Note: This narrative was edited to remove all Human Resource issues from the Safenet.
Umpqua North Complex – Umpqua NF – Oregon – Safety Officer Type 2 (SOF2) assignment – August 25-30, 2017
August 25, 2017 –I was assigned as SOF2 with a Line EMT for two 20-person Hand Crews (mixed) that came with respective Crew Representatives (CREP). There were four Crews total with an Interagency Resource Representative (IARR). The first day was orientation and setting up tents, etc. and then brushing a road for a firing operation. August 26 About 1100, the Line EMT advised me about an ill Crewmember (CM). His fellow CM’s had advised the Line EMT (“on the down low”) - “you may want to consider alcohol or drug withdrawals.” The Line EMT told me that “this has the possibility for serious medical complications.” Several fellow CM’s also shared this same guidance with the Task Force Leader (TFLD), “on the down low.” I advised our Division Supervisor (DIVS) of this CM safety issue, and then shared it with IMT Safety. IMT Safety, aware of the issue, agreed: “this has been a common problem.”
Our Complex experienced continual daily moderate to heavy inversions resulting in dulled senses and foggy thinking due to the unrelenting carbon monoxide exposure on the firelines and in some of the Spike Camps.
August 27-28 – The CM was still incoherent. CREP advised me that the CM was not a workable member of the Crew and gives him a 1400 Trigger Point to improve. After no CM improvement, they demob the ill CM based on Line EMT and CREP recommendations. I advised DIVS R and IMT Safety of the demob. I engage in daily interactions with IMT Operations overhead (various OPS, Branch Directors, some DIVS) regarding leadership and PPE, discussions, reminders, reasons why, Red Book, etc. In addition, double standards were noted regarding adjoining forces when Safety Officers on other Divisions were failing to set a good example by not complying with basic safety rules, e.g. sleeves rolled up, no hardhats, not correcting and/or discussing safety issues with WF on the Divisions they are responsible for. While IMT Safety was on a day off, IMT Alternate Safety Officer filled in. A post-shift meeting with IMT Safety and Deputy IC brought up “issues” with the Crew.
August 30 (about 1300) Firing operations were likely to take place in Divisions S, R, and P proceeding from the top DIV S), through DIV R, and then down (DIV P). I proceeded to a Drop Point at the DIV S / R border to discuss our ‘Into Thin Air’ choke point issues with common Escape Routes, etc. DIVS was busy multitasking, talking to a TFLD, talking on her cell phone, and dealing with a contact lens that fell out, in and out of her truck without her hardhat. I walked up to her sitting on the driver’s side and introduce myself as DIV R Safety Officer, exchange names, and shook her hand while doing so. I reminded her about wearing her hardhat when out of her vehicle due to hazard trees and setting the example as overhead per The Red Book.
My goal as a SOF2 with a strong operational background, has always been to be proactive and recognize patterns, mishaps, and the like to prevent serious accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities rather than to be reactive, and deal with incidents after-the-fact. I will reference established research on Human Error, Safety, accident avoidance, conclusions and findings next and how it relates to this Incident.
There were similar experiences on two other fires this year. A Type 1 IMT Safety Officer told me that he wanted me as the SOF2 to “play nice” and after my clarification question on that statement, he requested that I was “not to write any tickets,” i.e. not to be the ‘sleeve police.’ On the Fire, the incoming Type 2 IMT Safety Officers on Transition Day, arrived on the fireline at our Drop-Point in their truck without wearing fire shirts. I informed them that on our Division we wear fire shirts on the fireline and asked them why they were not wearing fire shirts. The Trainee explained that his was ‘Dragon’s Fur’ and was Nomex. I asked the IMT Safety, where his fire shirt was and he looked at me like ‘who the **** do you think you are?’ I asked him again and he looked at me the same way. I explained to them that this Double Standard on PPE made it very difficult to get WF to comply with basic safety rules when the IMT overhead have a different standard. |
