Chapter 5: Safety and risk management

Question 1

Accident

Answer 1

A unplanned event that interrupts an activity and sometimes causes injury or damage; a chance occurrence arising from unknown causes; an unexpected happening due to carelessness, ignorance, and the like.

Question 2

Hazard

Answer 2

Any arrangement of materials and heat sources that presents the potential for harm, such as personal injury or ignition of combustibles.

Question 3

Health and safety officer

Answer 3

The member of the fire department assigned and authorized by the fire chief as the manager of the safety and health program.

Question 4

Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)

Answer 4

Any condition that would do one or more of the following: (1) pose an immediate or delayed threat to life, (2) cause irreversible adverse health effects, or (3) interfere with an individuals ability to escape unaided from a hazardous environment.

Question 5

Incident Action Plan

Answer 5

The objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy, tactics, risk management, and member safety that are developed by the incident commander. Incident action plans are updated throughout the incident.

Question 6

Incident command system (ICS)

Answer 6

A system that defines the roles and responsibilities to be assumed by personnel and the operating procedures to be used in the management and direction of emergency operations; also referred to as incident management system (IMS)

Question 7

Incident Safety Officer

Answer 7

An individual appointed to respond to or assigned at an incident scene by the incident commander to perform the duties and responsibilities specified in NFPA 1521, standard for fire department safety officer.

Question 8

Incident Safety Plan

Answer 8

The strategies and tactics developed by the incident safety officer based on the incident commanders incident action plan and the type of incident encountered.

Question 9

Incident Scene Rehabilitation

Answer 9

The tactical level management unit that provides for medical evaluation, treatment, monitoring, fluid and food replenishment, mental rest, and relief from climate conditions of an incident.

Question 10

Operational Period

Answer 10

A term used in a written incident action plan identifying a period of time during a long-term incident that a specific incident action plan covers. For federally funded incidents, the operational period is 12 hours; local incidents may use operational periods of 8 hours.

Question 11

Personnel Accountability System

Answer 11

A method of tracking the identity, assignment, and location of fire fighters operating at an incident scene.

Question 12

Preincident plan

Answer 12

A written document resulting from the gathering of general and detailed data to be used by responding personnel for determining the resources and actions necessary to mitigate anticipated emergencies at a specific facility.

Question 13

Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC)

Answer 13

A dedicated crew of four firefighters who are assigned for rapid deployment to rescue lost or trapped members.

Question 14

Rehabilitation

Answer 14

The process of providing rest, rehydration, nourishment, and medical evaluation to members who are involved in extended of extreme incident scene operations.

Question 15

Risk-benefit analysis

Answer 15

A decision made by a responder based on a hazard and situation assessment that weights the risks likely to be taken against the benefits to be gained for taking those risks.

Question 16

Risk management

Answer 16

Identification and analysis of exposure to hazards, selection of appropriate risk management techniques too handle exposure, implementation of chosen techniques, and monitoring of results to the health and safety members.

Question 17

Safety Unit

Answer 17

A member or members assigned to assist the incident safety officer; the tactical level management unit that can be composed of the incident safety officer alone or with additional assistant safety officers assigned to assist in providing the level of safety supervision for the magnitude of the incident and the associated hazards.

Question 18

Safety responsibilities of the fire officer include…

Answer 18

Identifying hazards and mitigating dangerous conditions, identify and correct behaviors that could lead to firefighters injury or death, and set a good example of safe practices.

Question 19

Everyone goes home program was developed by

Answer 19

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to prevent line of duty death and injury.

Question 20

Key recommendation developed by the NFFF during the firefighter life safety summits

Answer 20

• Work in teams at emergencies.
• Fire officers must maintain accountability
• Every company must operate within the parameters of the incident action plan.
• Reliable 2-way radio communications must be maintained
• Adequate back-up lines must be in place to ensure safe egress.
• Rapid intervention crews must be established.
• Air supplies must be monitored, firefighters must leave IDLH environments when low air alarm sounds.
• All firefighters must watch for indications of building collapse.

Question 21

NFPA’s firefighters fatalities in the US noted the leading cause of line of duty death.

Answer 21

2011, heart attacks are the leading cause of death for firefighters, accounting for 41 percent of all LODD from 2007-2011. The NFFF noted that a disproportionate number of firefighters older than 49 die of cardiac arrest while on duty.

Question 22

Firefighter’s regular physical exams

Answer 22

Should be scheduled for as long as the firefighter is engaged in performing emergency duties, with an emphasis on identifying risk factors that could lead to a heart attack under stressful conditions.

Question 23

Ways to reduce the risk of fatal heart attack

Answer 23

• Lifestyle can often reduce the risk of a fatal heart attack
• Physical fitness
• stopping smoking
• lowering high blood pressure
• lowering cholesterol level
• maintaining a healthy weight
• managing diabetes

Question 24

What accounts for the largest percentage of traumatic firefighter deaths?

Answer 24

Motor vehicle collisions, almost 40 percent died in their personal vehicles, more than 3/4 who died were not wearing a seat belt. Excessive speed given road conditions and operator error are frequently cited as causes of these fatal collisions.

Question 25

Driver minimum qualifications are established in

Answer 25

NFPA 1002, Standard for fire apparatus driver/operator professional qualifications.
NFPA 1451, Standard for a fire and emergency services vehicle operations training program.
NFPA 1500, Standard on fire department occupational safety and health program.

Question 26

Requiring firefighters to wear seat belts

Answer 26

A simple requirement that could prevent 8 to 12 fatalities every year, many of the firefighters killed in MVA’s are thrown from the vehicle.

Question 27

The primary factors that cause death while operating in burning buildings.

Answer 27

Asphyxia and burns followed by trauma.

Question 28

The importance of maintaining crew integrity

Answer 28

82 percent of the fatal fire suppression incidents tallied in the report involved the death of a single firefighter. Many of these firefighters became lost and disoriented, and died before the IC was aware that a firefighter needed help.

Question 29

OSHA and NFPA 1500 established specific requirements for FF operating in an IDLH environment. This 2 in 2 out rule includes the following.

Answer 29

• A designated officer in charge
• 2 FF who enter an IDLH environment together stay in visual or voice contact at all times.
• 2 properly equipped and trained FF must:
  Be positioned outside the IDLH environment
  Account for the interior team
  Remain capable of rescue of the interior team

Question 30

What is the rated air consumption time based on?

Answer 30

The rated time is based on a standard consumption rate for an individual at rest and does not reflect typical experience in firefighting operations.

Question 31

The minimum size of an interior work team

Answer 31

Two firefighters

Question 32

The fire officer maintains situational awareness by

Answer 32

staying oriented, making observations, providing and receiving regular updates with in ICS, listening to fire ground communications, and continually performing risk-benefit analysis.

Question 33

General knowledge requirements for an effective incident safety officer

Answer 33

• Safety and health hazards involved in emergency operations
• Building construction
• Local fire dept PAR
• Incident scene rehabilitation.

Question 34

During extended operations

Answer 34

A relief rotation can be established to ensure that safety supervision is maintained at all times.

Question 35

How many firefighter injuries occur compared to LODD

Answer 35

For every one FF LODD, there are nearly 1000 FF injuries.

Question 36

Principles that should be implemented to prevent FF injuries.

Answer 36

• Physical fitness
• PPE
• Fire station safety
• Clothing
• Housekeeping
• Lifting techniques

Question 37

The six components of an infection control program

Answer 37

1) A written policy with the goal of identifying and limiting exposures
2) A written risk management plan to identify risks and control measures
3) Annual training and education in infection control
4) A designated infection control officer
5) Access to appropriate immunizations for employees
6) Instructions for handling exposure incidents.

Question 38

The most important first step with any exposure

Answer 38

to wash the exposed area immediately and thoroughly with soap and running water.

Question 39

After an exposure

Answer 39

The fire department infection control officer should be immediately notified after the incident has occurred.

Question 40

At a minimum exposure reporting forms should include

Answer 40

• A description of how the exposure occurred
• Mode of transmission
• Entry point
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Medical follow-up and treatment

Question 41

An accident investigation normally consists of three phases.

Answer 41

1. Identification and collection of physical evidence
2. Interviews with witnesses
3. Written documentation (at the end of an investigation)