Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service. I want to talk about something that might not seem urgent — until it really matters. And that’s documenting your fire training correctly for ISO purposes.
Now, I know paperwork isn’t exactly the most exciting part of the fire service. You signed up to fight fires, save lives, and serve your community, not to fill out forms. But let me be very clear: If your training isn’t documented properly, in the eyes of the Insurance Services Office, or ISO, it didn’t happen.
And here’s why that matters. Your department’s ISO rating plays a direct role in determining insurance costs for the businesses and residents you serve. A well-documented, well-trained department can help keep those ratings low, making your community safer and more affordable. But if you’re missing records — if your documentation is inconsistent, incomplete, or just plain wrong — your department could lose crucial points, potentially leading to higher insurance costs across your jurisdiction.
And let’s not forget the real risk management side of this. If something goes wrong — if there’s a major incident, a line-of-duty injury, or, heaven forbid, a fatality — your training records will be scrutinized. If they’re solid, you can prove your personnel were properly trained. If they’re not? Well, let’s just say that’s a conversation you don’t want to have in court.
So, my friends, take training documentation seriously. Ensure every session, whether it’s hands-on, classroom-based, or online, is recorded accurately. Include dates, topics, instructor names, and participant lists. And don’t wait until ISO comes knocking. Build good documentation habits now so you’re always prepared.
As I always say, if it’s predictable, it’s preventable. And losing ISO points — or worse, facing legal trouble — because of bad documentation? That’s 100% preventable.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off.
