Culture of Safety – Community

Culture of Safety – Department

Culture of Safety – Individual

Culture of Safety – June 14 -20, 2015

While firefighting is a dangerous profession by nature, steps can be taken by leaders to lessen the risks. Changing culture starts with leaders. You can’t expect others to follow

established safety procedures if you are disregarding them.

A safer community means a safer fire service. Be an active proponent. Conduct pre-planning activities and risk assessments to see what threats are present and what can be

done to address these before disaster strikes.

Personal accountability is critical when it comes to keeping safe. You have people counting on you every day, from fellow responders, to your family, to your community.

Take control of your safety and health and do what it takes to lessen your risks .

Fire Sprinklers Safety Codes CRR*

The International Code Council (ICC) is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Read Make a Difference by Adolf Zubia to see how members of the fire service can get involved in the code development process.

*Community Risk Reduction (CRR) a comprehensive national strategy for fire prevention investment. Several materials are presented to help departments promote and integrate CRR into communities and to help fire department personnel get more impact out of their fire prevention program through working more effectively with diverse audiences.

Life Safety Initiative (LSI) #15 – Code Enforcement and Sprinklers. This LSI concludes that successful fire prevention leads to fewer fire responses and thus increased safety of first responders. When codes are enforced & fire sprinklers are utilized, risks are reduced on firefighters – from vehicle crashes during response, to exposure of toxins, to dangerous working conditions.

Public education must receive more resources and be championed as a critical fire and life safety program

Culture of Safety Community – Assignment:Individual Completion (due date 7/20/15)

Step

1

Step

2

Step

3 Print your completion certificate and send copy to FTA.

Complete the three-hour training program -- available in eight 15-20 minute segments. It can be taken in one session or broken into several shorter sessions.

Register and log into the FREE Community Risk Reduction online training, visit the Resource one elearning site. http://strategicfire.org/community-risk-reduction/ifstavision-2020-training/

Safety Culture Safety Standards

PPE* Health & Wellness

Vehicle & TrafficAccording to NFPA, 97

firefighters died in the line of duty in 2013, and 65,880 were injured. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance has reports of 103 firefighter suicides in 2014. There is growing research that links fighting to increased rates of many types of cancer.

Disasters can occur anywhere, and they often occur when we least expect them. NFPA codes and standards are there to provide us with ways to prevent their occurrence, manage their impact, and protect us. These codes can be read for free at www.nfpa.or/free access -- Take the time to periodically read them and educate yourself on the standards.

Exposure to cancer-causing agents likely occurs on the fireground as well as in the aftermath of firefighting activity, particularly if clothing is not cleaned. This evidence should compel you to take a serious look at the way you practice hygiene following a fire – Do you routinely perform gross decontamination of gear at the scene? Use immediately available body wipes? Take a shower as soon as possible following a fire?

Continued focus on safety and health is a department priority. Continued development and refinement of health/safety programs that address key issues such as heart health, behavioral health, cancer reduction strategies. Ensure that safety remains a critical component of all training initiatives and fireground/vehicle operations.

Three injury crashes occur every minute in the United States, putting nearly 39,000 incident responders potentially in harm's way every day. Better incident response improve the safety of responders and drivers, reduces crashes that occur because of incident-related congestion.

Culture of Safety Department – Assignment:Company Completion(due date 7/20/15)

Option

1

Option

2

Option

3

Option

4

Completion

5Submit a written report summarizing your efforts, include lessons learned, to your BC, who will compile & forward to HDQ.

Read and discuss (as a company) Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service (v2) sponsored by Honeywell First Responder Products.

Complete the free web-based course Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) developed by the Federal Highway Administration.

Review and discuss (as a company) Creating Change in the Fire Service developed by National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Review and discuss (as a company) the National Safety Culture Change Initiative Report developed by the U.S. Fire Administration and International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Personal Protective Equipment

Behavioral Health

Physical Health

Firefighters and EMS personnel face many unique challenges that can have a significant impact on their behavioral health. To ensure these individuals and their families have access to the help they need, the NVFC teamed up with American Addiction Centers to create a free, confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (888) 731 FIRE

The U.S. fire service is full of some of the most passionate individuals any industry could ever have. Our passion,drive and determination are in many cases the drivers that cause us to take many of the courageous actions that havebecome legendary in our business. When others run to exit, we run to the entrance. While others sleep, we often can’t, don’t or won’t

Personal accountability is critical when it comes to keeping firefighters and emergency responders safe. You as an individual have to take responsibility for following standard operating guidelines and procedures, protecting yourself from cancer with proper use of PPE, and managing your heart health.

Culture of Safety Individual – Assignment:Company Completion (due date 7/20/15)

Option

1

Option

2

Option

3

Completion

4Read, watch & discuss (as a company) the materials associated with the Sleep Deprivation study. Collectively, complete the quiz and submit to your BC, who will compile & forward to HDQ, with your written report.

Submit a written report summarizing your efforts, include lessons learned, to your BC, who will compile & forward to HDQ.

Watch and discuss (as a company) the U Tube Video as developed by the National Volunteer Fire Council PPE Series: Overhaul and the Importance of PPE and then formulate a suggested departmental policy for use in RFES.

Watch and discuss (as a company) the U Tube Video as developed by the London Fire Brigade: Beyond the Call and then formulate a one page handout to share with your department colleagues addressing PTSD in the fire service .