Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer — Lesson 10

1. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer — Lesson 10 Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer, 4th Edition Chapter 10 — Safety and Health Issues

2. Learning Objectives • Identify facts about emergency scene casualties and nonemergency workplace casualties. • Identify facts about safety initiatives and resources that focus on ensuring a safe work environment. • Identify the importance of physical fitness and wellness. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

3. Learning Objectives • Recall various safety policies and procedures. • Distinguish among activities to ensure a safe work environment at the emergency scene, en route to and from the emergency scene, and at facilities. • Select facts about information included in a safety and health program. • Given safety scenarios, identify hazards. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

4. Learning Objectives 8. Select facts about maintaining an effective infectious disease control program. 9. Recall information about conducting accident investigations. 10. Complete an initial accident investigation. 11. Identify facts about collecting data and completing accident report forms. 12. Select facts about investigating injuries, illnesses, and exposures Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

5. Emergency Scene Casualties • Approximately 88,000 per year • Common firefighter injuries • Common emergency medical services injuries Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

6. Firefighter Fatalities • Average of 117 per year • Leading causes • Emergency responses result in only 3%. • EMS operations fatalities Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

7. Nonemergency Workplace Casualties • Any injuries or fatalities that occur while performing: • Administrative duties • Training • Code enforcements and inspections • Maintenance • Other nonincident-related situations (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

8. Nonemergency Workplace Casualties • Training-related injuries • Training related fatalities Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

9. Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Strategic initiative resulting from the March 2004 summit hosted by National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, in cooperation with United States Fire Administration • Goals • Reduce fatalities by 25% over next 5 years • Reduce fatalities by 50% over next 10 years Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

10. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Define and advocate the need for cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability, and personal responsibility. • Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for safety and health throughout the fire service. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

11. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities. • Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe practices. • Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification equally applicable to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

12. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform. • Create a national research agenda and data-collection system that relates to the initiatives. • Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of safety and health. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

13. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses. • Ensure grant programs support safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement. • Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

14. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents. • Ensure firefighters and families have access to counseling and psychological support. • Ensure that public education receives more resources and is championed as a critical fire and life safety program. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

15. Objectives of the Everyone Goes Home Initiative • Strengthen advocacy for enforcement of codes and installation of home sprinklers. • Ensure that safety is a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

16. Firefighter Close Calls • A close call is any event that came close to resulting in an injury or fatality. • Web sites • FirefighterCloseCalls.com • EMSCloseCalls.com Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

17. Firefighter Safety Stand Down • Sponsored by International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) • Departments eliminate nonemergency functions and focus on safety issues (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

18. Firefighter Safety Stand Down • Regular company-level safety training • Set time every work shift • Entire work shift every month • Company officer is responsible for providing safety instruction and training. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

19. Safety Standards • NFPA 1500 • NFPA 1561 • NFPA 1581 • NFPA 1983 • NFPA 1852 Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

20. Local Safety Policiesand Procedures • Training sessions should be held periodically. • Practical training evolutions and company level training should follow all appropriate safety policies. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

21. Safety and Health Program • Accident, injury, and illness prevention • Medical infection or exposure control • Physical fitness and wellness Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

22. Basic Workplace Safety • Organizational goal attained through: • Training • Policies and procedures • Maintenance of facilities and equipment (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

23. Basic Workplace Safety • Company officer’s responsibilities • Implement training requirements, policies, and procedures • Report needed maintenance or replacement of unsafe equipment Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

24. Emergency Scene Safety • Address primary cause of fatalities through education, fitness, and wellness. • Nutrition • Weight control • Physical fitness • Tobacco use (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

25. Emergency Scene Safety • During emergency incident: • Monitor subordinates for physical stress. • Remove overexerted personnel from operation and place in rehabilitation area. • Ensure that all personnel properly and safely use: • Personal protective equipment • Respiratory equipment • Tools (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

26. Emergency Scene Safety • Operational procedures • Lockout/tagout procedures • Two unit members or mechanical devices to lift objects or victims over a predetermined weight • Appropriate protective clothing (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

27. Emergency Scene Safety • Operational procedures • Heavy items mounted in lower compartments on apparatus • Respiratory protection program • Two in/two out program • Establishment of an initial rapid intervention crew or team (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

28. Emergency Scene Safety • Operational procedures • Activation of personal alert safety system (PASS) devices • Breathing air conservation procedures • Establishment of a personnel accountability system Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

29. Safety En Route to and from Scene • Apparatus and vehicle accidents • Safe apparatus design and maintenance • Proper driver/operator training and certification • Privately owned vehicles • Cultural changes in responders Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

30. Safety at Facilities • Proper maintenance • Safety procedures Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

31. Information Included in a Safety and Health Program • Reporting injuries, including location of first-aid facilities • Reporting unsafe conditions and practices • Proper care, use, selection, and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE) • Proper actions in the event of emergencies, including exit routes during emergencies (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

32. Information Included in a Safety and Health Program • Identifying hazardous gases, chemicals, or materials and their safe use and emergency action following accidental exposure • Description of the organization’s entire safety and health program (including its various components) (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

33. Information Included in a Safety and Health Program • On-the-job review of the practices necessary to perform initial job assignments in a safe manner • Procedures to follow when exposed to bloodborne pathogens • Proper procedures for lifting and back care • Proper handling and use of power tools (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

34. Information Included in a Safety and Health Program • Rules and regulations regarding the use of vehicles in both emergency and nonemergency situations • Approved safety procedures for incidents involving trenching/shoring and confined-space rescues (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

35. Information Included in a Safety and Health Program • Safety procedures designed to provide fall protection • Types of respiratory equipment and their use Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

36. Infectious Disease Control Program Requirements • Must meet the NFPA 1581 • Developed and managed by designated infection control officer (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

37. Infectious Disease Control Program Requirements • Education and training requirements • Vaccination and inoculation requirements • Documentation and record-keeping requirements • Cleaning, decontamination, and disinfection of personnel and equipment • Exposure control and reporting protocols (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

38. Infectious Disease Control Program Requirements • Record-keeping • Exposure reports • Maintained 30 years following termination or retirement • Confidential (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

39. Infectious Disease Control Program Requirements • Record-keeping • Training that involves: • PPE • Exposure protection • Postexposure protocols • Disease modes of transmission Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

40. Investigation Policies • Primary purposes • Reduce potential for accidents • Reduce severity of accidents • Investigations must address root cause (basic reason) for accident (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

41. Investigation Policies • Policy functions • Investigative authority Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

42. Accident Investigations • Approach should be: • Objective • Impartial • Fact-finding, not fault-finding (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

43. Accident Investigations • Identify and document • Behavior or condition that caused an accident (root cause) • Previously unrecognized hazards • Apparatus/equipment defects or design flaws • Additional training needs (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

44. Accident Investigations • Identify and document • Improvements needed in safety policies and procedures • Facts that could have a legal impact on an accident case • Historical trends Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

45. Human Factors • Improper attitude • Lack of knowledge or skill • Physical unsuitability Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

46. Accident Scene Control • Serious injuries: Stabilize victim and transport. • Minor injuries: Treat at scene. • Secure scene. (Continued) Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

47. Accident Scene Control • Anything involved in incident is evidence for: • Reconstructing the accident and preventing similar accidents • Supporting potential legal cases Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

48. Accurate Data Collection • Forms • General information • Employee characteristics (participant) • Environmental information • Apparatus/equipment information • Narrative report Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

49. Injuries and Illnesses • First ensure prompt medical treatment. • Investigations typically follow same procedure as accident investigations. • Job-related illnesses may require additional time and resources. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer

50. Exposure Investigations • Accurate and thorough documentation is key • Investigations should occur immediately after any incident involving a known exposure. • Long-range investigations may occur at some point in the future when symptoms of exposure appear sometime in future following exposure in the individual. Fire and Emergency Services Company Officer