety issues

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 fire-related causes has increased Understanding historical data helps us reduce deaths and injuries (see Figures 5-1 and 5-2)

Safety Standards and Regulations OSHA is responsible for enforcement of safety-related regulations in the workplace Firefighting fatalities and injuries have not noticeably decreased OSHA/NFPA alliance furthers the importance and accountability placed on fire safety NIOSH writes recommendations based on investigations of firefighter fatalities

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

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

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

The Safety Triad Most fire service operational environments are made up of three key components: Procedures Equipment Personnel

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

(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

Figure 5-5 Sample SOP index.

Figure 5-6 Sample SOP format.

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

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

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

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)

Figure 5-10 Critical incident stress is inevitable and unpreventable 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.

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

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

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

(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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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