Greensboro Fire Department Training Division - Orientation & Safety PDF

GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING DIVISION Orientation & Safety STUDENT OUTLINE  Orientation and Safety I. Introduction to the Fire Service A. Fire service culture 1. Categories of fire departments...

GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING DIVISION Orientation & Safety STUDENT OUTLINE  Orientation and Safety I. Introduction to the Fire Service A. Fire service culture 1. Categories of fire departments a. Volunteer fire departments ( Majority of fire departments ) b. Paid-on-call personnel - Receive reimbursement for each call. c. Fire departments with career personnel — Primarily protect large towns and cities. d. Combination departments — Combine full-time career firefighters with volunteers or paid-on-call members B. Necessary characteristics and behaviors 1. Integrity — doing the right thing 2. Work ethic — doing what needs to be done 3. Pride — in self and work; starts with how one looks and behaves C. Primary responsibilities of a firefighter 1. Trains in daily company drills and scheduled training academy drills. 2. Participate in pre-fire incident planning and updating to develop knowledge of buildings and hazards within the response area. 3. Participates in departmental community service programs as an instructor of basic fire educational programs. 4. Participates in cleaning of stations, equipment, apparatus, and grounds. 5. Attends continuing education program for maintenance of EMT certification. 6. Trains daily on physical fitness. 7. Shall have a working knowledge of the Firehouse reporting system. D. Fire service mission — To save lives and protect property E. Tactical priorities of fire departments 1. Life safety - Always the first and highest priority in an emergency operation 2. Incident stabilization — Prevent an incident from getting any worse 3. Property conservation — save property without putting firefighters in mortal danger F. Unity of command — The principle that a person can report to only one supervisor G. Chain of Command – A series of command, control, executive, or management positions in hierarchical order of authority by which information should flow H. Span of control — The number of individuals or groups that one person can effectively supervise or manage (3 to 7)(5 being Optimal) I. Division of labor — The process of dividing large jobs into small jobs to make them more manageable  Orientation and Safety 1. Necessary in the fire service: a. To prevent duplication of effort b. To make specific and clear-cut assignments J. Discipline — Refers to both an organization’s responsibility to provide the direction needed to satisfy its identified goals and objectives and the individual’s responsibility to follow the direction given 1. Setting limits or boundaries for expected performance and enforcing them 2. In a fire department discipline is intended to do the following: a. Correct inappropriate behavior b. Ensure compliance with established rules, regulations, standards, and procedures K. Types of companies 1. Engine Company — Deploys hose lines for fire attack and exposure protection 2. Truck (ladder) company — Performs forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, salvage and overhaul, and utility control and provides access to upper levels of a structure – Ventilation as well as Search & Rescue must be coordinated with Fire Attack 3. Rescue company — Removes victims from areas of danger or entrapment 4. Hazardous Materials Company— Responds to and mitigates hazardous materials incidents 5. USAR Company— Responds to and performs technical rescues L. Primary knowledge and skills 1. Meeting the requirements of NFPA® Standard 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications 2. Knowing department organization, operation, and general operating guidelines. (GOGs) 3. Meeting minimum health and physical fitness standards 4. Meeting educational requirements established by the AHJ M. Fire department personnel 1. Engineer — Drives assigned fire apparatus to and from fires and other emergencies, operates pumps, aerial devices, or other mechanical equipment as required 2. Fire department officer — fulfills any of the following responsibilities, depending on the size and structure of the fire department: a. Fire chief — Responsible for all operations within the fire department b. Fire department officers — May supervise a fire company in the station and at fires and other emergency scenes; may also supervise a group of fire companies in a specified geographical region of the city  Orientation and Safety c. Other roles assigned include operations, training, personnel/administration, public information, fire prevention, resources, and planning 3. Fire department safety officer d. Oversees a fire department’s occupational safety and health program e. Monitors operational safety during emergency incidents N. Other personnel – Required to carry out the mission of the fire department; may be staffed by nonsworn civilian employees 1. Apparatus and equipment maintenance personnel — maintain all fire department apparatus and portable equipment 2. Information systems personnel —manage the collection, entry, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of electronic databases such as fire reporting O. Special operations personnel 1. Airport firefighter — Protects life and property, controls fire hazards, and performs general duties related to airport operations and aircraft safety 2. Hazardous materials technician — Handles hazardous materials and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) emergencies 3. Technical rescuer — Handles technical rescue situations such as high-angle (rope) rescue, trench and structural collapse, confined space entry, and extrication operations. 4. Foam Operations – Handle large-scale flammable liquid emergencies. P. Fire and Life Safety personnel ( CRR Community Risk Reduction ) 1. Fire prevention officer/inspector — inspects a variety of occupancies to ensure code compliance; conducts technical and supervisory work in the fire prevention program 2. Fire and arson investigator — Investigates fires and makes analytical judgments based on the physical evidence at the fire scene to determine the origin and cause of a fire 3. Public fire and life safety educator — Makes presentations to inform the public about fire hazards, fire causes, precautions, and actions to take during a fire 4. Fire protection engineer/specialist — Checks plans for proposed buildings to ensure compliance with local fire and life safety codes and ordinances; acts as a consultant to the fire department administration in the areas of fire department operations and fire prevention Q. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel 1. Emergency medical technician — Provides basic life support (BLS) for the victims of accidents or illnesses  Orientation and Safety 2. Paramedic — Provides advanced life support (ALS) for the victims of accidents or illnesses (GCEMS) R. Training personnel 1. Training officer — administers all fire department training activities S. General Operating Guidelines (GOGs) 1. Defined – A set of organizational procedures that establish a standard course of action. 2. Reduce confusion and chaos on the fire scene 3. Establish accountability and increase command and control effectiveness 4. Prevent duplication of effort and uncoordinated operations 5. Safety is the highest priority when writing GOGs 6. GOGs should be applied to all situations 7. Administrative and personnel functions of the department may be carried out through GOGs 8. Other departments may use Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) Procedures typically tend to be more specific than guidelines. II. The incident command system (ICS) A. Should be used at some level on every call, not solely for large-scale incidents B. Command — Includes the Incident Commander (IC) and the Command Staff 1. Incident Commander — the person ultimately responsible for all incident activities. Responsible for overall strategy and decides the number of units needed on the scene to mitigate incidents. 2. Command Staff – Report directly to the IC a. Safety Officer — Monitors incident operations and advises the IC on all matters related to operational safety, including the health and safety of emergency responder personnel b. Liaison Officer — Provides a point of contact for other governmental and non- governmental agencies and private-sector organizations involved in the incident c. Public Information Officer (PIO) — Responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or other agencies C. General staff — Responsible for the functional aspects of the incident, divided into Sections 1. Operations Section Chief — Responsible for directing the tactical operations to meet the strategic goals and tactical objectives listed in the IAP; reports directly to the IC  Orientation and Safety 2. Planning Section Chief — Responsible for the collection, documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of incident situation information and intelligence to the IC 3. Logistics Section Chief — Responsible for all support requirements needed to facilitate effective and efficient incident management a. Support Branch — Includes supplies, facilities, and ground support vehicle services b. Service Branch — Includes medical, communications, and food services 4. Finance/Administration Section Chief (when established) — Established when the agencies involved require finance and other administrative support services 5. Information/Intelligence Section Chief — when required, this Section is responsible for analyzing and sharing incident information and intelligence D. ICS Terms 1. Assigned — Resources currently committed to an assignment 2. Available — Resources that have checked in at the incident and are not currently assigned 3. Branch — the organizational level between Divisions/Groups and the IC and Operations 4. Command — the function of directing, ordering, and controlling resources by explicit legal, agency, or delegated authority 5. Command Post — Location from which all incident operations are directed 6. Division — A geographic designation assigning responsibility for all operations within a defined area 7. Group — A functional designation (forcible entry, salvage, ventilation, etc.) 8. Incident Action Plan (IAP) — the written or unwritten plan for managing the emergency 9. Incident Commander (IC) — the officer at the top of the incident chain of command who is in overall charge of the incident 10. Out-of-Service — Resources not available for assignment 11. Resources — All personnel and major pieces of apparatus on scene or en route on which status is maintained 12. Single Resource — Individual personnel and equipment items and the operators associated with them 13. Strike Team — set number or resources of the same kind and type with an established minimum number of personnel 14. Strategic Mode — Position for companies operating on scene; three basic modes: a. Offensive  Orientation and Safety b. Defensive c. Investigation 15. Supervisor — someone in command of a division or a group 16. Task Force — any combination of resources assembled in support of a specific mission or operational need 17. Unified Command – Used on large-scale multi-agency events E. Divisions 1. Division Alpha - Street or address side of the structure 2. Division Bravo – Left side of the structure 3. Division Charlie – Rear of Structure 4. Division Delta – Right side of the structure 5. Numeric Divisions on multi-story F. Initial Report 1. The person assuming Command shall transmit a brief initial radio report including: a. Unit identification on the scene and assumption of Command b. Situation description c. Obvious conditions d. Action(s) to be taken (brief description and commitment mode) G. GFD Operation Modes 1. Investigation Mode a. Situations characterized by “nothing showing” generally require an aggressive investigation for fire and smoke by the first arriving engine, quint, or rescue. All other companies should stand by at Level 1 staging. Normally the officer will proceed with their company to check while utilizing their portable radio to continue Command. 2. Offensive Mode: a. Incidents that require immediate action, such as interior fires in residences, apartments, or small commercial occupancies. For a “first in” unit this mode should not last more than a few moments and will end with one of the following: i. The situation is stabilized ii. Command is passed to another company officer on the scene iii. A ranking officer arrives and Command is transferred iv. The situation is not stabilized and the officer must remove all companies and assume a stationary Command position  Orientation and Safety 3. Defensive Mode: a. Incidents that principally require a stationary command. Such incidents by the size of the fire, the complexity/potential of the occupancy, or the possibility of extension require strong, direct, and overall command from the outset. In such cases, the officer will initially assume a Command position and maintain that position until relieved by a ranking officer. III. Working with other organizations A. Emergency Medical Services 1. If fire department personnel do not provide emergency medical services (EMS) or medical transportation (ambulance services), they should develop a close working relationship with those who do. 2. Firefighters must have an appropriate level of first-aid training. a. Removal (and sometimes the initial treatment) of people trapped in wrecked vehicles and similar situations b. Level of training depends on local EMS system and department GOGs B. Law enforcement 1. Law enforcement and fire personnel must understand each other’s roles and priorities. 2. Law enforcement personnel may be present at the fire scene. a. Responsible for scene security, traffic flow, investigating traffic accidents, and conducting arson investigations 3. Firefighters may be called upon to assist law enforcement (Examples: forcible entry, emergency lighting, etc.) C. Utility companies 1. Many incidents involve utility providers (electricity, natural gas, and water), so fire personnel must have a good working relationship with local utility company personnel. D. Media 1. NIMS-ICS includes a Public Information Officer (PIO) for dealing with the media. 2. As a firefighter, we should not make comments or express opinions to the media but should direct them to the PIO. IV. Greensboro Fire Department Organizational Profile A. Uniform Personnel 1. Fire Chief 2. Deputy Chief 3. Assistant Chief  Orientation and Safety 4. Battalion Chief 5. Captain 6. Lieutenant 7. Engineer 8. Senior Firefighter 9. Firefighter I 10. Recruit B. Divisions 1. The department is divided into two (2) major divisions. Each division is managed by a Deputy Chief who reports directly to the Fire Chief for the operation of their divisions. a. Emergency Services 1.) Emergency Response Division 2.) Special Operations b. Support Services 1.) Fleet Management 2.) Safety 3.) Logistics 4.) Planning 5.) Business Office / HR 6.) Fire & Life Safety 7.) Training Division C. Battalions 1. The City is divided geographically into five (5) battalions. Each battalion is managed by three Battalion Chiefs, one per shift. 2. Each battalion consists of Engine companies, Ladder companies, and specialized equipment. Apparatus determined by the particular demographics and hazards associated with each battalion. D. Platoons 1. Suppression forces under the management of the Assistant Chiefs and are divided into three (3) platoons; First (1st), Second (2nd), and Third (3rd) E. Companies 1. A company shall consist of three (3) Captains, three (3) Engineers, and as many firefighters as may be deemed necessary.  Orientation and Safety V. Introduction to firefighter safety and health A. Statistics 1. There were 89 FF fatalities reported in 2023 2. Causes of death a. Stress or overexertion – 54% b. Vehicle collisions – 20% c. Struck by object – 8% d. Caught or trapped –10% e. Contact, Exposure – 2% f. Fall – 3% g. Other – 3% 3. Approximately 100 firefighters are killed annually while on duty. a. Stress/Overexertion continues to be the leading cause on average. 4. Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act a. Signed into law by the President on December 15th, 2003. b. The law presumes that a heart attack or stroke is in the line of duty if the firefighter was engaged in non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activity while on-duty and the firefighter becomes ill while on-duty, or within 24 hours after engaging in such activity 5. Injuries – 2022 (65,650) a. Fireground Operations – 33% b. Other on duty – 23% c. Non-fire emergency calls – 20% d. Training – 14% e. Responding – 11% f. Strain, sprain, and muscular pain account for 56% of all injuries. g. Ways to prevent firefighter injuries 1.) Conducting effective training 2.) Maintaining company discipline and accountability (team integrity) 3.) Following established safety-related standard operating procedures (GOGs) 4.) Using personal protective clothing and equipment 5.) Maintaining high levels of physical fitness 6. Chronic Illness a. Cardiovascular- Firefighters have a 300% increased risk for cardiac disease  Orientation and Safety 1.) Exposure to smoke and chemicals 2.) Heat stress form fires and ambient temperatures 3.) Psychological stress 4.) Irregular work hours – Leads to multiple health issues 5.) Sleep deprivation (6-10 hours recommended) 6.) Lack of exercise 7.) Poor Diets 8.) Periods of inactivity with bursts of intense activity b. Cancer 1.) Engaging in overhaul activities without the use of an SCBA. 2.) Wearing dirty and contaminated turnout gear, hoods, gloves, and helmets. 3.) Exposure to diesel exhaust in apparatus bays, living, sleeping, and eating areas. 4.) Storing bunker gear in apparatus bays where it becomes saturated in diesel exhaust. 5.) Carrying contaminated gear in personal vehicles. 6.) Skin is highly absorptive, especially the areas of the face, neck, throat, and groin. Additionally, for every 5-degree increase in skin temperature, absorption increases 400% c. Respiratory d. Diabetes e. Obesity f. Hypertension – Blood Pressure of 140 over 90 g. Tobacco dependency h. Exposure to various diseases 7. Physical Fitness a. Cardiovascular Endurance – Determined by how efficiently the heart and lungs are able to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity. This is also known as an individuals aerobic capacity. 1.) VO2 max – maximum oxygen consumption rate 2.) Firefighters must have a VO2 max of at least 42 ml/kg/min 3.) Muscular strength and endurance improvement is dependant upon aerobic capacity (a) Increased ability to recover quickly (b) Increased ability to benefit from food nutrients  Orientation and Safety (c) Increased ability for muscle growth and strength improvements (d) Increases the natural anti-oxidant production b. Muscular Endurance – The ability of a muscle or group of muscles to perform repetitive activities without fatigue. c. Muscular Strength – The ability of a muscle or group of muscles to exert force against a resistance d. Flexibility – Range of motion around a joint 1.) Poor flexibility leads to increased injury in firefighters. e. Body Composition – Relative amounts of muscle, fat, and bone in a persons body. 8. Nutrition a. In recent years, firefighters have been compared to athletes due to the physical requirements of the fire ground. Without the proper fuel, our performance will be inadequate and the risk of illness or injury greatly increases. b. Fruits and vegetables provide phytonutrients that help protect our bodies against the effects of chronic stress and exposure to pollutants c. Typical American diets consists of foods high in fat, sugar, refined grains, sodium, and other preservatives which prevent our bodies from performing at optimum levels. No amount of exercise will overcome the effects of a poor diet. d. Carbohydrates – Energy for the body (only source for the brain) 45-65% intake e. Protein – should be 5% to 20% of daily caloric intake f. Sodium – AHA recommends no more than 1500 mg per day g. Fat – Contains 9 calories per gram h. Simple Carbs – Sugar 1.) Sugars are a quick source of energy, but are digested very quickly and can alter your mood, lead to cravings and compulsive eating, cause wide swings in blood- sugar levels and turns to fat causing weight gain. Table sugar Pasta made with white flour Corn syrup Fruit juice Soda pop Candy All baked goods made with white flour Cake Most packaged cereals Bread made with white flour i. Complex Carbs – Dietary fiber – Not digested by the body  Orientation and Safety 1.) Complex carbs are high fiber foods which improve digestion, stabilize blood- sugar, keep your energy at an even level and help you feel satisfied longer after eating a meal. Spinach Whole Barley Grapefruit Turnip Greens Buckwheat Apples Lettuce Buckwheat bread Prunes Split peas Oat bran bread Apricots, Dried Zucchini Oatmeal Pears Asparagus Oat bran cereal Plums Artichokes Onions Strawberries Okra Wild rice Oranges Cabbage Brown rice Yams Celery Multi-grain bread Carrots Cucumbers Pinto beans Potatoes Dill Pickles Yogurt, low fat Soybeans Radishes Skim milk Lentils Garbanzo Broccoli Navy beans beans Brussels Sprouts Cauliflower Kidney beans Eggplant Soy milk j. Fats 1.) Saturated fats – No more than 10% of total fat intake should come from these 2.) Unsaturated Fats (a) Mono-unsaturated (b) Poly-Unsaturated 3.) Trans Fats – FDA recommends zero intake of these fats. (a) Hydrogenated oils (b) Partially Hydrogenated oils k. Food Labels 1.) Fewer ingredients tend to indicate healthier foods (a) Example: Regular peanut butter vs natural peanut butter. (i) Regular: Roasted Peanuts, sugar, less than 2% of: hydrogenated vegetable oils, salt, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil. (ii) Natural: Peanuts, salt  Orientation and Safety 2.) Added sugars will be listed here as well, anything ending in “ose”, i.e., dextrose, fructose, lactose, maltose, sucrose. l. Hydration 1.) Men – 125 ounces daily 2.) Women – 91 ounces daily 3.) Our bodies are comprised of 60% water (a) Water makes up 75% of muscles (b) Water makes up 25% of bone mass (c) Lubricates joints (d) Regulates body temp (e) Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells (f) Assists kidneys and liver with waste removal 4.) Sports drinks not containing high fructose corn syrup can be alternated with water on long trainingg events or emergency incidents. (a) 12 ounces of sports drink for every 64-96 ounces of water m. Behavioral Health 1.) Emergency responders commonly deal with two types of stress: (a) Chronic Stress – The response to emotional pressure suffered for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. (b) Acute Stress - An immediate psychological reaction to serious trauma or extraordinary events 2.) Physical Symptoms (a) Nausea (b) Frequent colds (c) Pain in the chest, shoulders, neck, and lower back (d) Abdominal pain (e) Irregular sleep patterns 3.) Emotional Symptoms (a) Moodiness (b) Feeling lonely or isolated (c) Agitation, unable to relax (d) Depression  Orientation and Safety 4.) Cognitive Symptoms (a) Memory loss (b) Unable to focus (c) Constant worry and anxiety 5.) Behavioral Symptoms (a) Eating disorders (b) Chronic procrastination (c) Nervous habits (d) Alcohol abuse 6.) Exercise is one of the most effective ways to combat stress. It reduces stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, while elevating the bodies production of endorphins (Feel Good Hormones) 7.) Relaxation Techniques – Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, music. 8.) EAP – Employee Assistance Program (a) 800-789-3145 (b) Strictly Voluntary and confidential (c) May not be available if supervisor suspects city policies have been broken prior to seeking help. B. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®) standards 1. Standards are consensus documents and are not law unless adopted by a governing body. 2. Many U.S. and Canadian governing bodies have adopted some NFPA ® standards into their laws and ordinances; however, many others have not. C. NFPA® 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program 1. The most comprehensive standard relating to firefighter safety and health 2. May be applied to any fire department or similar organization 3. Calls upon fire departments to recognize safety and health as official objectives of the department 4. Calls upon fire departments to provide as healthy and safe a work environment as possible D. NFPA® 1500 — Safety and health-related policies and procedures 1. To be in compliance with NFPA® 1500, fire departments must: a. Develop a risk management plan b. Develop a safety and health policy  Orientation and Safety c. Establish a health and safety committee d. Keep records of job-related accidents, illnesses, exposures, and fatalities e. Appoint a designated department health and safety officer 2. A departmental safety and health program must a. Address all anticipated hazards b. Include provisions for dealing with issues such as alcoholism and drug abuse c. Include appropriate GOGs E. NFPA® 1500 — Training and education 1. The goal must be to prevent occupational deaths, injuries, and illnesses. 2. Departments must train and educate personnel to consider safety in all activities. 3. Safety must be reinforced continually in training. 4. Safety is the responsibility of every member of the department F. NFPA® 1500 — Fire apparatus, equipment, and driver/operators 1. All apparatus driver/operators must be trained. 2. All personnel riding in apparatus must be seated and securely belted inside the cab or body of the vehicle when it is in motion. 3. Seatbelts must be large enough to accommodate firefighters in full gear 4. If the noise level on the apparatus exceeds 90 decibels, hearing protection must be worn. G. NFPA® 1500 — Protective clothing and protective equipment 1. Departments must provide all members with at least one set of protective clothing and protective equipment appropriate for the hazards to which they will be exposed. 2. Protective clothing a. Helmet b. Hood c. Coat d. Pants e. Safety shoes or boots f. Gloves g. Goggles or safety glasses 3. Protective equipment a. Refers primarily to self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), supplied-air respirators (SARS), and other respiratory protection H. NFPA® 1500 — Emergency operations  Orientation and Safety 1. Requires that fire departments use an incident management system during all emergency operations a. Most departments now use the National Incident Management System–Incident Command System (NIMS–ICS). b. The system must include a personnel accountability system. 2. Requires rapid intervention for firefighters in distress 3. Requires rehabilitation (rehab) for firefighters during emergencies 4. Requires postincident analysis I. NFPA® 1500 — Facility safety 1. Requires fire stations be designated as smoke-free environments 2. Requires inspection, maintenance, and prompt repair of facilities J. NFPA® 1500 — Medical and physical requirements 1. Requires that firefighter candidates be medically evaluated to ensure that they are capable of performing duties 2. Prohibits any firefighter who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs from participating in operations 3. Requires departments to develop physical performance standards 4. Requires annual medical verification of continued fitness for duty 5. Requires establishment of job-related fitness standards and a fitness program 6. Requires a confidential health database for each member 7. Requires an infection control program 8. Requires a designated fire department physician 9. Requires reporting and documenting all on-the-job injuries and exposures 10. Requires Hepatitis B vaccination. K. NFPA® 1500 — Member assistance and wellness programs 1. Requires fire departments to have a member assistance program to help firefighters and their immediate families deal with substance abuse, stress, and personal problems that have an adverse effect on job performance 2. Requires the establishment of a wellness program to assist firefighters with health-related problems L. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1. Came from the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970 2. OSHA operates under the U.S. Department of Labor. 3. OSHA sets two overarching duties for employers:  Orientation and Safety a. Furnish to each employee a place of employment that is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious injury. b. Comply with the occupational safety and health standards contained within the OSHA regulations. 4. Federal OSHA regulations apply only to federal employees who fight fires and to private- sector employees who fight fires (industrial fire brigades and incorporated volunteer fire companies). 5. Although federal OSHA has no jurisdiction over local and state public-sector firefighters, the 24 states (and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) operating OSHA-approved state plans do cover them. a. State plans may differ from federal standards but must provide equivalent protection. b. In states where federal OSHA regulations do not apply, fire departments and other agencies may choose to follow them because they are recognized national safety standards. M. Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1. Contains federal OSHA regulations 2. Knowing the content and focus of the standards will increase a firefighter’s awareness of what is required during emergency operations. VI. RISK MANAGEMENT A. Development of Risk Management 1. NFPA® 1500 requires that all incident management systems include a risk management plan. 2. A risk management plan is an established set of criteria by which tactical decisions can be made based on an assessment of the benefits to be gained compared to the risks involved. 3. The principles were developed after a review of risk management plans used in the fire service. There are three prominent plans. a. The one developed by the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department b. NFPA® 1500 c. The "Ten Rules of Engagement for Structural Fire Fighting" developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) B. Principles of Risk Management 1. Activities that present a significant risk to the safety of members shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives.  Orientation and Safety 2. Activities that are routinely employed to protect property shall be recognized as inherent risks to the safety of members, and actions shall be taken to avoid these risks. 3. No risk to the safety of members shall be acceptable when there is no possibility to save lives or property. C. Three key points about the principles: 1. Team integrity is vital to safety and must always be emphasized. 2. No property is worth the life of a firefighter. 3. Firefighters should not be committed to interior offensive fire fighting operations in abandoned or derelict buildings that are known or reasonably believed to be unoccupied. D. Fireground priority 1. Highest fireground priority is for firefighters to protect their lives and those of their fellow firefighters. a. If a firefighter suffers a disabling injury he or she will be unable to help others. b. Other firefighters will have to respond to the injured firefighter and will be unavailable to help the original victims. J. Safety on the apparatus — Riding on the apparatus to and from emergency calls is one of the most common dangers for firefighters 1. Firefighters must have all of their PPE on when they enter the cab of the apparatus. 2. Removing seatbelts in order to don PPE is strictly prohibited. 3. Engineers are allowed to wait until arrival to don appropriate PPE 4. Use steps and handrails when mounting or dismounting the apparatus. 5. All equipment carried inside cab should be secured. K. Personnel safety — Certain safety hazards are common to any fire station 1. Improper lifting techniques a. Back strains are the most common injury related to improper lifting and carrying. b. All firefighters should be instructed in correct lifting techniques. i. To lift properly, firefighters should keep their back as straight as possible and lift with their legs. 2. Slips, trips, and falls a. Often result from poor footing caused by slippery surfaces, uneven surfaces, objects or substances on surfaces, inattention when climbing up or down stairs, and similar hazards b. Can result in minor or serious injuries  Orientation and Safety c. Can prevent such accidents with good housekeeping i. Keep floors clean. ii. Keep aisles unobstructed and stairs well lighted. iii. Maintain handrails, slide poles, and slides. L. Tool and equipment safety — Tools and equipment are vital to the job for a firefighter. 1. Accidents can happen if firefighters are not properly trained. 2. Poorly maintained tools and equipment can be dangerous. 3. Always use appropriate PPE at the station or on the emergency scene. 4. Hand tools and small power tools are widely used in the station. Observe the following procedures when using hand and power tools: a. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). b. Remove loose clothing and keep long hair clear of operating tool heads. c. Remove jewelry, including rings and watches. d. Select the appropriate tool for the job. e. Inspect tools before use to determine their conditions. f. Do not use badly worn or broken tools. g. Inspect, clean, and put all tools in a ready state before storing. h. Do not remove safety shields or modify the tool in any way that could compromise built-in safety devices. 5. Power tools — Grinders, drills, saws, and welding equipment are commonly found in fire stations. a. Improperly used, these tools can cause a serious or life-threatening injury. b. Any electrical tool not marked “double insulated” should have a three-prong plug. i. For firefighter safety, the third prong must connect to a ground while the tool is in use. ii. Bypassing the ground plug in any way prevents it from protecting the user from injury or death caused by an electrical short. 6. Power saws — Follow these safety rules: a. Match the saw to the task and material to be cut. b. Never force a saw beyond its design limitations. c. Wear proper PPE. d. Remove loose clothing and contain long hair. e. Keep bystanders out of the work area.  Orientation and Safety f. Allow gasoline-powered saws to cool before refueling. g. Keep blades and cutting chains well sharpened. h. Use extreme caution when operating any saw above eye level. M. Safety during Training 1. Always wear appropriate protective gear during training. 2. Take into account environmental conditions and take appropriate actions such as breaks in hot weather. 3. Do NOT allow horseplay or other unprofessional conduct during training. VII. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS A. Actions for preparedness 1. At the beginning of every work shift: a. Be in the proper uniform, physically rested, and mentally alert. b. Ensure that all of the tools and equipment are in place and in proper working order. c. Ensure that PPE is on the apparatus in its proper location and in ready condition. d. Ensure that SCBA is fully functional and has a full air cylinder. e. Ensure that EMS equipment is checked and restocked. 2. In the fire station: a. Firefighters must never put themselves in a position that would delay an emergency response. b. When emergency alarm sounds, firefighters must stay calm and listen to dispatch information. c. Firefighters should quickly and calmly mount apparatus wearing proper gear and belt themselves into riding position. B. Incident commander (IC) 1. Officer of the first arriving unit begins to control incident by assuming Command and coordinating using an incident management system. 2. IC must consider most severe factors and risk management to determine overall incident strategy. C. Incident Action Plan (IAP) 1. IC develops the IAP and bases all operations around the completion of the tactical priorities within the chosen strategy. 2. Tactical priorities in a structure fire (in order of completion): a. Firefighter safety (life safety)  Orientation and Safety b. Rescue (life safety) c. Fire control (incident stabilization) d. Loss control (property conservation) 3. Priority objectives are reflected in benchmarks of completion: a. Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) — Companies working in the hazard zone are safe and accounted for. b. “All Clear” — Primary search has been completed and all savable occupants are out of the hazard zone. c. “Under Control” — Fire is controlled with the fire progress stopped. d. “Loss Stopped” — Property conservation is complete. D. Highway incidents 1. Turn front wheels of blocking apparatus away from the emergency so it will not be pushed into the emergency responders if it is struck from the rear. 2. Set out traffic cones, signs, or other devices to detour traffic around the emergency scene. 3. Wear reflective vests when PPE is not required. 4. Close at least one traffic lane next to the incident. E. Cordoning off 1. In many cases, the best way to maintain scene security is by establishing control zones; often done by cordoning off the scene. 2. Control zones will keep bystanders a safe distance from the scene. 3. Many fire departments set up control zones. a. Zones are commonly labeled "hot," "warm," and "cold." b. There is no specific distance from the scene or area that should be cordoned off. c. Zone boundaries should be established taking the following into account: i. Area needed by emergency personnel to work ii. Degree of hazard presented by elements involved in the incident iii. Wind and weather conditions iv. General topography of the area 4. Cordoning can be done with rope or fireline or caution tape tied to sign posts, utility poles, parking meters, or other stationary objects; tape should not be tied to vehicles because they may need to be moved during the incident VIII.Incident safety concerns  Orientation and Safety A. Use of accountability systems 1. Every fire department must use some system of accountability that identifies and tracks all personnel working in the hazard zone at an incident. 2. Accountability is vital in the event of a sudden and unexpected change in fire behavior or structural collapse. B. Personnel accountability systems 1. Passport system (sometimes called a tag system) — Can aid in accounting for personnel within the hazard zone a. Every company officer has a 2”x4” passport that lists the names of every member of that crew. b. Before entering the hazard zone, company officers give their passports or tags to a designated Accountability Officer (AO) or supervisor when level two accountability is in place. c. The passports are then attached to an accountability tracking board. d. Upon leaving the hazard zone, the officers collect their passports. e. This system enables Command to know exactly which companies and which personnel are operating in the hazard zone. 2. Once the IC calls for a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR), the following procedures will take place: a. Each company officer will report to command either “PAR” if their company is intact or “Negative PAR” if any member of their company cannot be located b. Reports of Negative PAR will initiate an immediate response of the RIC c. A PAR should be requested by IC whenever an operation mode is changed from offensive to defensive. 3. Accountability Tracking Board (ATB) a. All engines, ladders, and specialized equipment will be equipped with an Accountability Tracking Board (ATB). During an incident, these boards will be used to collect passports for tracking personnel on the scene C. Levels of accountability 1. Level 1 – Begins at the start of each shift when you place your tag on the passport. 2. Level 2 – Accountability officer is assigned and passports are collected from apparatus. 3. Level 3 – Point of entry officer is assigned. D. Techniques for interior operations  Orientation and Safety 1. Scan the outside of the building before entry to locate windows and doors that could be used as escape routes. 2. Officer should perform a 360 of the structure 3. Wear full PPE including SCBA. 4. Firefighters must take the appropriate tools and equipment in with them. 5. Firefighters must maintain team integrity by remaining in physical, voice, or visual contact with other members of their team. 6. Remain in radio contact with Command or others outside the building. E. Mayday 1. Firefighters must know their department's protocol for calling a Mayday. 2. Who – What – Where 3. Lunar a. Location b. Unit c. Name d. Assignment e. Resources F. Rapid intervention 1. NFPA® and OSHA regulations in 29 CFR 1910.134 state that whenever firefighters are in an atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH), including the inside of burning buildings when the fire is beyond the incipient or early growth stage, they must work in teams of two or more; and at least two fully trained and equipped firefighters must be standing by outside. 2. The outside team must be ready to enter at a moment's notice to rescue the entry team. 3. This is known as the "two-in/two-out" rule. 4. Rapid intervention crew (RIC) members may be assigned other fireground support duties but must always be able to fulfill their primary function.