Transcript Personal Vehicle Operations to Incidents

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation
and Prevention Program
A summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation
Death in the
line of duty…
May 18, 2000
Motor-Vehicle Incident Claims Life of
Volunteer Fire Fighter Who Was
Responding to Alarm - Ohio
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Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation
and Prevention Program
A summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation
Death in the
line of duty…
June 29, 2001
Junior Fire Fighter Killed While
Responding to Fire Alarm in
His POV - Pennsylvania
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Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation
and Prevention Program
A summary of a NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation
Death in the
line of duty…
June 10, 2002
Motor-Vehicle Incident Claims Life
of Volunteer Fire Fighter - Ohio
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Defensive Driving to Die For
Privately Owned Vehicle
Response Related Deaths
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Report Findings Related to
POV Response Related Deaths
“Only knowledge of the
problem and positive steps
taken in advance of the
response can stem this
alarming tide of firefighter
fatalities”
Fire Chief Staff
Online Exclusive October 9, 2003
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Motor Vehicle Collisions
• Since 1984, MVC accounted for
20-25% of FF deaths
– 27% fatalities were ejections
– 21% fatalities were wearing
seatbelts
U.S. Fire Administration
Fire Data
FF Fatality Retrospective Study 1990-2000
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Firefighters as Victims
6
4
Volunteer
Career
# of FF
2
0
Asphyx
Burns
Drowning
MVR
Non-MVR
NIOSH – FF Fatality Investigation and
Prevention Program Annual Report 2001
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8
2004
Statistics
107 FF died in the Line-of-Duty
7 FF deaths involved POV
“We Don’t Think It Will
Happen to Us”
• Responding to an incident in POV:
hit and killed motorist in another
vehicle
• Delhi Township, Holt, MI - Lt. brought
to trial and received 1 year in jail,
responsible restitution for funeral
fees to family and received 5 years
probation
Firehouse January 1997
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Response in
Privately Owned Vehicles
• Speed limits
• Going through traffic control
devices
• Passing in an unsafe manner
• Use of lights and sirens
POV ARE NOT
EMERGENCY
VEHICLES
lcfireservice.org
11
“Safer Response in POV”
• Carelessness or poor judgment can
reflect poorly on the fire department
• Response to structural fires in a
call/volunteer fire department
community
• Strategic plan for response
procedures
• Many questions need to be asked to
develop criteria
Fire Chief October 1995
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Legal Issues
• Personal insurance
• Local government insurance
• “Big L” - Liability – Criminal and Civil
VFIS News September 1994 and
FDSOA Health and Safety April 1995
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True Emergency
“A situation in which there is a high
probability of death or serious injury to
an individual or significant property
loss, and action by an emergency
vehicle operator may reduce the
seriousness of the situation.”
Department of Transportation
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Answer the following…
• How would you drive to the
following:
– Structure fire?
– Structure fire with persons trapped?
– Person choking?
– Child choking?
– Child in a swimming pool?
– Dog through the ice?
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Drive according to
road conditions,
not incident
conditions!
Windshield Photos
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Adopted by the IAFC’s board of
directors on Aug. 14 and unveiled at
Fire-Rescue International in Dallas in
August 2003, the alcohol use policy
bans alcohol drinking "by any
members of any fire or emergency
services agency/ organization at any
time when they may be called upon
to act or respond as a member of
those departments."
Basically, if someone has consumed
alcohol within the previous eight (8)
hours, or is still noticeably impaired
by alcohol consumed previous to the
eight (8) hours, they must voluntarily
remove themselves from the
activities and functions of the fire or
emergency services
agency/organization, including all
emergency operations and training.
No member of a fire & emergency
services agency/organization shall
participate in any aspect of the
organization and operation of the fire
or emergency agency/organization
under the influence of alcohol,
including but not limited to any fire
and emergency operations, firepolice, training, etc
All fire & emergency service
agencies/organizations should develop
written policies and have procedures in
place to support and enforce this policy
recommendation. Included in such a
policy should be provisions for blood
alcohol testing of any individuals
involved with any accident that causes
measurable damage to apparatus or
property or injury/death of
agency/organization personnel or
civilians.
US Department of Justice
Public Safety Officers
Death Benefit Statute
No benefits shall be paid if
the public safety officer
was voluntarily intoxicated
at the time of his death or
catastrophic injury
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Intoxication means a disturbance of
mental or physical faculties resulting
from the introduction of alcohol into
the body as evidenced by:
– A post-mortem blood alcohol level of .20
per centum or greater; or
– A post-mortem blood alcohol level or at
least .10 per centum but less than .20
unless the bureau receives convincing
evidence that the public safety officer was
not acting in an intoxicated manner
immediately prior to his death
NFPA 1710 and 1720
• Upon assembling of resources, safe
initial operations shall commence
within two minutes
• Initial attack shall be organized with
at least four members assembled
before starting interior operations
• Two FF shall work as a team
• Two In-Two Out
“Nothing regarding speed or time toward getting on scene”
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NFPA 1710 and 1720
• Health and Safety is paramount
• Imminent life safety/NFPA 1500
• Support activities to operations
– i.e. Rehab, Air Supply, Water Shuttle,
EMS, etc.
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Concerns
•
•
•
•
Safety
Liability
Public Opinion
Civil and Criminal Action
Fire Chief October 1995
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Remedies
• Understand and review Policies and
Procedures
• Attend driver training seminars
• Encourage the review of prior
accidents and establish policy review
and update
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Accountability
For the person
responding in their
privately owned
vehicle
For once you are
on scene
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“Tactical Sequence”
•
•
•
•
•
Receipt of alarm
Responding directly to scene in POV
Mental checklist
Approaching the scene
Size up including potential situation and
environmental hazards
• Staging area for POV
• Properly dressed in PPE and equipped
Fire Chief October 1995
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Ensure A Safer Response
• Drive with due care
• Slower means safer
• Listen and watch at
RR crossings
• Awareness of others
• Open window
• Park safely
• Park wisely
• Wear seatbelts
• Never operate vehicle
while fatigued
• Never operate vehicle
while intoxicated or on
medication
• Stop at all
intersections
Firehouse June 1998
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EVR Guidelines vs.
POV Guidelines
• Circle of Safety
• Warning Devices
and True
Emergencies
• Vehicle Control and
Right-of-Way
• Response Speeds
• Intersection
Practices
• Non-emergency
Response
• Ordinary Travel
Procedures
• Riding Policy
• Backing
• Response in Private
Owned Vehicles
lcfireservice.org
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Recommendation for Policy
“Develop, implement, and
enforce standard operating
procedures regarding the
safe operation of all
vehicles responding to a
fire alarm.”
NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty
June 10, 2002
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Recommendation for Policy
“Develop standard
operating procedures
as they relate to responding to or
returning from an alarm and monitor
their use in POV”
NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty
June 10, 2002
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Recommendation for Policy
“Provide defensive driver
training to all emergency
vehicle operators through
insurance carriers from
local community”
NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty
June 10, 2002
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Recommendation for Policy
“Ensure that
all drivers are
trained and
certified in
emergency
vehicle
operations.”
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Recommendation for Policy
“Ensure that firefighters observe
standard operating procedures
and state motor-vehicle codes for
safely driving and operating a
privately owned vehicle while
responding to a fire alarm.”
NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty
June 10, 2002
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Recommendation for Policy
“To encourage, promote and
support an emergency
vehicle operations
certification with recognized
safety standards and
thorough training and
education” NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty
June 10, 2002
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Recommendation for Policy
“Established written policies and
properly trained personnel are
important in enabling members to
respond promptly when called, yet
do so safely and legally.”
Fire Chief – November 1997
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Basic Requirements
• Time on the department (12 months)
• Complete a certification course in EVO
• Familiar with Policies, Procedures and
Fireground Tactics
• Successfully complete a practical
training evolution on a driving course
These are points for becoming Motor Pump Operators
that could be used while driving your POV.
Fire Chief October 1995
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Consequences
• Driver Training Program
• Certification for all drivers - AHJ
• Preemption system at all
intersections
• Drug and Alcohol Education Program
• Critical Incident Stress Management
Emergencyvehicleresponse.com
August 8, 2003
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Chapter 89 MGL
• 89:7 - Right of way of fire engines,
patrol vehicles and ambulances;
penalty
• 89:7A - Restrictions on use of ways
upon approach of emergency
vehicles
• 89:7B - Operation of emergency
vehicles
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Chapter 90 MGL
• 90:7E - Display of red or blue
lights on vehicles; permits;
revocation; violations
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“Just because it looks and sounds
like a duck, does not make it a duck”
• Driving with due regard
• Lights and sirens are covered in
what section of your state laws?
• Permission from fire chief or AHJ
Fire Chief - November 1997
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Quality and Enforcement
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Department Safety Officer responsibility
Quality Assurance System
Random Assessment of Compliance
All incidents (accidents) reported
Investigation follow through
Reports
Disciplinary actions
Alterations to policies and procedures
Fire Chief October 1995
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Drive as if
your life
depends on
it
IT DOES!
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