FAIRFAX, Va. — The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System (online at www.firefighternearmiss.com) posted its 500th report during the first week of January 2006, just 145 days after the national launch at Fire-Rescue International last August. The number of reports accumulated in such a short time frame is a significant milestone, according to task force members from other industries, because it indicates the system is trusted and accepted as valid by fire service members.
The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System is a free, voluntary, confidential, non-punitive and secure reporting system with the goal of improving firefighter safety. By collecting and analyzing information on near-miss events, improvements can be made in command, education, operations and training.
“I applaud each person who has submitted a report to www.firefighternearmiss.com—they are taking an active interest in firefighter safety by sharing their stories. If you haven’t submitted a report, I encourage you to do so,” said Chief Bill Killen, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the organization that administers the program. “The tool is a powerful way for firefighters to share lessons learned with firefighters across the country — just as they have been sharing stories across the firehouse kitchen table for years.”
Early analysis of the 524 reports submitted as of January 25, 2006, is already revealing valuable information. Chief officers (battalion/district chief and above) have submitted 30 percent of the reports, a number that exceeded predictions. The remaining numbers have come from firefighters, captains and below. Seventy-three percent of all reports submitted have selected human error and situational awareness as contributing factors to the near miss reported. This figure suggests that designing training programs with greater emphasis on managing and minimizing error may be a key to reducing injuries and fatalities. The 73-percent figure is consistent with other industries.
A program kit explaining the system is available for download from www.iafc.org/nearmiss. Anyone wishing to obtain a paper copy should contact staff at nearmiss@iafc.org. Type “program kit” in the subject line and include a mailing address.
The “Report of the Week” continues to gain in popularity and use. Each Friday, system reviewers select a report that has particular merit or is relative to current events in the fire service. A series of five follow-up questions are provided to provoke discussion. Send an e-mail to nearmiss@iafc.org and type “subscribe” in the subject line to begin receiving your Report of the Week.
The IAFC’s partnership with FireRescue Magazine is also providing focus on the near-miss reporting system with the “Leader’s Edge” section. Check out the January edition for the first installment.
This project is funded by grants from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. It is supported by Chief Billy Goldfeder of FirefighterCloseCalls.com in mutual dedication for firefighter safety and survival. Administered by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the system is also endorsed by the Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section of the IAFC and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Visit www.firefighternearmiss.com to prevent an injury and possibly save a life.