Chapter 8

• Risk Management involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to minimize detrimental effects on a department.

Risk Management Controls

• Administrative controls include guidelines, policies, and procedures to limit loss.
• Engineering controls include equipment, controlling, and devices to protect individuals.
• Adding fire sprinklers in a single-family residence exemplifies an engineering risk management control.
• A "safety initiative" is NOT one of the three controls for managing risk.

Risk Management Steps

• Identifying risk exposure determines the elements that create risk.
• Evaluating risk exposure determines the possibility of injury.

Firefighter Fatality Statistics (NFPA 2018)

• Approximately 60 firefighters die per year on the fire ground.
• Line of duty deaths in 2014-2018, decreased from an average of 100 in 2002-2008 to less than 70.
• Asphyxia is NOT in the top three causes of line of duty deaths in 2017.
• The USFA retrospective study indicates that 82% of fatal fire suppression incidents involve the death of two or more firefighter(s).
• Data from 2018 shows firefighter deaths by suicide occurs 12% of the time.
• Fire departments are estimated to be 3x more likely to experience a suicide than a LODD.

Firefighter Injuries (NFPA 2017)

• NFPA’s US firefighter injuries report of 2017 shows a decline in injury per 1,000 firefighters from 26.9 in 2006 to 10.4 in 2017.

Firefighter Health & Safety Programs and Initiatives

• The Everyone Goes Home program was developed by NFFF (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation).
• Sixteen Life Safety initiatives were created during a summit in 2004 to help prevent line of duty deaths and injuries.

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs developed the Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System in 2005.
• This system provides a judgement free zone for firefighters to share information.

Firefighter Health Risks

• NFFF reports a disproportionate number of firefighters over the age of 49 die of cardiac arrest while on duty.
• Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters.
• Firefighter Cancer Network estimates that firefighters have a 9% higher risk of a cancer diagnosis than the general population.

Safety Protocol

• Gross Decon should begin immediately after immediately exiting the IDLH.
• Requiring firefighters to wear seat belts at all times could prevent 3-6 fatalities every year.
• 46% of annual LODDs that are non-emergency occur at the fire station.
• The most important first step with any exposure is to wash the exposed area immediately and thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• The fire department Fire Chief should immediately be notified after an exposure.
• Fire department Fire Chief is charged with ensuring all injuries, illnesses, exposures are thoroughly investigated.

Standards and Qualifications

• NFPA 1583, is the standard on health related fitness programs for fire department members.
• Driver minimum qualifications are defined in NFPA 1002.
• NFPA 1041, is the standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications.
• NFPA 1521, is the qualification requirements for Fire Chief positions.
• NFPA 1581, is the standard for fire department Infection Control Program.
• Incident Safety Officer is the position NFPA 1521 details requirements for.
• Training ensures that every firefighter can perform competently and every fire company can perform as a high-performance team.

Incident Command System

• Some incidents require more than one safety officer, in these situations a Safety Team is established.

Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation is the process of providing rest, rehydration, nourishment, and medical evaluation at a fire.

Safety Compliance

• The Firefighter is on the front line in ensuring compliance with all safety policies.
• In 2018, all firefighter deaths due to MVC occurred among volunteer firefighters.