Fire service operational safety

Risk Management Practices in the Fire Service January 2018

Improve department performance — Reduce risk

Risk Management Practices in the Fire Service contains recommended approaches to help your department manage organizational, operational and community risk. Throughout the manual, we address specific challenges involved in incorporating a “risk management approach” into the delivery of fire department services.

If you are a fire department leader, this guide will assist you in your efforts to improve organizational performance and to reduce the risks that your community, your department, and your members face virtually every day.

Focus areas include:

• Defining risk.
• Organizational risk management.
• Operational risk management.
• Managing information.
• Community risk reduction.

Mitigation of Occupational Violence to Firefighters and EMS Responders documents the causes of violence to firefighters and EMS responders. It explains the risk factors and presents opportunities to reduce or prevent violence.

Focus areas include:

• Characteristics of patients/perpetrators of violence.
• Estimates of violence.
• EMS responder risk factors.
• Psychosocial impact.
• Reporting/Under-reporting
• Inventory of best practices and intervention opportunities.

Project sponsors: International Association of Fire Fighters, Drexel University, and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service June 2016 provides a basic understanding of radio communications technology, including hardware, policies and procedures, and human resource issues.

Focus areas include:

• Digital and analog radio.
• Conventional radio systems.
• Direct communications.
• System design and portable radio selection and use.
• Interoperability.
• Radio spectrum licensing and the Federal Communications Commission.
• First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Project sponsors: International Association of Fire Fighters and the U.S. Fire Administration, supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology First Responder Group Office for Interoperability and Compatibility.

The report, National Safety Culture Change Initiative, highlights fire and emergency service cultural aspects that contribute to occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities. Despite improvements in personal protective equipment, apparatus safety devices, training, emphasis on health and wellness, and decreases in the number of fires, the rate of on-duty firefighter death and injury has remained relatively unchanged in the past four decades.

Focus areas include:

• Environmental factors.
• Health and wellness.
• Individual responsibility.
• Leadership.
• Recruiting.
• Seat belt usage.
• Situational awareness.
• Training.
• Vehicle operations.

Project sponsors: International Association of Fire Chiefs and the U.S. Fire Administration

When operating at an incident scene, it is critical that the physical and mental well-being of firefighters and other responders doesn’t deteriorate to the point where it affects safety. Emergency incident rehabilitation can prevent serious and life-threatening conditions – such as heat stroke and heart attacks – from occurring. It includes monitoring of vital signs, rehydration, nourishment and rest for responders between assignments.

Download our manual PDF 5.6 MB to learn more about the important topics related to emergency incident rehabilitation, including:

• Human physiology.
• Operational issues.
• Protective clothing.
• Technology.
• Tactical procedures.
• Weather issues.