CHAPTER 2 - FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND HEALTH Flashcards
Chronic.
Long term and reoccurring.
Acute.
Sharp or severe; having a rapid onset and shorter duration.
Hazard.
Condition, substance, or device that can directly cause injury or loss; the source of a risk.
Mitigate.
To make less harsh or intense; to alleviate.
Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH).
Description of any atmosphere that poses an immediate hazard to life or produces immediate, irreversible, debilitating effects on health.
Stressor.
Any agent, condition, or experience that causes stress.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Program to help employees and their families with work or personal problems.
Risk Management Plan.
Written plan that analyzes the exposure to hazards, implements appropriate risk management techniques, and establishes criteria for monitoring their effectiveness.
Rehabilitation (rehab).
Allowing firefighters to rest, rehydrate, and recover during an incident.
Standard of care.
Level of care that all persons should receive; care that does not meet the standard is considered inadequate.
Situational awareness.
Perception of the surrounding environment, and the ability to anticipate future events.
Baffle.
Intermediate partial bulkhead that reduces the surge effect in a partially loaded liquid tank.
Training evolution.
Operation of fire and emergency services training covering one or several aspects of firefighting. Also known as practical training evolution.
Crowd control.
Limiting the access of nonemergency personnel to the emergency scene.
Collapse zone.
Area believe the wall in which the wall is likely to land if it loses structural integrity.
Being trapped in a structure fire is the leading cause of firefighter fatalities. True or false?
False – the leading cause of death was stress or overexertion.
Acute and chronic are the two main classifications for illnesses. True or false?
True.
It is not possible to prevent respiratory disease as a firefighter. True or false?
False – They can be avoided by wearing proper respiratory protective equipment.
Prescription drugs will not impair a firefighters ability to operate equipment safely. True or false?
False – they impair abilities and slow reaction time.
Member assistance and wellness programs focus on job performance only. True or false?
False – They assist in both personal and professional matters.
Supervisors are given access to information gathered by the employee assistance program. True or false?
False – assistance information is confidential.
There are some hazards a driver/operator cannot control while responding to an emergency scene. True or false?
True.
A firefighter is never allowed to stand on a moving apparatus. True or false?
False – the only exception is while loading hose as the apparatus moves slowly forward.
Preventative maintenance, like keeping aisles unobstructed, can help prevent injuries at fire stations. True or false?
True.
Personnel must be fully clothed for any activity that simulates emergency scene conditions. True or false?
True.
Firefighter safety at an emergency incident depends on maintaining situational awareness. True or false?
True.
A firefighter will never need to perform crowd control. True or false?
False – in some cases it is a firefighters responsibility.
Personal accountability systems assist in keeping track of firefighters to save lives and prevent injuries. True or false?
True.
Who pays for possible Worker’s Compensation, but does not need to replace off duty personnel?
Volunteer department.
Who needs to replace off duty personnel, as well as pay for possible worker’s compensation?
Career department.
Who suffers physical pain and emotional stress?
Individual firefighter.
What is the distance the apparatus travels from when the driver/operator realizes the need to stop and until the driver/operator’s foot touches the brake pedal?
Driver reaction distance.
What is the sum of driver reaction distance and braking distance?
Total stopping distance.
What is the distance the apparatus travels from when the driver/operator touches the brake pedal until the vehicle is completely stopped?
Braking distance.
What is the system that uses radio based tracking attached to PPE called?
Computer-based electronics accountability systems.
What is the system that uses passports attached to a control board called?
Passport system.
What is the system that uses information maintained by an accountability officer to track entry and expected exit times called?
SCBA tag system.
What can result from the physical and emotional stress built overtime while responding to emergency incidents?
Stress induced hypertension.
Which NFPA standard outlines safety and health program related policies?
NFPA 1500.
What nonemergency issue must a safety and health program address?
Alcohol abuse.
Emergency operations are limited to:
Those that can be safely conducted by personnel on scene.
What is the goal of a critical incident stress management program?
To assist members involved in highly stressful events.
What organizations regulations are designed to ensure workplaces are free from hazard that cause death or serious injury?
OSHA
Which program works to prevent human suffering as well as damage to equipment?
Safety and health program.
Firefighters can best maintain personal health by doing what?
Adopting a healthy lifestyle.
What is the best way to help avoid and combat skids?
Test breaks at low speed on slick roads.
What type of tool should be used in potentially flammable atmospheres?
Intrinsically safe tools.
What part of firefighter safety requires regular inspection of tools and restocking of supplies?
Preparedness.
What type of zone takes into account type of construction, other exposures, and the safest location for apparatus and personnel?
Collapse zone.
What steps can firefighters take to prevent exposure related diseases?
Always wear PPE, protective clothing, and respiratory protection. Use body substance isolation methods to treat all patients. Get vaccinated as well.
Explain the basic concept that supports risk management.
Risk a lot to save a lot.
Risk a little to save a little.
Risk nothing to save nothing.
What topics does NFPA 1500 to cover regarding firefighter safety and health?
The basic concept of NFPA 1500 is to promote safety throughout the fire service.
Federal OSHA regulations apply to what specific groups of firefighters?
OSHA regulations apply only to federal and private sector employees.
The risk management model developed by the Phoenix fire department is focused on behaviors that support a safety first mindset. True or false?
True
Effective safety and health programs depend only on participation from department administrators. True or false?
False
Firefighters should never stand on or in a moving apparatus, no exceptions. True or false?
False
One way to help minimize risk at an emergency scene is to work individually as each firefighter sees fit. True or false?
False
Occupational safety and health administration regulations relate to:
Federal and private sector employees who fight fires
What typically causes back injuries and strains associated with fire stations and facilities?
Improper lifting.
What is the best way to practice safety with tools and equipment?
Select the appropriate tool for the job
When is a collapse zone established?
When a defensive strategy is adopted
Which personnel accountability systems require the accountability officer to record an expected exit time?
SCBA system
