Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute University of Maryland

1. Developing Department Safety AwarenessIn Support ofNational Firefighter Safety Stand DownandNational Fallen Firefighters Foundation“Life Safety Summit Initiatives” Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute University of Maryland

2. Stand Down Is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has been identified as a problem throughout its ranks.

3. IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli “Firefighters are being killed at an alarming rate. The fire service simply cannot continue to do business as usual when so many of its own are dying. We are conducting the stand down to raise awareness of the need for increased vigilance toward fire fighter safety.”

4. Enabling Objectives • Explain the puropose for developing department safety awareness • List resources readily available to fire department personnel • Describe activities that can be conducted for safety awareness • Developing a plan of action for safety improvements

5. Overview • Introduction • Resources • Activities • Plan of Action

6. INTRODUCTION • ‘The IAFC and its partners are urging you and all fire departments throughout the country to suspend all non-emergency activity and focus entirely on firefighter safety.’ • ‘Talk about line-of-duty deaths; check all apparatus and equipment; discuss health safety regulations; review fire ground safety issues; and take stock of training exercises and fitness goals.’

7. 449 105 107 102 103 113 111 100 100 On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities 1993-2004 500 400 300 200 100 0 99 93 81 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

10. How does the culture of your fire department impact safety? • You have a right to stop unsafe practices • Too many members indoctrinated with a traditional sense of unquestioning discipline • You have the right and the responsibility to stop any action you believe is unsafe, or could be unsafe • No different than your obligation to avoid unethical or immoral behavior/actions

11. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

12. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives NIOSH reports NIST simulations NFPA VFIS USFA/NFA IAFC MSFA Firehouse.com Respondersafety.com OSHA MIEMSS Firefightrerclosecalls MFRI RESOURCES

13. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability, and personal responsibility.

14. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability, and personal responsibility. The need for safety must start at the top of the organization. It must be practiced by all and enforced as an organizational priority.

15. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the service.

16. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the service. The organization shall provide the members with the proper PPE and SCBA to complete their duties. Members shall utilize the PPE and SCBA to carry out their duties as prescribed by the manufacturer and departmental procedures.

17. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.

18. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities. Risk Management – NFA- USFA We will risk our lives a lot to protect a savable life. We will risk our lives a little to protect savable property. We will not risk our lives at all in an attempt to protect lives and property that are already lost.

19. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 4. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe acts.

20. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 4. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe acts. Watch out for our brother and sister firefighters. We are our brother’s keeper. Point out unsafe acts before they cause injury or death.

21. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform.

22. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform. Advocate the use of the Maryland Fire Service Professional Qualification system. All responders should be certified to the level of their response capabilities.

23. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform.

24. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties that they are expected to perform. Advocate physicals for all members when they join and at regular intervals.

25. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relate to the initiatives.

26. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relate to the initiatives. All counties should require detailed reports from all departments concerningresponses, incidents, injuries, and fatalities. This report should also include training records for each member.

27. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety.

28. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety. Use thermal imaging cameras, combustible gas indicators, and charged electric wire alerting devices to indicate dangerous conditions at incidents scenes to response personnel.

29. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.

30. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses. Develop a program to define ‘near misses’. Investigate all injuries and near misses. Cooperate with agencies that conduct fatality investigations. Utilize this information to improve the safety and welfare of responders.

31. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 10. Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement.

32. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 10. Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement. When writing grant requests include safety criteria as part of the specifications.

33. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 11. Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures.

34. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 11. Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures. Adopt and follow NFPA standards for emergency response such as NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1521. Comply with federal regulations such as 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection, and 29 CFR 1910.120 Hazardous Materials Response. These are examples only. There are numerous standards and regulations that apply to emergency responders.

35. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 12. Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents.

36. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 12. Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents. Work with law enforcement agencies to develop and comply with protocols for response to violent incidents.

37. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 13. Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and psychological support.

38. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 13. Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and psychological support. Develop local and state resources for members and their families for counseling and psychological support services.

39. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 14. Provide public education more resources and champion it as a critical fire and life safety program.

40. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 14. Provide public education more resources and champion it as a critical fire and life safety program. Develop your department’s ability to provide public education services to your community. Resources can be obtained in grant requests.

41. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 15. Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers.

42. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 15. Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers. Provide your members with basic training in the use of the applicable Fire Prevention Code for your jurisdiction . Ascertain the correct procedure to report violations to the responsible agency. Become an advocate for home automatic sprinkler systems. Enlist the assistance of other community groups in your area.

43. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 16. Make safety a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.

44. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives 16. Make safety a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment. When writing specifications for new apparatus and equipment include the appropriate NFPA specifications. The equipment and apparatus should carry the applicable NFPA approval labels.

45. NIOSH Reports • Trusses - 2005 Report • Photos • Case studies • Diagrams • Safety practices http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-132/

46. NIOSH FF Fatality Reports • NIOSH investigates most fatalities. • List by states • List of all investigations • Can be used to enhance safety http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html

47. NIOSH Fatality Report • Summary of incident • Recommendations • Photos • Detailed report

48. NIOSH Alert Reports • Detailed report • Example - Fire ground structural collapse • Expanded coverage needed for one area that affects safety

49. NIST Fire Simulations • http://www.fire.nist.gov/ • Fire in a One-Story Restaurant, Texas • February 14, 2000 • Truss roof construction • Fire involvement of roof area • Roof collapse • Two firefighters killed • CD-ROM 13 minutes

50. http://www.nfpa.org