Safety Can’t Wait Much Longer
DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S OPINION
We all know it. Whether by reading statistical data or by the slackening of activity in our profession, we know that, nationwide, structural fires are occurring less frequently than in the past.
What is not dwindling statistically, however, are the deaths suffered and the injuries sustained by our firefighters. As a matter of fact, the annual figures in these areas are remaining constant year after year.
A simple analysis of these figures will show you that the death and injury rate is escalating in proportion to the occasions of fire response. We all know the immediate cause relations: stress, heart disease, products of combustion, cancer, strains and sprains, cuts, etc.
What are masked over or obscured, however, are the indirect causes for deaths and injuries for which we can all be held accountable: attitude, training, education, faulty or inadequate equipment. These are the areas where we encounter most of our sorrowful experiences of fallen brother firefighters and/or ourselves.
But, the overbearing, all-responsible, indirect cause for the ever-increasing numbers of deaths and injuries seems to be policy and enforcement practices within entire departments. Fire service personnel should heighten the awareness of their departments, their families, and their community’s economic base to the effects of rising injury statistics. Fire service leaders should have the authority to carry out their safety as well as their firefighting responsibilities. They must be secure in their position to exercise their right to direct, to say no.
Recent strides have been made in the firefighter safety awareness effort: nationally by our unions, associations, and by the dynamic courses offered by the National Fire Academy; statewide, legislation has been enacted to place the firefighting communities directly under the minimum standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The paradox lies in the fact that, to date, only one-half of our 50 states have had the foresight to mandate this practice.
Recently, New York State’s Department of Labor has issued a safety directive to mandate departments, companies, and districts to maintain 15 hours of recorded safety training for each member before he is allowed to respond to emergency scenes. This safety training has a built-in followup of 8 hours of refresher training annually thereafter.
Many of you who I know personally will say, “You were one of the most unsafe b_that I know!” Well, through education and awareness I have executed my right to change my attitude. So can you.
Death and injury is not an indicator of aggressive firefighting. More often than not, it is an indicator of poor policy, ineffective leadership, and unsafe tactical procedures.
