Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: ADMINISTRATIVE – 025 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Gui...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: ADMINISTRATIVE – 025 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Guidelines for Outside Training Revision: 4 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2024 Fire Chief 5 PURPOSE To establish criteria which categorizes outside Department training, sets forth guidelines for submitting outside training requests, determines when absence for outside training is permitted, and outlines travel arrangements and the use of Department vehicles for transportation to outside schools. SPECIAL NOTE: The term “Firefighter” as used throughout this document is intended to include all Department personnel regardless of rank. DEFINITIONS POLICY PROCEDURES A. All training shall be evaluated and placed into one of the following categories. If a training opportunity does not meet the requirements of any category, the Department will not pay for any costs or allow duty time off for the training. The Department Battalion Chief-Training/Safety shall make the final determination in which category a training opportunity shall be placed. 1. Mandatory Training: Defined as those training opportunities, which the Firefighter shall be required to attend. The Department will provide duty time coverage, and the attendee shall be paid overtime for off-duty attendance. Registration fees, lodging, meal reimbursement, and travel costs shall be paid by the Department according to Village travel policy. 1  2. Covered Training: Defined as those training opportunities, which the Firefighter may attend on a voluntary basis. The Department will provide duty time coverage; no EOD’s shall be required. No overtime shall be paid to the attendee for off- duty attendance. Registration fees, lodging, meal reimbursement, and travel costs may be paid by the Department according to Village policy. Final determination shall be the responsibility of the Battalion Chief-Training/Safety based upon available funds. 3. Voluntary Training: Defined as those training opportunities, which the Firefighter may attend on a voluntary basis. The Department may provide duty time coverage depending upon manpower availability; an EOD may be required according to guidelines listed in this document. No overtime shall be paid to the firefighter for off-duty attendance. Registration fees, lodging, meal reimbursement, and travel costs may be paid by the Department according to Village policy. Final determination shall be the responsibility of the Battalion Chief-Training/Safety based upon available funds. 4. Advanced Training: Defined as those training opportunities, which are directly fire service related and may result in a degree or certification not associated with the Firefighter’s level of responsibility or job performance. On-duty attendance shall be allowed according to the Voluntary Training section of this document. However, overtime will not be approved at any time. (If manpower falls below minimum, the Firefighter will be required to return to duty or have an EOD arranged.) Advanced training courses shall be considered for reimbursement under Administrative Guideline 020 Reimbursement for Classes. All training courses shall require submittal of Request for Schooling forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the Battalion Chief-Training/Safety for review and approval. B. The original Request for Schooling form shall be retained by the Battalion Chief- Training/Safety. Approval may be given either by computer e-mail or by returning a copy of Request for Schooling form to applicant. C. For Voluntary Training: If shift manpower is scheduled to be above minimum on 2 the date of school, no EOD will be necessary. If shift manpower is scheduled to be at or below minimum, an EOD will be necessary while the firefighter is at school. EOD’s shall be subject to the shift commander’s approval as required. If shift manpower falls below minimum on the day of the approved training class due to unscheduled sick leave, IOD leave, funeral leave, etc., overtime shall be approved to replace the firefighter until the firefighter returns from school. Listed below are clarifications and restrictions: 1. If at the end of the normal shift day prior to the training class shift manning is at least minimum with the firefighter excused to attend the class, the firefighter attending the class is approved to attend without securing an EOD. 2. If at any time prior to the end of the normal shift day before the training class shift manning for the day of the school falls below minimum, an EOD must be secured by the firefighter attending the training class. 3. If a firefighter is scheduled off on the duty day before the training class, it shall be the responsibility of the firefighter to contact the shift commander to determine if an EOD will be required for coverage during the training class. 4. If a firefighter is already away from shift attending a class on a voluntary basis (either in the area or out of town) on the duty day before the training class, it shall be the responsibility of the firefighter to contact the shift commander to determine if an EOD will be required for coverage during the training class. Example: FF A has been approved to attend a “Voluntary” week-long class out of town and their normal shift dates fall on Monday and Thursday. Coverage was approved for Monday through either an EOD or manpower was sufficient. It is the firefighter’s responsibility to contact the shift commander on duty on the duty day (i.e. Monday) before their next shift (no later than 0800 on Tuesday morning) in order to see if manpower is sufficient for Thursday, or if an EOD will be needed. ** In all cases it shall be the responsibility of the firefighter (or their EOD replacement) to contact the shift commander to determine manpower and the need for an EOD prior to the end of the shift day before the class. ** 5. Overtime shall be approved only for mandatory, covered, and voluntary classes as described above. No overtime shall be approved for any advanced classes. 6. If firefighter is scheduled to attend a voluntary school which begins later than 0800 on their assigned duty day (i.e., class runs from 1900-2200 hours), then manpower requirements will follow as listed in parts 1-4 3  above. D. Use of Department Vehicles for Transportation 1. Mandatory Training - a Department vehicle may be provided for transportation. If a Department vehicle is not available, mileage will be paid according to the Village travel policy. 2. Covered and Voluntary Training - a Department vehicle may be provided for transportation if available. If a Department vehicle is not available, no mileage will be paid if a personal vehicle is used. Training Classifications When information about a training opportunity is distributed, the training classification will also be indicated. Listed below are classifications for specific classes, which are offered on a regular basis by different organizations. This list is not all inclusive and is subject to change. A. Mandatory Training Company Fire Officer classes for Lieutenants Advanced Fire Officer classes for Battalion Chiefs and Captains First-In Officer Class for Lieutenants Technical Rescue Awareness for Lieutenants Dive Rescue classes as required by Divemaster Specialized Rescue classes as required by Specialized Rescue Coordinators Fire Investigation classes as required by Fire Investigation Coordinator Hazardous Materials classes as required by Hazardous Materials Coordinator Flashover Class for Officers Hazardous Materials Incident Command for Battalion Chiefs and Captains B. Covered Training These classes will be determined based upon the availability of funds in the current fiscal year Fire Department budget. C. Voluntary Training Vehicle and Machinery Operations (may be considered covered) Vehicle and Machinery Technician (may be considered covered) FAST class (may be considered covered) Smoke Divers (may be considered covered) Weekend firefighting classes (may be considered covered) Company Fire Officer classes (for Firefighters) First-In Officer (for Firefighters) 4  Fire/Arson Investigation Advanced Fire Officer classes (for Lieutenants) Chief Fire Officer classes (for Battalion Chiefs and Captains) * Most special 1-2 day seminars/workshops will fall into this category D. Advanced Training Fire Science Associates Program (Fire Service Core Curriculum only) Fire Science Bachelors Program (Fire Service Core Curriculum only) Advanced Fire Officer classes (for Firefighters) Chief Fire Officer classes (for Lieutenants) End of Document 5