Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Daily Work Schedule - FR-O-501 PDF

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: DAILY WORK SCHEDULE FOR OPE...

TO: ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PERSONNEL FROM: PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: FIRE RESCUE PPM COMMITTEE SUBJECT: DAILY WORK SCHEDULE FOR OPERATIONS PPM #: FR-O-501 ISSUE DATE EFFECTIVE DATE July 18, 2012 August 13, 2012 PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide the Operational Captain flexibility when preparing the daily work schedule for Operations personnel. UPDATES: Future updates to this PPM are the responsibility of the Deputy Chief of Operations, in conjunction with the PPM Committee, under the authority of the Fire Rescue Administrator. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator, as may be amended. SCOPE: This policy applies to all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue personnel and reservists. POLICY: Operational Captains are responsible for preparing and implementing the daily work schedule in order to meet the needs of the community. The daily schedule should include provisions for non-emergency activities such as: vehicle and equipment inspections, public education, station training, station duties, fire safety inspections, physical fitness, training and education, quick access surveys, checking and disseminating Fire Rescue email, and other official assignments. On-duty hours are, at all times exclusively to be used for County business and the Operational Captain shall have the authority to direct the use of that time. To that extent, the Operational Captain shall see that all facilities, apparatus, and equipment shall be kept in a professional state of readiness at all times. PROCEDURE: 1. Reporting for Duty/Parking of Personal Vehicles: a. The Operational Captain shall ensure that all personal vehicles are parked in the approved parking spaces at all times when possible. Separate parking requirements shall be permitted with the approval of the District Chief. 2. Daily Briefing: a. The Operational Captain shall conduct a daily briefing with all crew members and document the briefing in the station logbook. The station logbook should also be used to document the Operational Captains pass down report. b. The Operational Captain shall also check the attributes and asset/AVL numbers of each unit. The attributes should directly reflect the number of personnel assigned to FR-O-501/Page 1 of 5  each unit which should coincide with the number of personnel the Communication Center has listed for each unit and the asset/AVL numbers should also match that unit. Should the attributes and/or asset/AVL numbers not match the numbers listed by the Communication Center, the Operational Captain shall notify the Communication Center to have the attributes and/or asset/AVL numbers corrected. c. The Operational Captain is responsible to assure as a first order of business that the units are rostered in with the assigned personnel (Level One Accountability) and updated as needed throughout the shift as soon as possible should any staffing changes occur along with SOG 100-02, Daily Unit Assignment Board and SOG 220-02 Personnel Accountability d. Operational personnel are responsible for checking their Fire Rescue email and the Fire Rescue approved training log program (refer to Staffing, Unit Staffing, PPM FR- O-101) at least once during the shift. 3. Station Logbook: a. The Operational Captain is responsible for documenting essential information in the station logbook. Essential information includes, but is not limited to: i. Personnel on duty, including information regarding overtime and hours worked. ii. Personnel reporting from another station/battalion step-up sick leave, exchange of time or Kelly day, etc.. iii. Daily unit staffing assignments (i.e. up staffing, short staffing, etc). iv. Exchange/Accounting of pagers, smartphones, UIPs, and helmet shields. v. Inspection of vehicles and equipment. vi. Assetworks work orders and problems regarding vehicles/equipment/supplies and building maintenance. vii. Work completed to maintain vehicles/equipment/station by Support Services or outside vendor. viii. On duty training. ix. Delivery of equipment/supplies. x. Personnel injuries. xi. Vehicle accidents. xii. Inspections and Quick Access Surveys. xiii. Public education events. xiv. Visitors, including Command Staff, Vendors, Support Services, etc. b. The Operational Captain, EMS Captain, Battalion Chief, Communication Center Supervisor, and Trauma Hawk, shall maintain their respective logbooks. c. A new page shall be started each shift with all entries written in black or blue ink and entered in chronological order, without skipping lines. If an error occurs, a line shall be placed through the error and initialed. No entry may be erased or covered with white out. d. Completed logbooks shall be maintained at each Battalion Headquarters in accordance with Record Management Program (PPM FR-A-503). e. The Battalion Chief shall periodically inspect the station logbooks during normal station rounds to ensure compliance with this policy. 4. Pager and Smartphone Exchange: FR-O-501/Page 2 of 5  a. Personnel are responsible for exchanging their pagers at shift change, prior to being considered officially relieved. b. All employees are to carry pagers with them at all times when on duty. c. Officers are responsible for exchanging the Fire Rescue smartphones at shift change, prior to being considered officially relieved. d. All officers are to carry the Fire Rescue smartphones with them at all times when on duty. 5. Vehicle and Equipment Inspection: a. With the exception of emergency calls, or other scheduled Fire Rescue business, the first order of business each morning shall be a thorough inspection of each emergency response vehicle according to the current vehicle inspection check list and Vehicle, Equipment Inspection and Check-Out (PPM FR-O-301). A complete vehicle check should also include: checking fuel, fluid levels, vacuum, wash, wipe dry, cleaning door handles, and cleaning windows inside and out. b. Any missing/broken items shall be noted in the station logbook and reported to the Battalion Chief. Any vehicle maintenance problems shall be documented in the Assetworks and reported to the Support Services Division. c. The Operational Captain is responsible for ensuring that all Fire Rescue vehicles in their station are checked out daily, the appropriate documentation is completed, needed repairs are entered in the computer system, missing equipment is reported or accounted for, and the appropriate entries are made in the station logbook. d. Controlled substance medications shall be checked and signed for by both the on- coming and off-going Paramedics according to Controlled Substances (PPM FR-M- 102). 6. Going to the Store: a. A single unit from each station shall be allowed a single trip to the store to purchase meals or to pick up meals at local restaurants. The time and location of the trip shall be approved by the Operational Captain provided it is within their primary response zone. A unit may stop to purchase meals and/or pick up meals while returning from a call if approved by the Battalion Chief. Unless approved by the District Chief, 24-hour shift personnel from operational units are not permitted to eat in a restaurant. b. Personnel inside the store/restaurant shall wear appropriate Fire Rescue uniform and shall maintain communication with the crew member in the vehicle via a portable radio on the appropriate TAC channel. c. In an effort to maintain a state of readiness, a crew member of the vehicle shall remain in the vehicle to maintain communications with other crew members and the Communication Center. Fire Rescue vehicles are not permitted to park in designated Fire Lanes during non-emergency trips. Should the unit be dispatched to an emergency incident, the crew member in the vehicle should establish contact with the other crew members and proceed towards the store/restaurant location/entrance to pick up the crew members of the unit. Stations at an either/or configuration shall take the Rescue unit when going to the store. While at the store, apparatus should be shut down when parked. 7. Scheduled Move-Ups: FR-O-501/Page 3 of 5  a. In an effort to maintain a state of readiness and avoid unnecessary move-ups, scheduled move-ups for matters such as equipment, paperwork, oxygen cylinders, etc., should be avoided whenever possible. The Battalion Chief, EMS Captain or Light Duty personnel should be utilized for these tasks. b. Units that are scheduled to move-up while other units are out of service, training, etc. shall do so in an efficient and timely manner to reduce unit unavailability in the zone. 8. Physical Fitness Training: a. Physical Fitness Training is defined as stretching, calisthenics, weight training, jogging, riding stationary bicycle, and other fitness activities approved by the District Chief, for those employees who have completed the physical assessment process. b. The Operational Captain may permit physical training any time during the day after completing the daily vehicle and equipment inspections. Physical fitness training shall be performed at station facilities whenever possible. Other facilities within the primary response zone may be utilized with approval of the Battalion Chief. c. Personnel performing physical fitness shall monitor the radio (Tac 6A) and keep their pager with them at all times so as to guarantee receipt of alarm assignment. Only Fire Rescue approved clothing may be worn for physical fitness and all personnel must be back in uniform as soon as possible after the physical fitness training is completed. 9. Fire Safety Inspections/Quick Access Surveys: a. The Operational Captain shall ensure that scheduled Fire Safety Inspections and Quick Access Surveys are completed the month they are assigned. The Operational Captain should make every attempt to schedule the inspections in advance to enable the Building Representative the opportunity to participate in the inspection process. Stations at an either/or configuration shall take the Rescue unit when conducting Fire Safety Inspections and Quick Access Surveys. While performing Inspections/Quick Access Surveys, apparatus should be shut down when parked. 10. Sleeping/Television: a. For 24-hour shift personnel, sleeping is allowed between 1800 - 0700 hours or at the Battalion Chiefs discretion. If sleeping is authorized outside of the identified times, someone must remain awake and outside of the bunk room area to handle any matters that may arise, i.e.: emergency walk-ins, citizen assistance, etc. Wake-up call is 0700 hours. b. Crews may watch television during the work week with the approval of the Operational Captain, provided that all assignments have been completed. 11. Station Training: a. The Operational Captain is responsible for ensuring that crews maintain proficiency through attendance and participation in scheduled and supplemental station training. When units are scheduled to attend training, it is incumbent on the Operational Captains to ensure that their units arrive on time. b. The Operational Captain is responsible for ensuring all station training is documented in the Fire Rescue approved training log program (refer to Staffing, Unit Staffing, PPM FR-O-101). 12. Station Duties: FR-O-501/Page 4 of 5  a. It shall be the Operational Captain’s responsibility to ensure that all facilities, apparatus, and equipment are kept in a clean state of professional readiness at all times. ______________________________ PATRICK J. KENNEDY FIRE RESCUE ADMINISTRATOR Supersession History 1. PPM#FR I-01, issued 07/01/1986 2. PPM#FR I-01, issued 10/12/2011 3. PPM#FR I-01, issued 08/13/2012 4. PPM#FR O-501, clerical 03/01/2018 5. PPM#FR O-501, clerical 03/29/2022 6. PPM#FR O-501, clerical 10/04/2022 FR-O-501/Page 5 of 5