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Indiana Confined space incident.
Im sure most of you have been reading about how the fire department is being fined for inadequacy by OSHA because of lack of training. How do your departments handle confined space rescues, do you have all the proper training and equipment on your rigs or do you have specialised teams that come out to assist you with it.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charles Dusha on
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I hate to sound like a hard-a__, but with 35 years experience in emergency services, many of which have been involved with special operations (hazmat, tech rescue of all kinds, and EMS), I have seen way too many situations where inadequately trained responders (not just firefighters, EMS and LE are in the same boat) have gotten into situations way beyond their capabilities and ended up with injured or dead responders. Last week's incident in NY state is the most recent incident that comes to mind. If it is going to take OSHA fining Fire Departments for not responding appropriately, then maybe that is what needs to be done. I have been involved in training at all levels for the past 25 years, and have argued extensively that training for these types of situations is absolutely vital for our safety. The Federal Regulations in 29 CFR are there to protect workers, to create a safe work environment, and to ensure that employers train and equip their employees to deal with the hazards involved in the workplace. Gone are the days (or at least they should be) when we, as emergency responders, state that danger is the nature of our job and we just have to live (or die) with it. We need to do everything we can to protect ourselves, our co-workers, and our loved ones from those hazards. The emergency, whether it is fire, a hazardous chemical, a trip hazard, our health, does not care whether we are career paid firefighters or volunteers, or any combination thereof. The hazards will treat us all the same way - THEY WILL TRY TO KILL US! If you think you don't have the time to train because you are a volunteer, I suggest you find someplace else to volunteer your time where the inherent risk is not so great. And if you think you don't need to train because you are a seasoned veteran with 20 years of time on the job, think again, because the times, they are a changin', and if you don't keep up, you will get left behind.
If departments would understand that the rules are there to protect them, maybe we would have a few less of these incidents. Off my soap box, sorry if seemed like I was ranting. Train safe, work safe, go home to your loved ones at the end of your shift.
Charlie D.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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Charlie I too instruct and let me add this. When you respond to an incident you do so as a team and until enough manpower and eqiupment arrives, you stage and observe. It doesn't take much training to demonstrate this. It is probably the first principle you learn. The problem is getting it to stick when the adrenylin flows.
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