Wildland Fire Operations SafetyWildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to A Comprehensive Program to
Change a CultureChange a Culture
Ed HollensheadNational Fire Operations Safety Manager
USDA Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center Boise ID, USA
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Goal
Error Resistance
Accident
Incident
Violation
Hazard
Fatality
Safety
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Precision
Survival Apathy Zone
Shifting our focusHigh Performance
Sounds like a great idea – so how do we do it?
“Each new plateau of risk, when first attained, seems to be the last; but, as we grow accustomed to
it, a new horizon beckons. What insulates us from fear as we approach the danger is simply habit, the familiarity of a point we have reached and all the
points we’ve left behind. Until one steps too far, it’s often hard to tell the difference between
recklessness and skill.”
Major Chris Miller, USA
With Thanks to:Tony Kern, USDA FS
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Community
““Fire community implies an awareness that Fire community implies an awareness that we are interconnected and interdependent we are interconnected and interdependent and should approach firefighting from the and should approach firefighting from the point of view that we are all in this point of view that we are all in this together.”together.”
Findings From the Wildland Firefighters Human Factors Workshop MTDC, November, 1995
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe People
Beyond the safety of people, all else is sand.
“Trees regrow, houses can be rebuilt, but the loss of a life is forever.” (loc. sit.)
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Focus
• High risk, high consequence, dynamic, and expanding working environment
• Culture, attitude, and motivation of today’s firefighters
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Concept
A high performing firefighter is, by definition, a safe firefighter.
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Application
• Commonly held values and principles• Standard operating procedures and
training• Bias for action• Managing the unexpected• Dedication to the art of leadership and
leadership development
Values, Principles, Role Models
Enable tough decision-making
Must be modeled by leadership
Wildland Fire Leadership Values and PrinciplesWildland Fire Leadership Values and PrinciplesValues Principles
Duty
Be proficient in your job, both technically and as a leader.
Make sound and timely decisions.
Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
Develop your subordinates for the future.
Respect
Know your subordinates and look out for their well-being.
Keep your subordinates informed.
Build the team.
Employ your subordinates in accordance with their capabilities.
IntegrityKnow yourself and seek improvement.
Seek responsibility and accept responsibility for your actions.
Set the example.
www.fireleadership.gov
Standard Operating Procedures and Training
Safety is the result of doing things right, doing things right is the result of arduous
and realistic training, and quality training is the result of good leaders
drilling their crews/teams on standard operating procedures.
Standard Operating Procedures and Training
Insist on Absolutes
• Establish new, or affirm existing standards
• Demand consistent adherence. Never tolerate less than full compliance
• Walk your talk
State and Federal Regulations
Law
Policies
Standard Operating Procedures
With Thanks to:Tim Gabriel and FLEXJET
Standard Operating Procedures and Training
Insist on Absolutes
“When any of us either violates, or allows the violation of a standard, we have
established another one that is lower than the first.”
Standard Operating Procedures and Training
Insist on Absolutes
“Any time people are committed to a task, their safety becomes our highest
priority.”
“Mission objectives and priorities are transient. The standards used to achieve
them are not.”
Bias for Action
• Complex environment
• Uncertainty and ambiguity
• Decision making skills and bias for action
DRAW - DDRAW - D
Defend
Reinforce
Advance
Withdraw
Delay
Levels of Engagement
Managing the Unexpected
Situational awareness and risk management
Leadership Development
• Early development of leadership skills is paramount
• Training emphases must be reoriented
• Established and Well-Known Values• Experience and Practice• Guided by Absolutes• Bias for Action• Dedication to the Art of Leadership and
Leadership Development
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to
Change a Culture
References
• http://www.fireleadership.gov/
• Findings From the Wildland Firefighters Human Factors Workshop, MTDC, November, 1995
Wildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to
Change a Culture