Fire Investigator Occupational
Safety & Health Programs
by
Michael L. Donahue
Introduction
The health and safety of investigators working at fire scenes is one of the most neglected areas of emphasis and training throughout the fire investigation community and few organizations consider it a priority. The chapter on safety in NFPA 921 – Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations and NFPA 1033, Standard on Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator contain only limited information concerning the health and safety risks associated with conducting fire investigations. These documents do not contain detailed information with respect to the applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations that pertain to fire investigators and the investigation of fires and explosions. Furthermore, they do not offer any specific guidance for organizations to develop adequate standard operating procedures (SOPs) or comprehensive occupational safety and health programs similar in scope to NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. In addition, the training programs, workshops and seminars sponsored by professional trade associations, educational institutions and state and local membership organizations seldom include presentations that adequately address occupational safety and health issues.
It is well documented that in many instances, fire scenes pose greater hazards to personnel from a toxicological standpoint after suppression activities are completed due to incomplete combustion and the liberation of extremely toxic substances. For example, after fire suppression operations are completed and a fire scene investigation is initiated, combustion gases and smoke, oxygen-deficient atmospheres, toxic or hazardous airborne dust concentrations, (some of which are potentially carcinogenic), may be present as a result of the disturbance of fire debris.
These conditions exist at virtually all fire scenes and investigators face serious injuries and/or illnesses unless proper respiratory protection devices are worn. Several studies of firefighter occupational safety and health hazards associated with fire scene overhaul operations conducted in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States since the early 1990’s, have documented that numerous toxic byproducts of combustion are usually present at all fire scenes, several of which are known or suspected human carcinogens, such as acrolein, acrylonitrile, benzene, formaldehyde, and vinyl chloride.
Safety and Health Issues
In recent years, numerous injuries, illnesses, and deaths associated with the investigation of fires have been documented. Many investigators have been diagnosed with disabling and debilitating injuries and chronic illnesses such as various cancers, that surfaced days, months, and years after investigations were concluded. Some occupational physicians believe that these conditions may result directly from fire scene exposures that occur while investigators are working at the scene. Some toxic chemicals present at fire scenes may not be detected by human senses since they may be colorless and odorless, and their toxic effects may not produce any immediate symptoms. Investigators may be inadvertently exposed to numerous hazards that may cause adverse health effects several months or years after exposure. Inhalation is the most common route of exposure that is of primary concern to investigators. The lungs are extremely vulnerable to physiological properties of chemical contaminants. The majority of these exposures and associated symptoms can be reduced or eliminated through the use of basic personal protective clothing such as turnout gear, helmet, boots, gloves, eye protection and appropriate respiratory protection equipment such as air purifying respirators (APRs).
Fire Scene Hazards
Fire scenes may present a number of hazards such as damaged structural members/falling debris, broken glass, nails or torn metal, holes in floors, exposed (“energized”) electrical wiring (underground, overhead and residential services, damaged electrical appliances or equipment (e.g., transformers, service panels, electric ranges, refrigerators, etc.), damaged natural gas/propane lines, high noise levels, loose flooring or steps, slippery surfaces, and protruding objects, “booby-traps” or secondary incendiary or explosive devices and atmospheric/toxicological hazards. Most atmospheric hazards are insidious and may be present for several hours and days after overhaul is completed. Investigators should always consider fire scene atmospheres to be hazardous until verified through appropriate monitoring techniques to be safe to enter with a minimum level of personal protective clothing and equipment. An organizational and individual commitment to safety dictates that investigators approach all fire scenes in a methodical and cautious manner. To the extent feasible, investigators should take ample time to stop, look and listen before they commit themselves to a course of action.
Fire Investigator Safety and Health Programs
The safety and health of fire investigators is an increasingly key issue for many organizations and is becoming a priority of many investigators. However, many public and private organizations have failed to adequately address this issue by modifying their standard operating procedures and training programs for investigating fires and explosions. In-service training programs, seminars, and conferences for investigators seldom address occupational safety and health training. Few available resources offer any specific guidance to assist organizations in developing the necessary policies, procedures, and training programs for investigators to comply with applicable federal, state, and local occupational safety and health requirements.
The key to compliance with occupational safety and health regulations and the foundation of an organization’s standard operating procedures, policies and employee training programs is a comprehensive written Safety and Health Program. There are several critical elements necessary for the development of an effective safety and health program for fire investigators. These elements have consistently proven successful in reducing the incidence of occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in other professions. These elements include:
1. Management Commitment and Employee Participation. Organizations must clearly state a policy on safe and healthful working conditions, so that all personnel with responsibilities at the scene of an incident understand the priority of safety and health protection in relation to other organizational values. A clearly articulated safety and health policy statement is the foundation of safety and health management. In an effective program, management regards the safety and health of investigators as a fundamental value of the organization and clearly demonstrates its commitment to safety and health protection. Employee involvement provides the means through which personnel develop and/or express their own commitment to safety and health protection, for themselves and for their fellow investigators.
2. Hazard and Risk Assessment. The identification of the potential hazards at a fire or explosion scene requires an active, on-going examination and analysis of work processes and working conditions. Because certain hazards may be difficult to recognize, effective examination and analysis must approach the work and working conditions from several perspectives. The recognition of hazards helps to identify the appropriate level of personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE). Identification at a site of those safety and health hazards that are recognized in its line of work is the general duty of the employer under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Successful employers will actively seek the benefit of the experience of others in their industry, through trade associations, equipment manufacturers and other information sources.
3. Hazard Prevention and Control. These are triggered by a determination that a potential hazard always exists. Hazards are prevented by the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) that outline effective engineering controls or the specific tasks to be performed in conjunction with appropriate employee training. Where it is not feasible to eliminate them, hazards must be controlled to prevent potential exposure. Once a hazard or potential hazard is identified, it must be eliminated or controlled in a timely manner prior to personnel entering the area. Established procedures to detect and correct potential safety and/or health hazards must be prepared prior to personnel participating in potentially hazardous activities and operations at the scene of an incident.
4. Safety and Health Training and Education. An effective training and education program addresses the safety and health responsibilities of all personnel. It is not necessary that elaborate or formal training programs solely related to safety and health be developed. Integrating consideration of safety and health protection into all organizational activities is the key to its effectiveness. Safety and health information and instruction are most effective when incorporated into other training concerning job performance requirements and job tasks on a regular basis. Education and training in safety and health protection is especially critical for employees who assume new duties. This fact is reflected by the disproportionately high injury rates among employees newly assigned to job tasks. Although some of these injuries may be attributable to other causes, a substantial number are directly related to inadequate knowledge of job hazards and safe work practices and a lack of training.
5. Long-Term Commitment. Management and employees must make a serious commitment to sustain the organization’s safety and health program and make it a key priority that is the foundation of the culture and mission of the organization. Without this level of commitment, the safety and health program is doomed for failure. Organizations should reach out and continually look for new and improved practices, methods and programs specifically tailored to the duties and responsibilities of investigators.
An effective Fire Investigator Safety and Health Program includes provisions for the systematic identification, evaluation, and prevention or control of general workplace hazards and less obvious hazards that may arise from foreseeable conditions. Although compliance with specific federal, state and local OSHA regulations is an important objective, an effective safety and health program goes beyond specific legal requirements to address all foreseeable employee safety and health hazards. It seeks to prevent injuries, illnesses, exposures and fatalities whether or not compliance is at issue. The extent to which the program is described in writing is less important then how effective it is in practice. However, as the scope and magnitude of an incident (or the complexity of a hazardous operation increases), the need for written guidance increases to ensure clear communication of safety policies, procedures, priorities and responsibilities. This process is essential for the safety and health of all personnel working at the scene of a fire or an explosion.
Ó2003 – Michael L. Donahue