The Fire and EMS Department Safety Officer [Hardcover]

Gordon M. Sachs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0130139173 | ISBN-13: 978-0130139177 | Edition: 1st

For courses in Fire Service Supervision, Fire Service Management and Incident Operations. This text addresses the characteristics, roles, and responsibilities of the Safety Officer in a fire and/or EMS department from the two primary aspects of the position-operational and administrative. It provides an overview of applicable laws, regulations, and standards that affect the functions of a Safety Officer, and identifies other areas of knowledge, skills, and abilities that a competent Safety Officer must have.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Preface

There is nothing more important than the life of an emergency responder. This person, dedicated to protecting the lives of strangers by putting themselves in harm's way, plays a critical role in society. Unfortunately, this role is often summed up after a tragedy, such as that which occurred on December 4, 1999, when six firefighters were killed in a fire in Worcester, Massachusetts:

"Today the sun didn't rise. It didn't rise because last night we lost six members
of our families. They were our brothers, our fathers, our sons, and our friends.
And they were our protectors. Yes, they were firefighters, but more importantly
they were members of our family and today our entire city grieves."
—Worcester Mayor Ray Mariano, the morning after the tragedy

". . . They were firefighters to the core, heroes already, as we have heard, to
their friends and loved ones, not to mention the people they saved through
the years. For all six, being a firefighter was more than a job, it was in their
blood. So when they went into that building that night, they were following
their dream to serve, to save lives, and to stick together.

"Like their fellow firefighters everywhere, they embodied the best of our
nation—of commitment and community, of teamwork and trust—values at
the core of our character; values reflected in the daily service not only of those
we lost, but in this awesome parade of men and women who have come from
all over our country and from some countries beyond our borders to honor
their comrades and console their families.

"Too often, we take them for granted, our firefighters. In the days ahead, I
hope every American will find an occasion to thank those in their communities
who stand ready every day to put their lives on the line when the alarm bell rings." —President Bill Clinton, at the memorial service in Worcester

How do we protect the emergency responder—firefighters and emergency medical personnel—while they face the risks associated with their jobs? By providing them with proper equipment, giving them proper training, developing comprehensive standard operating procedures or guidelines, and instilling a positive, safety-oriented attitude. Still, sometimes that's not enough.

Fire and EMS departments need to focus on safety and health at the station, in the apparatus, and at the incident scene. To do this, an individual—the safety officer—must be dedicated to the administrative and incident-related aspects of the emergency services. They must be an advocate of the responder, someone whose mission is to help keep the responders alive.

This book provides guidance for the individual serving in the role of fire or EMS department safety officer. This individual may be the department's health and safety officer, whose primary role is to look at safety from a program standpoint to prevent injuries, illnesses, exposures, and accidents involving emergency responders. Or, it might be a line officer appointed at an emergency scene to be the incident safety officer. This officer must understand and recognize safety cues and have the fortitude to identify unsafe conditions, operations, or acts and to take the appropriate measures to prevent harm to the operating crews.

This book is divided into three sections, plus a comprehensive set of appendices. Part 1 addresses general concepts and requirements, including an overview of the position of safety officer and information on laws, regulations, and standards affecting the position. The topic of record keeping and documentation is addressed in this section, as well. Part 2 addresses administrative aspects, keying on the role of the health and safety officer. The key topics in this section include risk management, health maintenance, and accident and injury investigation. Part 3 addresses operational aspects, including emergency incident risk management and operating at emergency incidents. Obviously, this section is important for anyone who may serve as incident safety officer. The appendices contain information and material that will be useful to a fire or EMS department safety officer. In addition to points-of-contact and synopses of laws, regulations, and standards that will be useful to any health and safety officer, there are forms and checklists for use at emergency incidents of all types by the incident safety officer.

It is important to note that the fire and EMS department safety officer is but one link—albeit a very important link—in the chain of safety. Each responder needs to look out for his or her own safety. Each officer must look out for the safety of their crew. Each battalion or division chief or division, group, or sector officer must look out for the safety of everyone assigned to or operating within their assigned area. Each fire or EMS chief or incident commander must look out for the safety of everyone in the department or operating at the incident. The safety officer, to put it succinctly, is an important part of this last link-the chief's risk manager, or the eyes and ears of the incident commander—in the chain that keeps emergency responders safe and healthy.

From the Back Cover

Gordon M. Sachs

The safety officer in a fire or EMS department has several roles and responsibilities, both operational and administrative. This book provides an overview of applicable laws, regulations, and standards that affect the functions of a safety officer, and identifies other areas of knowledge, skills, and abilities that a competent safety officer must have. Focusing on the "how to" aspects of the job, The Fire and EMS Department Safety Officer is the perfect reference for both students and working professionals alike.

FEATURES

• Presents a blend of theoretical and practical information to help the safety officer understand how to apply the concepts to real-world incidents.
• Complements National Fire Academy Health and Safety Courses.
• Appendices include an annotated list of laws, regulations, and standards; sample forms; the United States Fire Administration guidelines for Emergency Incident Rehabilitation; and Incident Safety officer checklists for structure fires, multi-casualty incidents, hazardous materials emergencies, and technical rescue incidents.

Other titles of interest:
Emergency Incident Rehabilitation by Edward T. Dickinson and Mike Weider (ISBN: 0-8359-5375-0)
Fire Service Personnel Management by Steven T. Edwards (ISBN: 0-13-012885-6)
Introduction to Fire Prevention, Fifth Edition by James C. Robertson (ISBN: 0-13-013916-5)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130139173
• ISBN-13: 978-0130139177
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,290,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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