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If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten
I see that NIOSH reports have popped up on the radar of the blogosphere recently. Frankly, I’m surprised at the heat a few have been giving them. Maybe I’ve been missing something (it’s happened before). So I took a closer look.
We already know that heart attacks and traffic accidents are the main murderers of us firefighters, so I’m sure we’ve already dedicated the necessary resources to firefighter health and safety initiatives and accident scene safeguards to keep these killers from having free reign over our troops.
Right?
So, I went to the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports page from NIOSH and randomly picked 5 of the reports with deaths involving fire suppression. I was looking for patterns. Guess what I found….
NIOSH Report 2008-26
A residential basement fire had been burning for over 30 minutes. A crew was directed to enter the first floor to perform horizontal ventilation and found a spongy floor. The last (victim) of the four-man crew was just about out when the floor collapsed into the basement on top of working crews. Heavy smoke conditions hampered efforts to locate the victim and he died on the scene.
Among the NIOSH recommendations:
Sizeup, Risk/Gain “ensure that the incident commander (IC) conducts a 360 degree size-up which includes risk versus gain analysis prior to committing interior operations and continues risk assessments throughout the operations”
SOP’s/SOG’s- “ensure that standard operating procedures are established for a basement fire”
Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that proper ventilation is done to improve interior conditions and is coordinated with the interior attack”
TIC- “ensure that interior crews are equipped with a thermal imaging camera”
RIT/RIC- “ensure that Rapid Intervention Teams are staged and ready”
NIOSH Report 2008-34
One of only three firefighters on the scene, the victim entered a burning residence alone with a partially-charged 1 ½ inch line and became lost in thick-black smoke, radioing for help from the other two. They couldn’t locate him, a flashover occurred, and the home became fully engulfed. A cop found him an hour later.
Among the NIOSH recommendations:
Size-up, Risk/Gain- “ensure that officers and fire fighters know how to evaluate risk versus gain and perform a thorough scene size-up before initiating interior strategies and tactics”
SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement, and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fireground operations”
Staffing- “ensure that adequate numbers of apparatus and fire fighters are on scene before initiating an offensive fire attack in a structure fire”
Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that properly coordinated ventilation is conducted on structure fires”
RIT/RIC- “ensure that a rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available at structure fires”
SCBA- “ensure fire fighters are trained in essential self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and emergency survival skills”
Mayday- “ensure that protocols are developed on issuing a Mayday so that fire fighters and dispatch centers know how to respond”
NIOSH Report 2008-08
30 minutes into a residential fire, crews had been pulled out. A decision was made to send a crew back in to extinguish the fire. A crew of 3 (A/C, Capt, FF) made their way into the basement of the burning structure with an 1¾ line. One by one they evacuated due to conditions. The third never came up the stairs. RIT was activated but repelled by the heat. Victim found an hour later.
Among the NIOSH recommendations:
Risk vs. Gain- “ensure that the Incident Commander continuously evaluates the risks versus gain when determining whether the fire suppression operation will be offensive or defensive“
SOP’s/SOG’s- “review, revise as necessary, and enforce standard operating guidelines (SOGs) to include specific procedures for basement fires and two-in/ two-out procedures“
TIC- “enforce standard operating guidelines (SOGs) regarding thermal imaging camera (TIC) use during interior operations“
Mayday- “ensure that fire fighters are trained on initiating Mayday radio transmissions immediately when they are in distress, and/or become lost or trapped“
NIOSH Report 2008-06
Without the protection of a charged hoseline, a Lt and FF (victim) were searching a 2-story residence for a trapped occupant. They did not know where the victim was and had no TIC. Conditions deteriorated, trapping the two on the second floor. The LT exited the front door and RIT was deployed to get the victim. Both were hospitalized and the victim succumbed to burn injuries 5 days later.
Among the NIOSH recommendations:
Size-up- “ensure the Incident Commander receives pertinent information during the size-up (i.e., type of structure, number of occupants in the structure, etc.) from occupants on scene and that information is relayed to crews upon arrival”
SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement, and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fireground operations”
Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure ventilation is coordinated with interior fireground operations”
TIC- “ensure that fire fighters conducting an interior search have a thermal imaging camera”
Mayday- “ensure that Mayday protocols are developed and followed”
NIOSH Report 2007-32
Two firefighters died while conducting an interior attack to locate, confine, and extinguish a fire located in the cockloft of a restaurant. One victim had been flowing water into the cockloft from the kitchen, another had been checking for fire extension in the main dining area. At about 5 minutes in, a rapid fire event occurred.
Among the NIOSH recommendations:
Size-up- Risk vs. Gain- “ensure that the incident commander conducts an initial size-up and risk assessment of the incident scene before beginning interior fire fighting operations and continually evaluates the conditions to determine if the operations should become defensive”
SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) that address the hazards and define the strategies and tactics to be used while operating at specific structures known as “taxpayers”
Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that fire fighters understand the influence of ventilation on fire behavior and coordinate with interior fire suppression operations”
RIT/RIC- “ensure that a rapid intervention crew (RIC) / rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available to immediately respond to emergency rescue incidents”
TIC- “use thermal imaging cameras (TICs) during the initial size-up and search phases of a fire”
Any patterns?
Size-up, Risk vs. Gain- Does your first in crew perform a 360 and report an accurate size up of conditions to all others? Is a risk vs. gain assessment actually made? Are your initial tactics based upon these findings?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Are your SOP’s/SOG’s current to the ever-changing tasks being performed at your incidents? Do you follow them? Do you even have any?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Is ventilation performed early and integrated with your interior attack? Or has ventilation worked its way down to fifth or sixth on your list of priorities? After all, it will eventually vent itself.
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Is a RIT/RIC established early on? If you don’t have the personnel to form a RIT/RIC, do you have a mutual aid response to give you the number of firefighters needed to operate safely?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Does your department have at least one Thermal Imaging Camera? It’s been called the best thing since SCBA in many firefighting circles. You have SCBA, right? Does your department know to call a Mayday early? Too macho to call it? Does EVERYONE ON THE SCENE know what to do when a Mayday is called?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
WHY ARE WE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH?
Are the reports too difficult to understand? Perhaps we need to dumb them down or fluff them up? Fine. I’m all for whatever it takes.
But let’s not forget that the reports are just that- reports. We need to make the changes, NIOSH ain’t gonna do that for us.
So read the reports, see how they killed our brothers, and take a hard look at how you and your department operate.
THEN IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR GUYS ALIVE.
Because if we continue to do it the same way, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten. Another NIOSH report with the same ol’ stuff.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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So no one has any thoughts on this topic?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, it ain't broke til someone dies, then we fix it, is that how it works?
I guess so long as everyone has pretty colored lights on their pov and the "I fear what you train to fight" tee shirts everyone be happy, aight?
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Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on
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Hey Jack. Read the thread about the guy who is tired of hearing about it. At least that's the way I took it but I could be wrong (it happens alot). He also has a hard-on for someone bringing it up. My opinion is that we all need to learn to do our jobs safer. There is no margin for error here.
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Capt, if it's the one I'm thinking of, yes I've seen it. And I kind of took it the same way. If it's what we (and others) seem to think it's about, we'll be reading a NIOSH report on him/his dept. one of these days (although I really hope not to.)
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Permalink Reply by FireDaily.com on
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If he's tired of hearing about it, maybe he can do something to make them go away.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Some of the patterns addressed here are easy to implement like a 360, other sound easy to implement, may receive "cursory" training, but rarely truly addressed. Two that stick out here, Calling the MAYDAY and RIT operations.
Most likely one could walk up to any firefighter and ask them if they know how to call a MAYDAY, and most likely the reponse being.."yep". However, ask them to call a MAYDAY and you may get MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, maybe location, maybe name, maybe what they were doing. Problem is if not routinely practiced it is easy to get complacent. "Sure I'll know when to call a MAYDAY"...problem is if you don't train, do you really know when to call?
If disorientated, are you looking for a way out first? If entrapped, are you trying to free yourself first? If falling through a floor, will you have the presence of mind to recall where you were operating and what you were doing? Are you able to, right now, without fail, pull that radio mic and call a MAYDAY? Have you ever TRAINED to call the MAYDAY whenin full PPE and on air? Have you ever listened to someone else calling a MAYDAY and without fail, understood them perfectly? Do you use an acronym to remember how to call a MAYDAY, like the P.L.A.N. nuemonic? (Person, Location, Actions, Needs) If you can't answer without absolute certaintyto these, it is time to train.
For us, we did go through an extensive training and took an LODD to wake us up. We also used to be like"sure I know how to call and I'll know when" Night and day difference after training.
PLAN neumonic for calling MAYDAY: .....(MAYDAY,MAYDAY,MAYDAY FF Crabbe, second floor attack, I'm lost and seperated from my crew, I need air and egress)
The other subject that sticks out is RIT. (actually a discussion on RIT is what started me on this site). RIT is another area easily thought that we will know what to do. Do you have tools staged? How many people is the minimum? 2 isn't, 4 really isn't....many LODD reports point that it takes 8 to 12 (?? on the number, but is more than what is used) FF's to rescue 1. Now this doesn't mean you need an 8 person RIT crew, but that if RIT is needed, it will take many more people to ensure a successful rescue. Have you trained on different ways to access a downed FF? Have you practiced removing a downed FF...from a window (Denver drill), a basement? confined space? Have you practiced getting air to a downed FF? In the dark? Blindfolded?
In many of these NIOSH reports it is easy to read the recommendations and "think" you have it covered. NIOSH doesn't really tell you how to train or what to train on. It is just as imperative to read the report and not just skip to the recommendations.
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I really hope not. He'll be on the list he doesn't like to hear about.
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Permalink Reply by R Griffin on
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Good point John on training on the mayday issue and RIT. Some just don't get it and will make a mockery of RIT on their training night. Can't happen here and never to me attitude. Read my lost focus on a reply from a captain and what he thinks of RIT and firefighter safety. BE SAFE!!!
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Yeah, I read that thread and it is appalling of the moron making such remarks. Since the comments made echoed my thoughts, I didn't reply, but I did read the thread.
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Permalink Reply by jdk on
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Out of tragedy comes policy. This seems to be the way most F.D.'s operate, unfortunately.
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As is the case with many of the policies and guidelines in place. However, you're right, despite the recommendations out there and the incidents to learn from others, sometimes it takes a personal tragedy to affect a change.
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Permalink Reply by larry jenkins on
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I reveiw with my shift at least twice a month on NIOSH reports. I research the LODD more than the NIOSH site and then Make power point presentations. Some of these are distributed to the entire county for review. It saddens me to say, but most of these LODD could have been prevented had the initial officer took their time and got all the information prior to attack. We keep making the same mistakes over and over. He is a list of the common mistakes I see:
1.NOT MAKING A LAP-If you don't do a lap then you cannot get the complete picture. The majority of fires are in single family homes and making a lap only delays you 60 seconds. Without a lap you don't have all the information and cannot make the correct decision on strategy. If the structure is too big to complete a lap then send someone else to the rear be your eyes.
2. INCORRECT VENTILATION- Time and time again vent crews don't coordinate with the attack crews. Just think, if you open a hole whether horzitional or verticle the fire will head in that direction, just like a chimney. Many NIOSH reports have shown that vent crews have pulled the fire towards the firefighters inside. Don't go around and knock out every window in the structure thinking you are helping the interior crews. You want to vent in the opposite direction of the firefighters, so they can advance on it and extinguish it.
3. NOT USING THE 2 IN 2 OUT RULE- The 2 in 2 out is there to protect you. This means the two out need to have their gear on and ready to go if something bad happens. You can't go in unless the 2 in /2 out is in place or you suspect that there may be a rescue. You need to use common sense with this decission. A house fire at 0200hrs there is a good chance that someone may be inside. A fire at a closed fast food restaurant at 0200hrs is different.
4.NOT HAVING A RIT- The size of the RIT is dependent on the size of the fire and the size of the structure. I don't care if NFPA says the minimum staffing is two, realistically it takes several crews to accomplish a true RIT event. This crew needs to recon the structure, assist with laddering all elevated windows, remove bars from windows, and anything else to make their job easier if needed.
5.LACK OF COMMAND OR ROVING COMMAND- The IC needs to located where they get the best veiw of the event. They cannot move around the site. Before you take command take a lap then stay in one spot. Send runners to other sides for updates. Use proper ICS and make sure all of your firefighters are trained in the ICS.
6.LETTING THE BUILDING FALL IN AROUND YOU- We are sending FF's too deep into some of these structures. Our gear is to good at preventing burns that we on the inside don't realize we are in trouble until it's too late. Older construction use to allow you 20 minutes before you had to think about retreating. With todays lightweight materials being used you only have 5 minutes before retreating if the structual members are exposed to direct fire.
7.NOT CALLING A MAYDAY- We won't call a MAYDAY unless it too late. People are reluctant to call because they will be tagged a sissy. I would reather be called a sissy than a statistic in a LODD. If you think your lost or having trouble call the MAYDAY.
Crews need to stay together inside a structure, make sure your on the proper radio channel, don't freelance, keep track of your air suppy, go home safe the next day.
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