Developing Fire Department Safety Programs

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Developing Fire Department Safety Programs

• Fire Officer 3 Program

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Developing Your Program

• NFPA 1500 gives guidance in our development of
  fire department safety programs. The 1997
  edition spells out specific duties that need to
  be included in the department safety program.
• Your departments requirements will differ from
  other programs, each department having special
  needs.

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Steps in Program Development

• 1. Obtain organizational commitment and support
• Chief through the newest firefighter
• Injury and Death Statistics
• Utilize case histories and individual department
  history
• Risk management techniques
• Cost benefits of developing / implementing a
  safety program

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Steps in Program Development

• 2. Create organizational statement and policy
  (NFPA 1500 2-1.1)
• Provides the foundation for all elements of a
  departments operations.
• Details what services will be provided
• Describes how the department will prepare to meet
  these broad organizational goal.
• Training and other tools are mentioned here
• Safety in all aspects of department operations

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Steps in Program Development

• 3. Appoint Safety Officer
• Chief makes appointment
• Person should comply with the requirements of the
  NFPA 1521 Standard 1997 edition
• Fire Officer 1 Certification
• Background and experience in operations
• Knowledge of common fireground hazards
• Does not have to be one individual
• Can combine fire scene operations and department
  safety management programs

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Steps in Program Development

• 4. Appoint Occupational Health and Safety
  Committee (OHSC)
• Chief appoints committee made up of all levels
  of employment and representation
• Safety Officer must be a member of the OHSC
• Safety Officer does not have to be chairperson of
  committee
• May allow for objective view of the program

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Steps in Program Development

• 5. Development of Safety Rules and Policies
• Review of work rules or SOGs for aspects of
  safety
• Utilize existing referenceable materials is key
• NFPA
• IFSTA
• OSFM
• DuPage County Safety Manual

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Steps in Program Development

• 6. Enforce Policies and Procedures
• Discipline is not part of this process
• May determine if accidents, injuries or other
  deviations from policy are preventable or
  unpreventable
• All meetings are official records and must be
  forwarded to the Chief after completion of
  meeting
• May post minutes and recommendations at stations

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Steps in Program Development

• 7. Practice Safety in All Actions
• Fireground
• In-station
• Training
• General duties
• Correct unsafe acts and conditions before an
  accident or injury results

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Typical Program Components

• Medical Component
• Annual Physical
• Back to Work Program
• Pre-employment
• Vaccinations
• Injury evaluation

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Typical Program Components

• Employee Assistance Program
• Substance Abuse
• Critical Incident Stress
• Financial
• General Mental Health
• Employee Incentives

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Typical Program Components

• Operations
• Review specifications
• Recommend new purchases
• Review operations
• Participate in development of SOGs and revision
  of SOGs
• General station safety inspections
• Quarterly inspections recommended

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Does Your Program Need Help??

• Fire Dept. Safety Officers Association
• NFPA
• 1500, 1521, 1561, 1410, 1582
• IFSTA
• Safety, Company Officer, Essentials
• Fire Engineering
• Building Collapse, Building Construction, Safety
  and Survival on Fireground
• DuPage County Safety Officers Assoc..

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Steps in Program Development

• Obtain organizational commitment and support
• Create organizational statement and policy
• Appoint safety officer
• Establish / appoint safety committee
• Develop safety rules (policies)
• Enforce policy and procedure
• Safety in all actions

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Duties of Safety Committee

• Hold regular meetings
• 2 per year minimum
• Investigate injuries
• Investigate accidents
• Prepare committee review report with findings
• Review specifications
• Develop forms and reporting/record keeping
  process
• Everything done in writing to Chief