IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System

Lessons Learned From www.firefighternearmiss.com

International Fire and EMS Safety Stand Down 2007

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Objectives

• Discuss early findings from reports submitted to www.firefighternearmiss.com.

• Review first hand accounts of near misses.

• Raise awareness of the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System among firefighters and other emergency service responders.

• Solicit input from the emergency services community on how a near-miss reporting system can be more responsive to their needs.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Injuries1996-2005

0100002000030000400005000060000700008000090000

100000

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Fireground Injuries

Total Injuries

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Perplexing Fact

Firefighter death and injury rate has been relatively stagnant for over 20 years despite improvements in PPE, technology, training and investigation reporting.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

• Better protection, aggressive tactics, lighter weight construction and improved handling capabilities of heavy apparatus are putting firefighters at greater risk.

• Non-fatal firefighter injuries and prevention efforts cost anywhere from $2.8 billion to $7.8 billion per year. (NIST Report on Consequences of Fire Fighter Injuries - 2005)

Reasons & Costs

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

300 Reasons to Study Near Misses

1 SeriousAccident

15 Major Accidents

300 Near Misses

15,000 Observed Worker Errors

11

Opportunity Opportunity to learnto learn

300300

Opportunities Opportunities to learnto learn

Based on H. W. Heinrich’s Pyramid of Injury (1930)

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

10,000 More Reasons

1

FatalityIndustrial Fatality

Pyramid10 Career

Ending Injuries

100 Recordable Injuries

1000 Minor Injuries

100,000 Hazardous Situations

10,000 Near Misses10,000 Near Misses

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Why Share Near-Miss Experiences?

• Capitalize on “kitchen table” learning tradition

• Value in mentoring

• Identify patterns ininjury-producing behaviors

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Near Miss/Close Call

• Your definition?

• Experienced one?

• What happened?

• Classify

– Life Threatening?

– Lost Time?

– Property Damage?

Photo Collage by Wayne Wiggans

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

www.firefighternearmiss.com

• Funded by U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.

• 1200+ reports to date.

• 48 states plus Canada are submitting reports.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Overview

• Voluntary• Confidential• Non-punitive• Secure• Web based• Free

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Program Goals

• Prevent injuries and protect firefighters’ lives

• Collect information/data

• Assist in formulating strategies to reduce firefighter injuries and fatalities

• Institutionalize concept that errors are an inherent part of human behavior

• Foster a safety-focused culture

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

All Hazards Reporting System

No statute of limitations on

reporting.

Reports reviewed and coded by fire service

professionals.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Definition of a Near Miss

• Unintentional, unsafe occurrence.

• Could have resulted in an injury, fatality or property damage.

• Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevents an injury, fatality or property damage.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

What is being donewith the collected information?

• Officers are using the reports in drills.

• Training academies are incorporating near-miss reports in building curriculum.

• Fire service associations and publications using reports as part of improved emphasis on member safety.

• Analysis beginning to determine if any patterns are evident that could lead to new/improved training techniques.

• “Equipment failures” are being documented and investigated to identify if failure is product failure or human error.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

In fire departments…

• Virginia Beach Company Level Training

• Prince William CountyRecruit School

• Fairfax CountySafety Officer

Officer Training• Los Angeles County Fire Department

Recruit School• Savannah Fire & Emergency Services

Company Officer Development School• McCall Fire Rescue (FL) Re-writing SOPs• Montgomery County Fire & Rescue (MD) Safety Officer Program

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

When Things Go Wrong . . .

How It Is Now . . . How It Should Be . . .You are humanYou are highly trained

and

If you did as trained, you would not make mistakes

Humans make mistakes

so

You weren’t careful enough

Let’s also explore why the system allowed, or failed to accommodate your mistake

so

You should be PUNISHED! Let’s IMPROVE THE SYSTEM!

and

so

and

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

Report of the Week

• Weekly email containing featured report & follow-up questions.

• Provides ready-made drill.

• 3,800 recipients

• 40,000+ forwards

• To receive a “Report of the Week” via e-mail, please e-mail nearmiss@iafc.org with the word “Subscribe-SD07” in the subject line.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

What can Near Miss do for you?

• Provide case studies to enhance learning at station level.

• Provide data to enhance curriculum development at regional academy.

• Serve as a research site for firefighters to use as a resource.

• De-stigmatize error.

• Improve safety and performance.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

What can you do forNear Miss?

• Endorse site for members to visit.

• Subscribe to ROTW.

• Add www.firefighternearmiss.com to favorites on personal and office computer.

• Add www.firefighternearmiss.com to department computers.

• Endorse the system as a valuable training tool.

• Encourage members to submit reports and use the system.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NVThis project is funded by a grant from the Department of

Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company provided start up funds to

launch the program.

The project is supported by Chief Billy Goldfeder of

FirefighterCloseCalls.com in mutual dedication for firefighter

safety and survival.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NVThe project is administered by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) in consultation with the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System Task Force. The project is endorsed by IAFC, International Association of Fire Fighters, the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section of the IAFC and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association.

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

If we continue on the current LODD/injury path, the fire service will

experience 1000 fatalities and 1,000,000 injuries in the next ten

years.

“If not now, when?

If not us, who?”

Trend

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

For more information

• Visit www.firefighternearmiss.com

– Read the FAQ section.

– Use the “Contact Us” on the Home Page

• Call the Near-Miss Office Project Managers

– Amy Hultman, 703-537-4848

– John Tippett, 703-537-4852

IAFF Instructor Development Conference October 1-4, 2006 Las Vegas, NV

QUESTIONS?