Working to prevent line of duty deaths, injuries and illnesses to North Carolina firefighters

              	

	

HAZARD
Cherie Berry, Commissioner of Labor
1-800-625-2267 w www.nclabor.com
Hazards Firefighters Face
The hazards firefighters face are incredibly dangerous, particularly
while on scene. There is an element of unpredictability with the nature
of the call (even with adequate size-up by incident command) and then
the conditions either get worse or improve, but never stay the same.
While the general public is aware of typical firefighting hazards—
heat, flame, smoke—there may be a lack of awareness of the hazards that
firefighters face as a result of this dynamic work environment. Deteriorating
fire conditions can lead to a severe and sudden decrease in visibility and
a sharp increase in heat. The intensity can cause the firefighter to become
disoriented and unable to concentrate and communicate effectively,
resulting in the firefighter getting lost and potentially running out of air
before rescue. There are also threats of structural collapse and falls
through roofs and floors because the increased heat and flame weaken
the structure.
Perhaps less obvious hazards firefighters face while on duty are those
such as working roadside next to high speed traffic and distracted drivers
(as well as struck by hazards working around the fire apparatus itself),
structural instability of older abandoned buildings, and hidden hazards as
a result of structures that have been renovated and expanded. There are also
modern-day hazards such as those created by green energy (for example,
electrical hazards from working on hybrid/electric vehicles and ventilating
a roof on a structure with solar panels). Structural firefighting hazards are
also increased by modern-day lightweight construction and increased
fuel loads.
Being a firefighter today means more than just fighting a fire and
extricating people from motor vehicle accidents. It is also rescuing people
from trenches, confined spaces, swift water, embankments, towers and
collapsed structures. Firefighters respond to medical emergencies, law
enforcement activity, and hazardous material spills and leaks. It is an
honorable occupation, but a high stressed and highly hazardous one.
Line of Duty Death (LODD)
Although the U.S. Fire Administration fire fatality and injury data
show that most cardiac arrest cases are caused by stress/overexertion, cardiac
arrest can also occur from inhaling hot smoke and gas. This was the
case with a recent line of duty death on July 28, 2011, in Asheville. The
fire department responded to a four-alarm structure fire at a five-story
commercial building with 60-plus firefighters on scene. The crew was
initially assigned to search and clear the floors of occupants. Later the
assignment moved to mounting an interior fire attack. Officials said the
victim went into cardiac arrest after suffering from exposure to heat and
smoke. A fellow firefighter put in a valiant rescue effort and sustained
smoke inhalation injuries himself.
Early news articles alluded to the standpipe problems and locked
doors being contributing factors in the cause of death. However, upon
investigation by NCDOL, the evidence suggests that while these factors
could have reduced the amount of time to extinguish the fire, they were
not the direct cause of death.
This line of duty death, like the majority of fatalities incurred while
operating at a structure fire, cannot be attributed to one or even two
causal factors. The incident commander effectively managed the scene,
especially considering the magnitude of this fire, and the resulting dual
operation (when the mission changed to include the mayday rescue
along with continued fire suppression). The personnel accountability
reporting system seemed to be well managed, and a rapid intervention
team (RIT) was established and responded accordingly.
Recommendations for Prevention
While OSHA standards are in place to protect the safety and health of
America’s workers and are enforced by NCDOL in North Carolina, protection
of firefighters must go beyond the OSHA standards. The fatality described
above was not due to any violations of the OSHA standards. However,
this does not preclude fire departments from working to improve safety
during on-scene operations and training evolutions.
There are many recommendations reflecting the multiple factors
identified as possible contributing causes to the line of duty deaths and
injuries. The following recommendations are not all-inclusive, but have
been identified as contributing factors in recent incidents.
Air Management (managing the amount of air left in the
SCBA cylinder)
Firefighters and officers are in a continuous risk vs. benefit evaluation.
Firefighters by nature push themselves to produce maximum benefits
while treading as close as possible to the threshold between moderate
and high risk. The constant analysis of risk vs. benefit is second nature to
most firefighters, but becomes more of a deliberate decision when trying
to determine how much longer to stay once the low air alarm activates.
Occupational Safety and Health Division
1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1101
Working to Prevent Line of Duty Deaths, Injuries and Illnesses
to North Carolina Firefighters
SCBA’s connected for buddy breathing.
Residential firefighting.
Most firefighters will make a quick calculation on how long they can
stay and fight, or how many more rooms they can search, based on factors
like their distance to the exit, the conditions in which they are operating,
and the benefit obtained by staying.
Some situations where the decision to leave might be pushed back
are the conditions are improving, the firefighter is in the middle of a rescue,
or is helping a downed firefighter (a mayday situation), or they are thinking
knock down can be achieved in quick order. Some situations where the
decision to leave might be accelerated are rapidly deteriorating conditions
and a fire attack that is having little effect (both of which are universal
indicators of danger that require a change in tactics).
The difference between a firefighter’s survival and a line of duty death
is the accuracy of that calculation made when the low air alarm first activates.
On that one day where conditions deteriorate rapidly, an extra minute
or two of air can get the firefighter home at the end of the shift.
Fire operations need to ensure their firefighters and officers are
trained on managing their air supply.
When to Call Mayday
Believe it or not, this is a hard call to make. There is a fear of calling
mayday too soon and when not needed. Firefighters will wait until the
last minute to make this call (or may not make it at all). Waiting to the last
minute is too late. Even if a RIT has been established and is available for as-signment,
it will take some time for the rescuers to reach the mayday
caller. Departments should develop operating procedures for when and
how to initiate emergency radio traffic, and firefighters and officers
need to train on mayday calling and responding. The culture of the fire
department needs to change to encourage and support the firefighters
in calling mayday earlier.
Other recommendations and requirements
f Training on buddy breathing is essential in helping a fellow firefighter
survive in a low air or no air situation. It is also vital to train with mutual
aid departments if they use air packs from a different manufacturer.
f Communication is always a big hurdle to manage on the fire ground.
It can be especially difficult for the incident commander to hear
all the radio traffic on a multiple alarm event.
An extra set of “ears” standing by the incident commander is
a good idea, along with an “interior set of ears.” (With all the
noise and activity on scene, the interior crews may miss
transmissions.)
Status updates must be communicated to the incident com-mander
and to other interior crews (which may be best
accomplished by face-to-face communications in addition
to radio communications).
The fire department should have guidelines for proper radio
etiquette and standard operating procedures to address fire
ground reporting requirements. For example, the personnel
accountability reporting system (“calling PAR”) is more than
just checking the numbers (it is not just a roll call), it is also a
status report—checking for and responding to problems as well.
Ensure the RIT assignments and responsibilities are specific,
and be prepared to expand the RIT response at larger scale events.
The radios must be in good working order (no mechanical/
technical issues), so that the communication equipment does
not cause interference or a loss in transmission itself.
f Ventilation management: Know when and where to ventilate based
on exterior conditions, such as wind direction, and interior conditions
(fire location and status). This ties back into communication as well.
Improper ventilation can lead to a line of duty death.
f Remember the basics: Refer back to the International Fire Service
Training Association’s Essentials of Firefighting, training received
in the academy or rookie school, and Firefighter I/II classes. For
example, if using a fog nozzle and there is a problem getting water
to the line through a standpipe system, try flushing the nozzle. Also,
if possible, hooking into a standpipe on the floor below the fire
floor and then flaking out extra hose to the floor above the fire floor.
f Keep up with current technology and methods such as using a fold
for high-rise packs that allows for quicker and easier deployment.
A pack that’s easier to deploy will be easier to flake out, reducing
the possibility of kinking and knotting of the line.
f Develop and implement departmental policies that incorporate the
basics and reflect current methods, technologies, and leading rec-ommendations
such as a policy on elevator use in midrise and
high-rise buildings.
f Many of the LODDs from motor vehicle accidents are due to the
driver or riders not wearing seat belts. NFPA requires the driver and
all people riding in a fire apparatus to be seated and secured with
seat belts. Develop and implement an effective seat belt use policy.
Fire Administration
OSHA standards and other applicable consensus standards such as
the NFPA require the employer to develop, maintain and implement a
variety of safety and health programs.
The standard most frequently cited as serious in North Carolina for
fire departments is the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134.
This standard requires a written respiratory protection program, fit testing,
medical evaluations, training, respirator inspections and maintenance,
etc. (The “two in/two out” rule of the Respiratory Protection Standard
would be handled by fire operations.)
Other standards frequently cited as serious (note that there are many
other standards applicable to the fire protection industry):
29 CFR 1910.120, HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response Standard), particularly with procedures for handling
the emergency response (the incident command system). Fire operations
and fire administration will both have a hand in meeting these requirements.
29 CFR 1910, Subpart S, Electrical, especially 1910.304 and 1910.305,
wiring design, methods and equipment for general use (use of flexible
cords and cables, etc.) These hazards are typically found in the station.
29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, particularly a
lack of an exposure control plan.
29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication Standard, particularly a
lack of a written hazard communication program and improperly labeled
or unlabeled hazardous chemicals. These hazards are typically found
in the station.
Help for Employers
For more information concerning education, training and
interpretations of occupational safety and health standards contact:
Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau
Fourth Floor, Old Revenue Building, Raleigh, N.C.
Telephone: 919-807-2875, Fax: 919-807-2876
For more information concerning
occupational safety and health consultative services contact:
Consultative Services Bureau
Third Floor, Old Revenue Building, Raleigh, N.C.
Telephone: 919-807-2899, Fax: 919-807-2902
Mailing Address:
1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1101
www.nclabor.com v1-800-625-2267
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Heads up display and air supply gauge.