© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
Lesson D
Lessons Learned
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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)
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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
© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Instructor Resources for
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