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Following the presentation and discussion of information, conference participants met in working groups to formulate recommendations. The working group recommendations were shared with the conference participants. Following discussion, the working groups finalized their recommendations.
Recommendations were formulated in the areas of Care, Training, and Information.
Provide a higher level of care in fire camp:
Care Giver (Registered Nurse, Physician’s Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) to fit local jurisdiction or state practice. Develop protocols to provide treatments (i.e., upper respiratory infection, poison oak, hydration, etc.). Consider ability to prescribe medications, administer injections, suture.
Injury, illness analysis process:
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Safety and Health Working Team (SHWT) should summarize up-to-date fire fatality information, suggest a new means of distributing that information, and verify that the information is being received. The target group is ground level with an emphasis on nonfederal agencies (e.g., volunteers and rural fire departments).
Using the distribution process indicated above, the SHWT should develop an information packet of publications and materials annually and distribute the packet throughout the wildland fire community, with an emphasis on nonfederal agencies. Packet contents could include information on NWCG standards; personal protective equipment; incident command system organization/qualification; health and fitness; fire training courses; illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. The SHWT should review the packet annually and be responsible for distribution of the packet as indicated above.
To minimize accidents and capture information on potential hazards and near misses, a reporting system such as the SafeNet Program (currently scheduled to be beta tested in the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region (6) should be developed.
The group examined job requirements and related issues that affect firefighter safety and health. The following issues were brought forward by the group.
The workgroup recognizes numerous issues related to assignment requirements including assignment length, rest and relaxation (R&R), assignment flexibility, shift length, work/rest ratios, availability/participation.
These issues can be divided into two groups:
Group 1 issues include assignment length, rest and relaxation, shift length, and work/rest ratios. These issues are probably best handled through research.
The following specific issues should be addressed:
Group 2 issues include assignment flexibility and availability/participation. Long assignment requirements and other issues create barriers to many who would otherwise participate in fire suppression activities. Family and work demands affect safety directly by creating stress and indirectly by preventing people, often those with considerable experience, from accepting fire assignments.
This workgroup recommends that the following issues be examined:
a) Barriers that prevent people from taking part in fire activities. How can we chip away at these barriers to induce more people to take part? (Examples: stress on marriages, stress from leaving children for long periods, line officers who are reluctant to allow employees to leave home units).
b) Alternative approaches for assignment length.
c) Cost and logistics of flexibility (pro and con, e.g., travel costs may rise, but managers may see more experienced workers, experienced workers require less training, there is less fatigue if more people are taking part, employees may be happier, etc.)
Problem: Need to raise Type II crew standards. Is this done by changing Type II requirements, or adding more crew types so Type II performance is more consistent?
Recommendations: Task IOS (Incident Operations Standards) Team to improve Type II Standards. Examine experience levels, qualifications and equipment requirements.
Problem: The way in which driving regulations are interpreted and applied during emergency situations is inconsistent between agencies.
Recommendation: This group recommends that a national standard be established for all agencies. The FFAST (Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team) group is believed to be addressing this issue.
Problem: Maintaining fitness among full-time fire employees, returning seasonal employees, and nonfire employees who take part in fire suppression activities (militia).
Recommendation: Agencies should require mandatory participation in fitness programs at a minimum for seasonal and full-time fire employees. Questions arose regarding the ability to require participation by nonfire employees and the ability to pay for health club memberships for temporary employees.
Problem: Quality of contract resources is inconsistent.
Recommendation: Emphasize need to follow set policy
in contract
administration.
Problem: Current fitness standards do not address existing medical problems that may lead to injury.
Recommendation: Support medical standards relative to incident management positions and encourage ongoing efforts regarding medical screening.
Problem: Question arose regarding the need to certify Work Capacity Test Administrators.
Recommendations: Wait for recommendations from Work Capacity Test investigations.
Problem: The work group recognizes that some full-time fire managers lack adequate fire qualifications.
Recommendations: The group supports the Interagency Fire Program Qualifications Task Group and suggests that States also identify their own Program Management Qualifications.
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