© 2010 delmar, cengage learning instructor resources for lesson d lessons learned

© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Instructor Resources for

Lesson D

Lessons Learned



Federal Agencies

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)– Federal agency– Writes reports after worker injuries and/or deaths

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)– Performs fire dynamics testing– Assists NIOSH with research and investigation



Issues Related to Firefighter Deaths and Near Misses

• Common issues:– Stress-related cardiac events– Lack of fire-ground accountability– Becoming lost, separated, or running out of air– Hostile fire conditions– Structural failure



Recommendations

• Specific to the failure of floors, walls, and roofs at structure fires

• From firefighter fatality reports from 1996 through 2008:– Train firefighting personnel in risks/hazards related to

structural collapse– Recognize potential collapse hazards

• Parapet walls

• State of disrepair

• Full fire involvement



Recommendations (cont’d.)

• From firefighter fatality reports (cont’d.)– Establish and monitor a clearly marked collapse zone

for unstable structures – When analyzing for potential building collapses:

• Recognize structural defects and large body of fire in old structures



Recommendations (cont’d.)

• From firefighter fatality reports (cont’d.):– Pay attention to non–automatic-sprinklered

commercial retail stores– Modifications/renovations/changes in occupancy

without review/inspection by building professionals• May decrease structural integrity of supporting

members



Firefighter Fatality Reports

• Available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire– Click on Fatality Reports

• Reports cited by NIOSH:– Specific to the failure of floors, walls, and roofs at

structure fires– See text for cites (xxi–xxii)



Firefighter Fatality Reports (cont’d.)

• Situations resulting in fatalities:– Foot awning collapses – Floor collapses at commercial and residential

structures– Falling through the floor at residential structure fires– Exterior wall collapse – Collapsing church facade



Firefighter Fatality Reports (cont’d.)

• Situations resulting in fatalities: (cont’d.)– Partial or full roof collapses – Parapet wall collapses– Sudden floor and roof collapses– General structural collapses



Summary

• NIOSH– Tasked with writing reports after firefighter injuries

and/or deaths

• Common issues in firefighter deaths or injuries:– Stress-related cardiac events– Lack of fire-ground accountability– Becoming lost, separated, or running out of air– Hostile fire conditions– Structural failure



Summary (cont’d.)

• Recommendations specific to the failure of floors, walls, and roofs at structure fires– Train firefighting personnel in risks and hazards

related to structural collapse– Recognize potential collapse hazards– Establish and monitor a clearly marked collapse zone– When analyzing for potential building collapses,

recognize structural defects and large body of fire in old structures



Summary (cont’d.)

• Recommendations (cont’d.):– Pay attention to non-automatic-sprinklered

commercial retail stores– Modifications/renovations/changes in occupancy

without review/inspection by building professionals may decrease structural integrity

© 2010 delmar, cengage learning instructor resources for lesson d lessons learned

Documents