70 Questions
What organization investigates firefighter line-of-duty deaths and publishes reports with prevention recommendations?
NIOSH
Which type of injury is most common for all fire service activities?
Strains, sprains, and muscle pain
What is a key preventive recommendation in NIOSH LODD investigation reports?
Separating Safety Officer (ISO) and Incident Commander (IC)
What is the leading type of injury for firefighters?
Strains, sprains, or muscle pain
What is the average number of firefighters who die in the line of duty each year?
108
Which type of injuries have been declining on the fireground?
Strains and sprains
What is a primary function of the Safety Officer (ISO) on the fireground?
Ensure firefighter safety
How many firefighter fatalities did the NFPA report in 2019?
48
What does the IAFF represent in the U.S. and Canada?
Professional firefighters and paramedics
What kind of injuries are strains, sprains, and muscle pain considered to be?
Non-fatal injuries
What is the main responsibility of an ISO during an incident?
Monitoring incident environment and activities
Which action verb is associated with the ISO function of judging whether a hazard exists?
Evaluate
What is the purpose of appointing a separate safety officer at each structure fire?
To prevent Line of Duty Deaths (LODDs)
Which term refers to an individual authorized by the fire chief to manage the health and safety program?
Health and Safety Officer (HSO)
What is the purpose of developing preventive measures for forecasted hazards?
To minimize the chance of harm
Which system was developed by the Department of Homeland Security as an incident response system?
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Who is responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations in a fire department?
Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
What led to the need for industrial safety professionals during World War II?
Unsafe working conditions
Which NFPA standard specifies the qualifications for Incident Safety Officers (ISOs) in fire departments?
NFPA 1561
What was the role of safety officers in response to incidents such as the Jennings Building collapse in New York and a railroad car fire in Colorado Springs?
To improve safety in support operations
What was the focus of NFPA 1500 standard related to the role of Safety Officers in fire departments?
Occupational safety and health programs
Which organization is responsible for assigning Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) for fire incidents?
NICC
What does an SOF1 classification mean in the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)?
Qualified to deploy nationwide as part of a national incident management team (IMT)
Which fire service program listed safety officer as a command staff position for multiagency incidents on the West Coast in the 1970s?
FIRESCOPE program
Why did small fire departments realize that one individual could not fill both the Health and Safety Officer (HSO) and Incident Safety Officer (ISO) roles simultaneously?
Different knowledge and skills required for each role
'The role of a fire department ISO is based on the premise that the fire service has not done a good job of taking care of its own people.' This statement implies that:
'The fire service has neglected firefighter safety.'
What is the formula for determining a workers’ compensation rate for a given department in a state?
NCCI rate × payroll × experience modifier
Why can a fire department not always shop around for a good workers’ compensation rate?
Injuries may have long-lasting consequences
What can quickly change the public's perception of firefighters after a Line of Duty Death (LODD) incident?
LODD investigations attracting media attention
Why are firefighters who have survived incidents with fatalities considered at risk of experiencing PTSD?
From repeated exposure to human trauma and job stress
What emotional realities can firefighters involved in a Line of Duty Death (LODD) experience?
Stress, concern, and trepidation
What is one of the primary responsibilities of an Incident Safety Officer (ISO)?
Communicate urgent and advisory safety messages
Why are firefighter injuries considered costly for fire departments?
(\text{Number of claims} + \text{Cost of claims})
What factor can have a significant impact on a fire department's budget, along with the cost of workers' compensation?
(\text{Cost of health care})
What does the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) set for each state?
Workers' compensation rates
What is one of the effects of a firefighter injury requiring extended time off or hospital care?
Stress in the workplace and work slowdown
What organization investigates firefighter line-of-duty deaths and publishes reports with prevention recommendations?
NIOSH
What is the leading type of injury for firefighters across all fire service activities?
Strains, sprains, or muscle pain
Which type of firefighter injuries have been declining at a slower rate compared to the decrease in the number of fires?
Strains and sprains
What is the primary function of the Safety Officer (ISO) on the fireground?
Monitor safety hazards
What is a key preventive recommendation in NIOSH LODD investigation reports related to incident management?
Ensure separation of Safety Officer and Incident Commander roles
Which type of injuries are considered to be the most common specifically on the fireground?
Strains and sprains
Why are firefighter injuries considered costly for fire departments?
They result in workers' compensation costs
What is one of the effects of a firefighter injury requiring extended time off or hospital care?
Higher costs associated with workers' compensation
Why can a fire department not always shop around for a good workers’ compensation rate?
State laws often restrict departments to one insurance provider
What is the primary responsibility of an Incident Safety Officer (ISO) during an incident?
Monitoring and assessing safety hazards
Why is it recommended to appoint a separate safety officer at each structure fire?
To prevent firefighter injuries and deaths
What is the purpose of the Health and Safety Officer (HSO) in a fire department?
Managing the health and safety program
Which system was developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group for incident response?
National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)
What is a key function of the Incident Safety Officer (ISO) on the fireground?
Assessing safety hazards
Why are firefighter injuries considered costly for fire departments?
Because they can lead to extended time off work or hospital care
What emotional disorder can develop in firefighters who have experienced terrifying incidents involving harm?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
What is the main role of an Incident Safety Officer (ISO) at the fireground?
Monitor incident conditions, evaluate hazards, and intervene to prevent harm
Why do firefighters who have survived incidents with fatalities face an increased risk of experiencing PTSD?
Due to the emotional trauma of witnessing a colleague's death
What emotional realities can firefighters involved in a Line of Duty Death (LODD) incident likely experience?
Concern, introspection, stress, and trepidation
What is the significance of the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for workers' compensation programs?
It sets rates for workers' compensation across states
What can have a major impact on a fire department's budget along with the cost of workers' compensation?
Ever-increasing cost of health care
What is the formula for determining the workers' compensation rate for a fire department in a state?
$\text{NCCI rate} \times \text{Payroll} \times \text{Experience modifier}$
Why may a fire department be unable to seek better workers' compensation rates?
As a result of the long-term consequences of firefighter injuries
What is the role of the Incident Safety Officer (ISO) concerning hazards at an incident?
Evaluating hazards and unsafe conditions to prevent harm
Which aspect of workers' compensation programs is based on historical data?
The cost of claims and the number of claims
What is one consequence of a firefighter injury requiring hospital care or extended time off?
Damaging effects on involved families and potential PTSD
What is one reason small fire departments realized one individual could not fill both the Health and Safety Officer (HSO) and Incident Safety Officer (ISO) roles at the same time?
Differences in knowledge and skills required for each role
What standard developed a class in 1991 suggesting splitting the safety officer role into Health and Safety Officer (HSO) and Incident Safety Officer (ISO)?
NFPA 1521
What does the International Fire Service Training Association published Incident Command System suggest by including a safety officer position?
Recommended the establishment of a safety officer or safety sector on the fireground
What organization developed a class in 1991 suggesting splitting the safety officer role into Health and Safety Officer (HSO) and Incident Safety Officer (ISO)?
Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA)
Which term refers to an individual who is part of the Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations in a fire department?
Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
What was the original title of Incident Safety Officers (ISOs) as per NFPA 1521 standard?
Safety Managers
Which system recognizes the safety officer as directly reporting to the Incident Commander (IC)?
National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS)
'The role of a fire department ISO is based on the premise that the fire service has not done a good job of taking care of its own people.' This statement implies that fire departments have lacked:
'a focus on the well-being and safety of firefighters'
Study Notes
Firefighter Injury and Fatality Statistics
- In 2019, there were 48 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the U.S. (NFPA) and 58 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the U.S. (USFA)
- On average, 108 firefighters die in the line of duty each year (1997-2017), not including the 343 FDNY firefighters who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11
- The NFPA reports annually on firefighter injuries, with a 5% margin of error
Firefighter Injuries
- The number of injuries on the fireground has been declining, but not as fast as the decline in the number of fires
- Strains, sprains, and muscle pain are the most common injuries for all fire service activities
- Considering only fireground injuries, strains and sprains are still the most common injury type, followed by thermal burns
- Trends in Firefighter Injuries:
- Overall number: Slow and steady decline to an estimated 58,835 per year
- Nonincident related: Declining
- Apparatus related: Declining
- Fire ground related: Wavering
- Leading type: Strain, sprain, or muscle pain
Importance of Safety Officer (ISO)
- ISO can reduce injury and death potential on the fireground
- ISO can change a situation that "could have" led to an injury
- The use of an ISO can start to reduce threats to firefighters immediately
Workers' Compensation
- Empirical effects of firefighter death and injury should consider the effects of work-related injuries on the firefighters' worker compensation
- Note: The exact number of firefighter injuries and deaths prevented by the action of a safety officer is not known, but many believe that ISOs have changed situations that could have led to injuries
Role of Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
- The ISO is a member of the command staff and is responsible for:
- Monitoring incident conditions and activities
- Evaluating hazards and unsafe conditions
- Developing measures that promote safe incident handling
- Intervening when an immediate or potential threat exists
- Communicating urgent and advisory safety messages
NIMS and Safety Officer Role
- The National Incident Management System (NIMS) still uses the generic title of safety officer for NIMS compliance texts and documents
- NIMS defines safety officer as a member of Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and for developing measures for ensuring personal safety
NFPA Standards for Safety Officers
-
The duties and responsibilities of the HSO and ISO have been relocated from the 1521 standard and placed in NFPA 1500 and 1561 standards, respectively
-
NFPA 1521 is now written as a professional qualifications document using the job performance requirement (JPR) format
-
NFPA 1500: HSO requirements, duties, and responsibilities
-
NFPA 1561: SO requirements, duties, and responsibilities
-
NFPA 1521: HSO qualifications
-
NFPA 1521: ISO qualifications for fire department ISOs
-
NFPA 1026: SO qualifications for NIMS safety officers### Key Action Verbs for ISO Monitor
-
Actively survey the incident environment and watch incident activities
-
Evaluate: Assess the environment and activities and judge whether a hazard exists
-
Develop: Design and create preventive measures that will minimize the chance of harm
-
Intervene: Take deliberate actions to prevent harm from imminent and potential hazards
-
Communicate: Deliver urgent and advisory messages using multiple communication methods
Firefighter Injuries and Deaths
- Approximately 58,835 firefighter injuries occur per year
- A gradual decline in firefighter injuries has been observed
- Fire ground-related injuries have not declined
- Firefighter injuries and deaths have a serious impact on the workplace, affecting stress, workplace activities, investigations, public perceptions, and family lives
ISO Responsibilities
- Monitoring the incident environment and activities
- Evaluating current and potential hazards from a risk-versus-gain perspective
- Developing preventive measures for forecasted hazards
- Intervening when immediate or potential threats exist
- Communicating urgent and advisory safety messages
Key Terms
- Health and Safety Officer (HSO): the individual assigned and authorized by the fire chief as the manager of the health and safety program
- Incident Safety Officer (ISO): a member of the command staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and for developing measures to ensure personnel safety
- National Incident Management System (NIMS): an incident response system developed by the Department of Homeland Security
- National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS): an incident response system developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a mental health disorder that can develop in individuals who have experienced a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of harm
Understanding the Roles of HSO and ISO
- The title "safety officer" in fire departments can refer to an individual in charge of the entire safety and health program or an officer delegated the safety officer task at an incident
- The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) developed a class in 1991 that suggested splitting the safety officer role into HSO and ISO
- Small fire departments realized that one individual could not possibly fill both the HSO and ISO roles at the same time
- Large departments found that managing a significant occupational health and safety program required different knowledge and skills from those required of an ISO
NIMS and the Safety Officer Role
- NIMS defines safety officer as a member of Command Staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and for developing measures for ensuring personal safety
- The ISO title has returned to just safety officer (with the corresponding abbreviation SO) in the 2020 edition of NFPA 1561
History of Fire Department Safety Officers
- Safety officers have been present in the American work force for a long time, with some of the first safety officers coming from the fire service in the late 1800s and early 1900s
- The role of safety officers in the fire service became more formalized in the late 1800s and early 1900s in response to incidents such as the Jennings Building collapse in New York and a railroad car fire in Colorado Springs
NFPA Standards for Safety Officers
- NFPA 1500: HSO requirements, duties, and responsibilities
- NFPA 1561: SO requirements, duties, and responsibilities
- NFPA 1521: HSO qualifications
- NFPA 1521: ISO qualifications for fire department ISOs
- NFPA 1026: SO qualifications for NIMS safety officers
The Need for an Incident Safety Officer
- The role of a fire department ISO is based on the premise that the fire service has not done a good job of taking care of its own people
- The fire service has seen a decline in the number of structure fires, but the rate of fatalities and injuries associated with the fireground is not dramatically improving
Test your knowledge on firefighter injury and fatality statistics, including line-of-duty activities, incident response, training, and more. Learn about the reports by NFPA, USFA, and NIOSH on on-duty firefighter fatalities.
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