NRFPD

Purpose

The Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work place for employees and visitors. We believe that accidents can be prevented and every employee is entitled to work under the safest possible conditions.

Scope

The Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District will make every reasonable effort to promote loss prevention activities and will provide safe working equipment, necessary personal protection and, in the event of an injury, secure immediate emergency first aid and/or medical services.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of every District member, manager, and Board member to provide for a safe and healthy work area, safe equipment, and safe work practices. We need the full cooperation and effort of everyone to integrate loss prevention activities into both emergency operations and day to day business.

Procedure

It is the responsibility, and a specific job duty, of all District personnel to work in a manner which will not create safety hazards for themselves, fellow firefighters, or the public. Members are expected to actively participate and cooperate in promoting safety and preventing accidents.

Hazardous conditions, equipment, or unsafe work practices, accidents and injuries, must be reported immediately to the station officer, or to the administrative office. Pre-accident surveys, and post-accident analyses and investigations require the assistance and cooperation of everyone to effectively protect the best interests of all persons. Cooperation with accident analyses and investigations and hazard surveys is necessary for maintaining a safe environment. Requests for occupational safety and health loss prevention assistance will be made to the Fire Chief, or the Safety Committee.

ADMINISTRATOR LOSS PREVENTION AND CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Fire Chief is responsible for the day to day administration of the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District and all Loss Prevention and Control Policies and Safety programs therein. It shall be the responsibility of the Fire Chief to work cooperatively with the Safety Committee to ensure the safest possible work environment for all District personnel as well as the public.

Responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Implementing necessary loss prevention and risk control policies and programs including the following:
   1. Participation and accountability for all officers and firefighters for loss prevention activities
   2. Hazard assessments and control
   3. Accident investigations and analyses
   4. Personal protective and safety equipment programs
   5. Safety training programs
   6. Station evaluations with necessary engineering, ergonomic, or administrative controls
   7. Claim management and early return to work efforts
2. Legal compliance with all federal, state and local safety and health regulations.
3. Providing safety officers and fire officers with needed resources to ensure compliance with the District’s Loss Prevention and Control Policies.
4. Appropriate and timely response to requests regarding imminent danger and other suspected hazards.
5. Review of District loss data and accident investigation and analyses findings; evaluating loss prevention activities with current needs; setting responsibility for corrective action measures and maintaining necessary records of District activities.
6. Creating and managing an early return to work program for injured volunteers, as practical.
7. Ensuring personnel policies, manuals, job descriptions, and job placement practices are in place and follow current approved practices.

DESIGNATED SAFETY COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

A Chief Officer, or designee of the Fire Chief, is responsible for the administration of the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District’s loss prevention program as directed by the Fire Chief.

The Chief Officer is responsible for:

1. Informing management of the status of the organization’s loss prevention and loss control activities.
2. Coordinating and implementing loss prevention programs.
3. Maintaining and evaluating risk and loss investigations and reports. Advising the Fire Chief of findings.
4. Necessary safety training, hazard surveys, and safety committee activities, requests for safety and health information, materials and personal protective equipment. Maintaining records for these activities and reporting results to the Fire Chief.
5. Explaining safety and health standards.
6. Compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules - Safety and Health Codes and liaison with government agencies.
7. Assisting in accident investigations and analyses when necessary and maintenance of findings, and corrective action records.
8. Evaluation and recommendations for securing needed personal protective equipment.

ON SCENE SAFETY OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES:

It shall be the responsibility of the Incident Commander or the Lead Instructor to assign an On Scene Safety Officer at all incidents requiring command operations and at all training exercises. If the Incident Commander or Lead Instructor does not assign the position, they will retain the responsibility of the On Scene Safety Officer themselves.

The On Scene Safety Officer shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

1. Setting an example for safe work procedures, and behavior.
2. Maintenance of a safe work environment. Enforcing safe work procedures and the use of safety equipment and materials.
3. Assuring compliance with established District policies, procedures and safety rules.
4. Terminating unsafe operations through the Incident Commander. If the threat of injury is imminent, the On Scene Safety Officer shall suspend operations immediately, then notify the Incident Commander of action taken. Operations will resume only after safety is reestablished.
5. Assist in accident investigations and analyses.
6. Critique safety operations and make suggestions in a positive manner.
7. Communicate safety and health needs to the Safety Committee or Fire Chief.
8. Assist in the development of safety rules for the work place.
9. Overall scene safety.

FIRE OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES:

Fire Officers are responsible for implementing the safety and health programs and the following specific loss prevention activities:

1. Setting an example for safe work procedures, and behavior.
2. Maintenance of a safe work environment. Enforcing safe work procedures and the use of safety equipment and materials.
3. Use of established District policies, procedures and safety rules.
4. Orientation training in safe work practices and procedures for new personnel.
5. Involvement of work groups in safety and health issues and problem solving.
6. Investigation of accidents and analyses to determine cause. Documenting findings
   and recommending corrective action. Taking authorized corrective action (written investigation report submitted within 72 hours).
7. Monitoring member work practices, in a positive manner. Reinforcing safe work procedures and taking immediate action to correct unsafe practices.
8. Assist in regular hazard assessments of stations and apparatus. Taking immediate action to control hazards and items not in compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health rules.
9. Communicating safety and health needs to safety officers. Assisting in the development of safety rules for the work place.

VOLUNTEERS LOSS PREVENTION AND CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Volunteers are responsible for insuring that their conduct, work methods, and work environment are free of safety hazards for themselves, fellow firefighters, and the public.

Volunteers are expected to comply with and carry out established policies, procedures and health and safety programs, and:

1. Report accidents, injuries and near accidents immediately to Fire Officers or Safety Officers. If a Fire Officer or Safety Officer is not available, contact the administrative office before medical treatment is sought, unless the injured person requires immediate attention.
2. Immediately report hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices to a Fire Officer or Safety Officer. If possible, safely and properly correct hazardous conditions.
3. Be knowledgeable of and observe safe work precautions and procedures. Follow
   safety rules, regulations, and policies.
4. Assist Fire Officers and Safety Officers in accident investigations and analyses so that basic causes and contributing factors can be determined for corrective action to prevent future occurrences.
5. Report to work and remain free from the influence of alcohol while on duty or during on-call status. Abstain from the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription drugs without the direction of a physician. Do not report for work or respond to emergency calls while under the influence of medications prescribed by a physician that may impair your ability to function and/or operate equipment or vehicles.
6. Avoid thoughtless actions which may cause injury or damage.
7. Promote and support health and safety in the work environment.

SAFETY COMMITTEE:

The Safety Committee’s mission is to take an active lead role in the development of policies, programs, and information to enhance the Loss Prevention and Control Policy of the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District. It shall be the responsibility of the Safety Committee to work cooperatively with the Fire Chief and Administrative Staff to ensure the safest possible work environment for all District personnel as well as the public.

The Safety Committee shall be formed, and operate within the scope of OR-OSHA Division 40 and applicable District General Orders/SOP’s.

Violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination covered in the disciplinary action SOG.