You may have read about the 4 NYC Fire Officers at companies in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx that are being docked pay and reassigned for failing to carry out building inspection duties. 2 Captains and 2 Lieutenants are reported to have failed to have their companies carry out three hours of weekly building inspections, as required by FDNY regs.
Fire inspections have become a high profile priority since 2 Firefighters died in the Line of Duty at the former Deutsche Bank building near Ground Zero in 2007. As you’ll remember, Firefighters Joseph Graffagnino, 33, of Ladder Company 5, and Robert Beddia, 53, of Engine Company 24 were killed in the Line of Duty while operating at that 7 alarm high-rise fire. They became trapped in maze-like conditions on the 14th floor of the building, which was undergoing demolition.
In the recent corrective action, instead of following the rules “by the book”, the Fire Officers and their crews left their firehouses late, returned early, or spent inspection time on other activities, such as meal shopping. The Fire Commissioner stated that inspections are critical and failure to perform them is a dereliction of duty — that he won’t tolerate.
A friend of mine has been an FDNY Officer for decades and has amongst the finest reputations at all levels within that job. From his integrity to his well documented performance and heroic actions at numerous fires, it doesn’t get much more honest, solid, stand up, honorable or incorruptible than this highly respected senior veteran Fire Officer. He knows the rules inside and out and is as model a fire officer as they come.
When this went down a few weeks ago, he called me and said “it could have been me” — what he meant was that most everyone at all levels did their inspections, but got “comfortable” from time to time. And sure, some more than others, but this had become nothing unusual and rarely did anyone, from top to bottom question it — it was “the way” it was done — but then came the tragic Deutsche Bank fire.
While he would be the first to tell you that they all should have done everything by the book, it was not the “always” way of operating and rarely questioned by anyone — at any level — so therefore, it became what was then the “standard”. That happens at every FD to every one of us. We have all gotten “comfortable”.
Years ago when we first started writing, we used the term “NTS” or “Non-Thinking Syndrome”. Sometimes we simply don’t think. Sometimes we get comfortable, all of us, it’s human nature. Like it or not, it happens and a very rare few are exempt. We sometimes get used to doing things a certain way, our officers don’t always “strictly” supervise or correct our actions, or simply nothing “happens” or goes wrong — so we keep doing it “that” way. Until something goes wrong.
Personally I’ve been a fire officer since the late 70’s and I am well aware that this can happen. It has happened to me many, many times and still can. But the times, as they say, are a change’n.
These days I think, be it gray hair or mid-life whatever, our (my) attitude must be an aggressive attempt to avoid NTS or getting comfortable. If all of us at all levels don’t respect the rules to be enforced as written, then the rules will became “frayed”. Then what happens over time is that the results can end in disaster — and also result in “scapegoat corrective action”, to “make an example” — because the system failed. And while initial and continuous training in any task we perform is critical, if we get that training, we need to follow through. Just do it, as they say. If we don’t get that training, we need to make sure those who are responsible to train us-know it. Loud and clear. Good training (and continuous training based upon policy, which is really “the play book”) helps us avoid NTS and keeps us from getting comfortable. It’s a nudge. A reminder on what we are expected to do and how we are expected to do it.
Sort of like a Firefighter, who is well trained, but still driving too fast, blowing a red light etc.
Really, 3 things correct our “frayed” behavior:
1-We self correct because we know we are wrong.
2-Our supervisor corrects our actions because they saw we are wrong — and the officer is doing their job..
3-We are forced to correct our action because something horrible has occurred but now, correcting our behavior is the least of our issues (injury, death, legal action, etc).
As my friend said, “it could have been me, and I play by the rules here as much or more than anyone”.
Bottom line as far as the above case — if this lowers the risk so that another civilian or Firefighter Line of Duty Death doesn’t occur, then that’s a good thing — but clearly unfortunate for the good Fire Officers who were made an example of. The days of waiving off the rules at most FD’s are less and less for a variety of reasons.
Look, RARELY does anyone in our business intentionally cause harm, we simply and very humanly get “comfortable” and let our guard down. And our action of getting comfortable is rarely directly related to something going wrong, because in most cases, nothing wrong happens. So we get comfortable.
But on the other hand, when we look at “tragic events” and follow them from the event back, in many cases, “getting comfortable” was, at some point, at or near the start of what lead to the tragic event.
ANOTHER TRAGIC EXAMPLE:
We have thousands of video and CLOSE CALL examples of us, all of us, fire, EMS and police getting comfortable. And here is the most recent example. The below is a link to an incredible dash cam video of a Milford, CT Police car crash that killed 2 teenagers on June 13, 2009. When you watch this, and it will be a horrible crash, the issue of “getting comfortable” raises its nasty head again. After all, the LAST thing this Police Officer wanted or planned to do was hurt anyone.
However, there are consequences. The officer involved in the avoidable crash was charged with 2 counts of homicide with a motor vehicle — not to mention the mental anguish that he and his family will live with forever. But when people are seriously hurt or killed, we are held accountable, uncomfortable or not. What about the mental anguish and suffering of the families of those 2 kids?
At the time of this crash, the police car was traveling a 94 mph while returning back to Milford after assisting neighboring police at a disturbance. The officers were not responding to a call at the time of the crash, 94 mph would be more than twice the posted speed limit on the roadway.
No intentional harm — but horrific results due to NTS, and becoming comfortable.
HERE is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFdDW9aE6-A
Don’t Get Too Comfortable-AVOID NTS. TCCS (The Consequences Can Suck).
