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SAFENET

Wildland Fire Safety & Health Reporting Network

SAFENET Event Information

Create Agency Response

SAFENET ID:

7HD3YFSAFE        [Corrective Actions]

Event Start Date:

08/02/2008 1200

Event Stop Date:

 

Incident Name:

IRON COMPLEX

Fire Number:

 

State:

California

Jurisdiction:

USFS

Local Unit:

Incident Type:

Wildland

Incident Activity:

Line, Transport to/from

Stage of Incident:

Extended Attack, Mop Up, Other

Position Title:

Sof2 - Div C And D 

Task:

Line Construction, Hotline, Firing, Holding, Mop-Up. Field Briefings And Debriefings 

Management Level:

2

Resources Involved:

Overhead And All Resources 

Contributing Factors

Contributing Factors:

Fire Behavior, Communications, Environmental, Human Factors, Other

Human Factors:

Decision Making, Leadership, Risk Assessment, Performance, Situational Awareness  

Other Factors:

Setting the example - being a leader 

Narrative

Describe in detail what happened including the concern or potential issue, the environment (weather, terrain, fire behavior, etc), and the resulting health issue.

On August 2, 2008, SOF2 mentioned to IMT SOF2 that it would make all the Safety Officers'(SOFR and SOF2) jobs much easier if the IMT had a policy that required everyone ON THE FIRELINE to wear a hardhat once stepping from their vehicle. It was acknowledged as a good idea, especially since we were on a fire plagued by injuries and such, and one that daily and nightly had gravity issues with rolling materials from burnouts. SOF2 mentioned that the Overhead (DIVS), including Task Force Leaders and Single Resource Bosses, were the worst offenders for NOT wearing their hardhats on the firelines. Division C required hardhats once out of the vehicle and had good compliance even with occasional reminders to visitors. Div C, to the best of my knowledge, was the ONLY Division to be accident and injury free. The IMT had one of its many meetings that day (August 2nd) and the hardhat issue was discussed. According to the IMT SOF2, it was unbelievably a contentious topic of debate. According to the IMT SOF2, the IC and several others felt that overhead should not have to wear their hardhats on the fireline, for example, if they were merely going to discuss something such as a map. On August 3, 2008, the Day Shift IAP Safety Message reads: "Fireline Hazards: ... Wear your PPE. ..." So, was this message for everyone? After the August 3rd briefing, the multitude of SOFR's and SOF2's discussed the IMT's attitude toward safety regarding the hardhat issue. We were informed that there would be no IMT hardhat policy requiring personnel to wear them on the firelines once out of their vehicles.

Immediate Action Taken

Reporting Individual : please describe actions you took to correct or mitigate the unsafe/unhealthful event.

Establish a REQUIREMENT that ALL fireline personnel wear their hardhats once they exit their vehicles - EVERYTIME. Safety is the outcome of following proper procedure. It takes 21-days to begin or stop a new habit - get started. Gordon Graham - "What's predictable is preventable." Be a leader and set the example for your Resources. Do things because it's the right (and safe) thing to do - not because the Safety Officer is there. Put your hardhat in the cab with you, so it's right there, as a constant reminder. See above narrative.

Agency Response

7JC4GYSAFE
7J76EWSAFE

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