Risk Management as we use it today
refers to programs that help us evaluate what we do and how we do it. We put in
to place certain control measures in order for us to operate within particular
safety parameters. These parameters help to insure that we injure and kill less
people while working. We use controls, the first of which is “administrative” controls, which consists of
standard operating guidelines or procedures, training requirements, safe
practices, rules regulations, fire code compliance inspections, industry
standards and best practices. The “engineering” controls build in what we need
to reduce risk and increase safety. Some examples of these are apparatus
design, building construction (codes), thermal imaging, and active and passive
fire protection systems. The third is “personal protection” which comes in the
form of PPE and is the one we more closely relate to, however is the last item
in the process. We must realize however that if the administrative and
engineering controls are in place, the need for PPE lessens. As a simple
example, take a commercial building fire. If in fact the codes were strictly
adhered to when built and the building is outfitted with active and passive
fire protection systems, and a good inspection program insures compliance, the
fire will be contained to the area of origin by the sprinklers and fire walls
and fire doors, and we’re looking at an easy mop up and go home type of job. A
failure however in these systems whether mechanical in nature on an active fire
protection system, or a breach of passive fire protection (a hole in a fire
wall) could lead to unsafe conditions and firefighter injury or death. Back to
basic fire prevention and protection principles!
While knowing that firefighting is
inherently risky work and our people are often thrust into situations that are considered
“high risk,” having a good risk management plan or program and to know where
the lines must be drawn, is critical to the longevity and survival of our
people in the field. We as chiefs need to reaffirm when the risk is not worth
taking (vacant buildings) and when circumstances allow us to take some risk in
the interest of saving another human life. The controls as noted above along
with good solid training and experience permits us to take calculated risks
with good outcomes. A very small percentage of American FF LODD’s happen due to
unforeseen circumstances. It is key that we start looking at a process by which
we can evaluate and define risk so we can reduce injury and death on the job
and that process is fairly simple:
Ø Identify what risks are inherent in
firefighting, rescue, hazmat, EMS and the other things we do; perform a risk
analysis
Ø Evaluate the risks in terms of how
often and how bad the consequences could be; what can happen and at what intervals
Ø Control the risks through a good
risk management program using an APE-Administrative, PPE and Engineering controls
Risk management has been a concept
that has been in and around public service and private industry for a very long
time. It should be regarded as a “system” more than anything else. Looking at
the above noted process of identifying, evaluating and controlling risk, we need
to use this system so we can minimize
risk. Analyses have been performed of the tasks of fire fighting and the
associated risks too many times to list, and they still show most of these
risks are avoidable. If in fact fire departments use the three phase process as
noted above and they are successful, then it’s probable that they are measuring
their success rates by their ability to enforce their Risk Management Program
(RMP). We also understand that we wield a two edge sword. We know when we
arrive too late at an occupied structure fire (we are always late no matter
what), we know we may not be able to make a difference in saving lives or
property. However with that in mind, we may also tend to drive too fast, run
controlled intersections against signals and may cause death and injury to
ourselves and others, the very thing we’re trying to preserve. It’s hard to
strike a balance but if this was easy, anyone could do it. Risk management
takes patience, understanding, training and the ability to analyze and decipher
where and when we’ll take chances. In fire service organizations, risk
management has to occur at every level however it starts at the top and on the
fire ground, with the Incident Commander and has to trickle down to the company
officers and the line firefighters, the last two being the most vulnerable to
the risks at hand.
The expectation of the American people
who depend on the emergency services, is that we will show up in a timely
manner and cure their headaches, whether it’s a fire, oil burner emergency,
heart attack or a gasoline tanker laying on its side. Although the public
expects their firefighters to “lay it all on the line,” they don’t necessarily
accept the fact that we get injured or killed for no good apparent reason. May
ordinary citizens have often questioned our tactics when firefighters are
killed or badly injured in a vacant building for example. Yes, even the lay
person knows that an empty abandoned building is not worth the risk. Chief
Ronny Coleman of California said that based on the above noted factors, “we’re the
most qualified group of individuals to go into a dangerous situation and come
out alive.” He’s right.
Good luck, stay well and stay safe.
Ronnie K
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