Safety to our firefighters……What Happened?Lee ShafferAsst Chief of Special OperationsKirtland AFB, NM

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS May 2003, during time

trials for FAA inspection, a P-23 goes into dirt, does a 180, and almost rolls

Fire Chief told young airman “Put the pedal to the metal and don’t stop until you get to Fox-3”

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS Aug 04, while

responding to a smell of smoke, basket of 102’ aerial hits roll up door.

Driver failed to ensure door was fully raised, could not see door

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS Aug 09, during a wild

land fire response, driver of 5000 gal tanker was backing vehicle when vehicle slid off road into ditch

Vehicle totaled because of bent frame

Driver failed to ask for assistance or get out and check area

EQUIPMENT DAMAGE

Mar 08, door and window of P-19 damaged due to gust of high winds

Passenger failed to close door

EQUIPMENT DAMAGE Feb 08, while pulling vehicle out, radio fell

off of front bumper of R-3 and was crushed Feb 10, while pulling vehicle out during

morning check out, ran over and destroyed two saws

Mar 10, during morning check out, driver pulling out vehicle when MSA mask falls and is crushed by vehicle

Driver’s failed to secure equipment

INJURIES May 08, during a fast moving wild land fire,

4 members received 1st and 2nd degree burns

Members failed to wear PPE properly Crew chief failed to take proper survey of

situation

INJURIES Oct 09, passenger receives head

laceration when P-19 drives over dip in the road

Failure to wear seat belt

WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN? All incidents just mentioned and will be

discussed happened at Kirtland AFB over several years

Had a very serious incident happened

May introduce incidents from other jurisdictions

GAME RULES During this presentation, think of incidents

that happened at your department, what was the investigation result, what was the outcome, and please share

Please hold all questions and comments until the end, may answer your question

Overview Kirtland AFB, who are we Incidents at Kirtland AFB The “SCBA SCARE” Lessons Learned What are we doing as Chiefs and FF

KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT Kirtland AFB is located in the southeast

quadrant of Albuquerque, N.M., adjacent to the International Airport

Response area covers approximately 53,000 acres; third largest base in the AFMC command.

KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT Response area includes the airport in which

we have a joint use agreement with the city Average 158,000 landing and takeoffs Average over 5,888,000 passengers in and

out of the airport Commercial, cargo, and general aviation

aircraft to include Eclipse International

KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT With 5 fire stations, we protect on average

over 30,000 people, 1800 homes, two elementary schools, three day cares, several laboratories & research centers, a dozen dormitories, many aircraft, and a complex maintenance facility.

We average about 2500 to 3000 emergencies annually.

KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT Employees 108 personnel

88 shift personnel working 48/72,48/72, 48/48 in a two week period

9 administrative personnel working a 60 hour work week and are shift qualified

2 fire inspectors and 1 logistics person8 dispatchers working 12 hour shiftAll personnel are IFSAC certified to their

assigned position

KIRTLAND AFB FIRE DEPT Structural Vehicles

3 pumpers1 102’ aerial3 water tankers; 1 5000 gal and 2 2000 gal

Crash2 P-23 CFR, 3300 gal of water, 500 gal foam3 P-19 CFR, 1000 gal of water, 130 gal foam

SupportHazmat/IC, hazmat response trailers

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS 2005 – 2009 34 incidents

7 Backing accidents – failure to use spotter3 Emergency response – failure to maintain

control and clearance16 Vehicle movements – failure to maintain

clearance, striking building/stalls, inexperience8 Nature/accident – winds, rocks, accident

avoidance, equipment failure

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS 2010 5 incidents

2 Backing accidents – failure to use spotter1 Emergency response – failure to maintain

control and clearance…new driver1 Vehicle movements – failure to maintain

clearance1 Nature/accident –accident avoidance

EQUIPMENT DAMAGE 2005 – 2009 9 incidents

3 Emergency response – failure to secure equipment, failure to close compartments

1 Vehicle movement – failure to ensure clear path of travel…radio crushed

1 Training – damage to building from equipment4 Equipment – failure to maintain control…radio

dropped through hole while fighting fire14 PPE – contaminated with fuel from tanker roll

over

EQUIPMENT DAMAGE 2010 4 incidents

3 Vehicle movements – 1 MSA mask crushed, 1 radio crushed, and 2 saw damaged….failure to ensure clear path of travel

1 SCBA incident – failure to maintain control, catastrophic event

INJURIES 2005 – 2009 108 injuries

22 FD training – 1 failure to wear PPE properly, 3 dismounting vehicle wrong, 4 improper lifting

18 Emergency response – 8 failure to wear PPE, 1 fell off truck while getting out

31 Sport – 9 improper lifting, 5 improper warm up37 Other – 16 improper lifting, 5 slipping or

tripping, 1 ladder not secure, 1 failure to wear ladder belt falling from aerial, a bunch of not paying attention

INJURIES 2010 5 injuries

3 FD training – 1 improper lifting1 Emergency response – 1 improper lifting1 Sport – 1 improper lifting1 Other – 1 improper lifting

MEDICALS 2005 – 2009 9 medicals

2 insect bites2 lightening strikes – fire station was not

properly grounded2 anxiety – stress4 heart attacks – stress, improper diet,

smoking, over weight; one individual has had 2 heart attacks in a three year period

MEDICALS 2010 0

COST and TIME LOST2005 – 2009Incidents

Incident Type Time Lost Light Duty Cost

34 Vehicle 87 days 0 $45,000

9 Equipment 0 0 $78,000

108 Injuries 453 days 638 days ?

9 Medical 185 days 147 days ?

2010 Incidents

Incident Type Time Lost Light Duty Cost

5 Vehicle 0 days 0 $1,000

4 Equipment 0 0 $7,000

5 Injuries 14 days 155 days ?

0 Medical 0 0 0

SCBA SCARE Jan 2010 During morning check

out, individual was checking reserve air bottles assigned to R-4

Individual took air bottle out of holder to replace another bottle

SCBA SCARE Bottle slips out of

hands and strikes rim of right rear wheel cracking head

Bottle starts spinning around

People start running for cover

SCBA SCARE Head of SCBA

completely releases causing catastrophic failure resulting in “Pin Ball Wizard” action.

Air bottle takes off striking several objects resulting in several thousands of dollars of damage

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

SCBA SCARE

AFTER ACTION Each Assistant Chief ordered to look at

their perspective area’sRecordsCausesCorrective actionsNFPA, OSHA, and AFI updatesContact peers from other bases and

departmentsThink outside of the box

AFTER ACTION Requested assistance from wing safety

and vehicle maintenanceLooked at all equipment, vehicle reports,

work orders, and inspectionsLooked at all station inspections and work

ordersAssisted in Safety Down Day inspectionsReport findings…this was not a hit nor a

write up because we requested assistance

AFTER ACTION Safety Down Day

Each station inspected for safety violationsAll vehicles inspected inside and outAll equipment inspected for defectsAll personnel received safety briefings from the

use of PPE, lifting techniques, to driving GOV and POV to include motorcycle and ATV riding

FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT Fire Chief? Chief Officers? Company Officers? Firefighters?

Kirtland AFB was second highest in the Air Force for injuries and accidents

FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT PPE violations – failure to wear PPE for 4

burn injuries, 2 chemical exposures, and 2 body fluid exposuresWhere were the buddy/safety checks

Driving accidents – backing incidents, driving into stall doors, buildings….Where were the spotters

FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT Equipment damage – running over saws,

radio, mask, tools falling out of compartmentsWhere was the walk around by operator/crewWhy was the equipment placed in path of travel

Injuries/Medicals – lifting injuries, heart attacks, jumping off vehicles

FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT Chief Officers –

Failure to enforce safety standards and policiesLack of supervision to include disciplinary

actionsNot up to date with current issuesPaper work not filled out properlyStaying in the office

FAULT – WHO IS AT FAULT Company Officers –

Failure to follow/enforce safety standards and policies

Lack of leadership skills – these are my friends

Firefighters – Failure to follow/enforce safety standards and

policies

FAULT - WHOSE IS IT Fault is with ALL personnel

SAFETY is the RESPONSIBILITY of EVERYONE, from the fire chief to the firefighter

FINDINGS Safety forms (KAFB Form 300), and CA

forms not filled out Lack of situation awareness Lack of enforcement from all parties Laziness

CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS Panel of peers

Consisted of Deputy Fire Chief, 2 Asst. Chief, 2 Bat Chief, 4 Lt’s, and 8 firefighters○ Asst. Chief, Bat Chief 2 Lt’s, and 4 firefighters

must be off duty at time of incident○ All incidents will be looked at; depending the

nature, those incidents will be investigated○ Good idea and had the support by most

bargaining unit members, but union shot it down

CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS Light installed on aerial doors

Green for door is up, red for door is down Spotters to ensure doors are up

Any time vehicle moves – in/out 2 spotters for back up Ensure all compartments and doors are

closed before movementsOperator and crew chief must walk around

vehicle to secure vehicle equipment

CORRECTIVE ACTION-INCIDENTS Hold all personnel responsible

Before – incidents were swept under carpetDepending on nature of incident, two off duty chief

officer’s and/or outside agency will investigateDisciplinary action and/or paying for damages

may be enforced All reports must be turned in with in 24 hours

of incident Major accidents or supervisors discretion -

driver’s will be drug tested

CORRECTIVE ACTION-INJURIES Personnel trained to be personal trainers Hold all personnel responsible for buddy

checks and safety Proper lifting techniques Be aware of surrounding areas Pick up and watch out for all tripping hazards Wipe up all spills

CORRECTIVE ACTION-MEDICAL Personnel trained to be personal trainers Request assistance from HAWK

Smoking cessationCholesterol screeningNutrition counseling

OUTCOME After Jan, through Feb – Aug 2010 3 Vehicles accidents, one was an

accident compared to average of 7 per year

Equipment, lost two saws and a mask Injuries are way down No medical incidents…yet

ANY QUESTIONS?

BE SAFE…GO HOME THE WAY YOU CAME TO WORK…HUG YOUR FAMILY…ENJOY RETIREMENT…

THANK YOU AND SEE YOU IN ALBUQUERQUE…