Ch. 3: Firefighters and the Fire Officer Flashcards
Fire officers should not complain about problems without proposing any solutions;
they need to think through problems and contribute to solutions.
Who is responsible for the fire department mission through the efforts of the firefighters under their command?
A supervising fire officer
Which three distinct roles did James O. Page divide the company officer’s duties into?
supervisor, commander, and trainer
Which role does the fire officer function as the official representative of the fire chief?
supervisor role
Which role is the fire officer expected to supervise the fire company in a manner consistent with the rules and regulations of the fire department?
supervisor
When operating at a scene of an emergency incident, the fire officer is expected to function as a ________ and to exercise strong direct supervision over the company members.
commander
Functioning as the initial ________ _________ on a major emergency is one of the higher-profile roles of a fire officer.
incident commander
Developing a ________ _________ is a key part of mastering the art of incident command.
command presence
To be a successful leader, the officer must convince others to follow by:
demonstrating the ability to take charge and make the right things happen.
Which role establishes the fire officer to have the responsibility of making sure the firefighters under their command are confident and competent in their skills?
trainer
What are the three activities that are necessary to ensure a good working relationship with a supervisor?
- Keep your supervisor informed.
- Make appropriate decisions at your level of responsibility.
- Consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or policy changes.
What refers to the complex system of inherent attributes that determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions, including the quality of being honest?
integrity
The fire officer should “walk the talk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he/she says are important.
The fire officer should “walk the talk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he/she says are important
What is the fire officer demonstrating when they make decisions and models behavior consistent with the department’s core values, mission statement, and value statements?
ethical behavior
What means the workforce should reflect the community it serves as it is applied to fire departments?
diversity
What are employee behaviors that require an immediate corrective action by the supervisor?
actionable items
Describe the fire officer’s basic tasks.
- Managing the work within the unit
- Most prominent is leading a team into challenging emergency situations.
- Much of the workday is routine daily activities
Much of the workday is routine daily activities related to:
- Routine administrative activities for work group
- Assigned equipment
- The physical facility
The fire officer is expected to ensure work unit will be prepared to function effectively & efficiently as needed by:
- Managing personnel
- Resources
- Programs
Most important tasks you want a new officer to do well:
- Beginning of shift Report: (Most important)
- Notification: “no surprise rule”. (Second most important)
- Decision making: the third & fourth issue, (Problem Solving) are of equal importance.
- Problem solving: officers shouldn’t complain about a problem without a solution.
Describe a typical fire station workday.
The starting point is a schedule that ensures all required tasks are completed in a logical order. The fire officer must anticipate that emergencies incidents will alter the work-day & require adjustments
List 4 tasks a new officer should do well in order of importance.
- The Beginning of Shift Report
- Notifications
- & 4. Decision Making = Problem Solving
When should the fire officer give the Beginning of shift report to his chief?
This report is provided within the first quarter hour of the report time. It can be electronic, paper, or verbal.
When should the fire officer submit the morning report?
Within 15 minutes of the start of the shift
What should be in the Beginning of Shift Report?
- The report provides the on-duty staffing info, sick leave, and identify any positions needed to be filled for the shift.
- Also notes location and condition of apparatus.
- Finally provides the chief with any “must know” info, needing immediate attention.
- Some report include anticipated staffing for next shift.
What is NOT included in the morning report?
Anticipated daily activities
What is the “no surprise rule”?
Any info the chief need to know about when it is current, particularly before someone at a higher level calls to ask.
When bringing up a problem what else should the officer propose?
The officer should propose a solution. The most valuable proposal would consider the larger picture on how the solution would affect the rest of the department.
Where do the monthly goals show up for the fire officer?
The monthly goals show up as a planned activities on the fire company daily planner.
How many time does in a fire fighter’s career dose he have major changes?
There are four times:
- Completion of Probationary training.
- Completes promotional process & works as a company commander.
- Advances to and works as a chief fire officer.
- When he retires.
What was NOT identified as a time in one’s career when a change in the relationship to the fire department organizational structure occurs?
Promotion to driver/operator
Does wearing an officer’s badge affect any actions or responses?
Wearing the fire officer badge enhances the effect and consequences of any action or response.
Promotion to chief causes what change in the relationship to the fire dept. and members?
- A command officer has less hands-on role.
- Typically is responsible for several fire companies.
- Usually works outside hazard area & is responsible for whatever happens inside.
What are the 3 roles James O. Page divides the officer’s duties into:
The Company officer’s duties are divided into:
- Supervisor
- Commander:
- Trainer
What are unpopular orders & directives?
Even if the officer disagrees with the particular directive, the dept. requires & expects officer to carry out the directives.
Where can an employee initially file a sexual harassment complaint?
With the: fire department, local government, or federal government.
The compony level officer is responsible for ______________, ______________, and ________ of a crew of firefighters:
- Supervision
- Performance
- Safety
What are the 3 things the company level duties are divided into?
- Supervisor: functions as the official representative of the fire chief.
- Commander: operating at the emergency scene, exercising strong direct supervision over the company members.
- Trainer: makes sure the fire fighters under his leadership are confident and competent in their skills.
What makes an officer a successful leader?
To be a successful leader, the officer must convince others to follow by demonstrating the ability to take charge and make the right things happen.
What is a skill set that an officer must have well-developed?
The ability to bring order out of the chaos of an emergency incident is an art that requirers a well-developed skill set.
What is a key part of mastering the art of incident command?
-Developing a command presence, (defined as; the ability of an officer to project an image of being in control of the situation).
A fire officer who is going to establish command upon arrival at an emergency scene should have a detailed knowledge of:
- Responding units
- Mastery of the local procedures
- Ability to issue clear direct orders
A strong command presence does what to the team of firefighter who are aggressive, action-oriented people that can be obsessive?
Focuses the efforts of this action-oriented team in a constructive direction.
Functioning as the initial incident commander, of a major emergency a fire officer arriving on scene needs to be:
The officer needs to be clear, calm and concise in the initial radio transmissions.
What is command presence?
It is the ability of an officer to project an image of being in control of the situation.
In the book, Effective Company Command, James O. Page’s duty as the trainer fire officer has which responsibilities?
- Making sure the fire fighter under his command are confident and competent in their skills.
- Responsible for the performance level of the fire company will perform at highest level possible.
What 3 specific recommendations does Page make to assist the fire officer in the task of developing the fire company’s competencies?
- Develop a personal training library
- Know the neighborhood
- Use problem-solving scenarios
Personal Library should have subjects matching which NFPA or curriculum?
- The subject tabs could match heading in NFPA 1001 from recruit curriculum or represent a personal list of important topics.
- Every time the officer attends a training event , the notes form that session are placed in the binder.
When should an officer use his personal training library?
When the officer is preparing to present a class that covers a specific topic, his personal training library is the first stop.
What does Leo D. Stapleton, retires fire commissioner who wrote, Thirty Years on the Line, advocate officers maintain?
Officers should maintain a personal journal where they record info about incidents they run and the issues they handled.
When is it the best time to make entires to the personal journal per Stapleton?
These entries should be made as soon as possible, while still vivid in the memory.
What does Page & Stapleton recommend officers to obtain?
In addition to storing info in a three-ring notebook or on a laptop. Officers should obtain personal copies of the textbooks & reference used for training firefighters & promotional exams.
What should the officer take pictures of during his walkthroughs?
Significant details
What are the aerial view especially valuable for?
Aerial photos are valuable for apartment complexes, business parks, and retail areas.
In knowing the neighborhood, what can maps and photos be used for?
- Used to locate access routes.
- Plan the placement of first-alarm apparatus.
- Identify exposure problems.
How would Page present facts-based situations and code to firefighters?
Instead of reading code regulations as training the fact-based situations and codes are used to solve problems.
In Page’s problem-solving scenarios techniques forced the fire fighters to:
- Identify the occupancy use group
- Identify the issues
- Look up applicable regulations
- Make decisions
What can the problem-solving techniques by Page useful for?
- Fire-ground hydraulics.
- Technical rescue scenarios.
- Incident management procedures.
- Pre-incident actions plans.
What are three activities necessary to ensure a good working relationships with his supervisor?
- Keep your supervisor informed.
- Make appropriate decisions at your level for responsibility.
- Consult with your supervisor before making major disciplinary actions or policy changes.
What are the symbols of power and authority given to a new supervisors?
Formal organizations provides new supervising officers with a badge, insignia and distinctive markings on the helmet a symbols of power & authority.
What can make an officer ineffective and damages department?
An unethical and corrupt officer.
What are attributes are inherent of integrity?
Integrity refers to the complex system of inherent attributes that determine a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions, including the quality of being honest.
What is the usual level of authority of a supervising and managing officer’s cover?
Fire station level activities such as;
- maintenance
- training
- community outreach
How should the officer demonstrate the proper and important behaviors?
The officer should “walk the walk” and demonstrate the behaviors that he or she says are important.
How do formal organizations publish their expectations?
Formal organizations publish their expectations as a code of ethics. code of conduct or a list of value statements.
How can integrity be demonstrated?
By a steadfast adherence to a moral code.
How does the officer demonstrate ethical behavior?
The officer demonstrate ethical behavior by making decisions consistent with the department’s core values, mission statement, and value statements.
What NFPA discusses the officer’s conduct?
The “Annex A: Explanatory Material” section of NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications.
Who enforces civil rights?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Which civil rights, federal laws originally was establish to enforce workplace equal employment that included state & local government, schools, colleges and union?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers state and local governments, schools, colleges and unions.
What does Diversity, as applies to fire departments mean?
The work force should reflect the community it serves.
What does an EEOC consent decree promise the courts from the fire departments?
It promises the courts that it will work to hire qualified individuals who reflect the community.
List the habits for an officer to keep himself in check by Stephen McClure.
- Stay real
- Be fair
- Do right
- Listen
- Teach
- Get feedback
- Lead by example
- Lead by example
- Be fast to praise; be slow to discipline.
- Don’t ask anyone to do anything you wouldn’t do.
What does Gravely recommend an officer focus on in reference to workplace diversity?
That a fire officer focus on actionable items and definition of a hostile workplace.
What could the failure to act on an unacceptable behavior be interpreted as?
Case law has shown unacceptable behavior requires immediate response. The failure to act on the officer’s part may be seen as officially condoning or encouraging the behavior.
What are employee behaviors that require immediate corrective action by the supervisor?
Actionable items
EEOC amended what guidelines in 1999?
The guidelines on sexual harassment. Adding that a “reasonable person” in same circumstance would find intimidating, hostile, or abusive.
What is the standard for evaluating sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwanted, uninvited, & unwelcome attention and intimacy in a nonreciprocal relationship.
EEOC guidelines states that verbal and physical conduct of sexual nature is harassment when the following conditions are present:
- Employee is made to feel that they half to endure the treatment to remain employed.
- Whether the employee submits to or rejects treatment is used when making employment decisions.
- The employee’s work performance is affected
- An intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment is present.
What can the term “hostile work environment” be used to describe?
A range of situations in which an employee is subject to discrimination in the workplace.
What’s a method of fostering the concept of on-duty speech or appropriate workplace behavior as in a non-hostile work environment?
- On method of fostering the concept of on-duty speech or appropriate workplace behavior is to have the firefighters develop their own set of rule to behaviors.
- Provide the source documents (fed, & municipal, codes & regulations), asking them to consider which words or behaviors they consider inappropriate at work.
What are 3 ways a firefighter can initiate a harassment complaint?
They have 3 methods: - Federal gov. - Local gov. or - Fire department.
