Risk Management Course review
Risk Management • RM refers to activities that involve • Evaluation or comparison of risk • Developing approaches that change probability or consequence of a harmful action • RM control measures include • Administrative • Engineering • PPE
Risk Management • Two dimensions of Risk • How likely an event will occur • How severe will the consequence be • Four major categories of loss • Personnel • Property • Down time • Liability
Risk Management • Five steps in RM • Identify risk exposure • Evaluate risk potential • Rank and prioritize risks • Determine and implement controls • Evaluate and revise as needed
Risk Management • Factors in determining control actions • Predicted effect • Time required and Time to results • Effort required • Associated and Insurance costs • Expense funding • Cost-benefit • Mandated
Risk Management • Legal liability important in RM the FD can be held responsible in many instances • Physical injury or fatality • Damage to property • Damage to environment • Negative economic impact • Damage to individual reputation
Risk Management • RM is the responsibility of • Chiefs • Officers • Firefighters • Medics • Public officials who oversee the FD • Non sworn staff • All levels are responsible!
Risk Management • Effective IMS ensures • Compliance with standards • Efficiency in mitigation • Most importantly ensures safety in operations
Risk Management • Safety Officer at incidents should begin a size-up by doing a 360 to look for • Problems • Hazards • Inconsistent observations • Factors that could relate to safety
Risk Management • Risk Benefit and structures • Unoccupied • Vacant • Abandoned • Remember (Gordon Graham) • “If its predictable Its preventable”
Risk Management • Unacceptable Risks • Fully involved structures • Obvious recovery situations • Fire in explosive containers • Others? • Consistent approach to safety; DO • The right things • Them at the right time • Insure they are done correctly
Risk Management • Accountability checks done when • Evacuation is complete • When strategy is switched • A mayday is reported • Reaching a benchmark • Every 10 min per NFPA
Risk Management • Incident Commanders most important trait when making decisions • Quickly recognize danger and evaluate information “situational awareness” • Company officer responsibility • Observe/evaluate – monitor exposure level – control FFs – keep IC informed
Risk Management • Risk management always involves a balancing between • Probability • What is the likelihood it could happen? • Consequence • How bad could it be?
Risk Management • Statistics over the past 30 years • FF Fatalities are down but the death rate per 100K fires is the about the same • FF Injuries are down but the injury rate per 1K fires is about the same • About 1.2 % of FF injury from vehicle incidents but there are more than 20 million responses per year • Tanker and POVs are significant problems
Risk Management • FDSOA • Major accredited safety organization via the Pro Board AKA (National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications) • NFPA has specific safety requirements for FO certification • OSFM does also
Risk Management • NFPA standards relate to many safety issues • 1500 over arching • IMS, infection control, fitness, physicals and MD info, incident safety officer and safety and health officer, PPE, Risk Mgt., and so on
Risk Management • RM Plan development four steps • See pg 85 • RM is specifically addressed in 1500 • RM is the responsibility of everyone • Risk Tolerance see pg 84
Risk Management • FD “safety officer” • Acts as incident safety officer • Manages and monitors safety programs • Responsible for record keeping • Usually involved in training • Performs safety audits • Works with administration on overall risk management program
Risk Management • Case histories • Help provide lessons • Point out deficiencies • i.e. Rand report • Accountability • Size-up • Resource management • Risk management
Risk Management • Case history continued • Help make recommendations • Rand/NIOSH (WTC – Pent. – Oakl. City • Better PPE • Training and info on PPE • Availability of proper PPE (like APRs) • Uniform training, good maint. Use SOPS • Technology transfer can help
Risk Management • Major incidents reviewed • Keokuk Iowa chapter 10 • Marks Mississippi chapter 11 • Worcester Mass. chapter 12
Risk Management • Injury investigation goals • Identify; deficiencies in SOP or policy, any actions that contributed • Make corrective recommendations • Investigations include • Secure scene, seize evidence, document and examine evidence, ID witnesses and interview, develop time line, review records, research as needed, get advise, report
Risk Management • Medical qualifications and fitness • Determining medical qualification is not a legal authority of the chief • Medical documentation from proper MD • Based on specific AHJ requirements not NFPA • Good legal advice is encouraged • Wellness initiatives • Local • National IAFF and IFCA
Risk Management • NFPA 1500 (a great source of info) • Overarching standards touches virtually everything the FD does • Came about 20 yrs ago 1987 • Are consensus in nature (but have weight) • Are a good resource to AHJs for training programs, equipment & rigs, developing SOPs • Have useful annexes (*) for RM plans, references other NFPA standards, work sheets
