After reading the case study thoroughly, write a three to four page paper with your analysis of the problem, your conclusions of the cause and your suggestions for how to prevent this from occurring on other similar incidents. The following discussion points should assist you:
What factors/operations contributed to this incident?
As the safety and health program manager, what recommendations would you make in order to prevent similar incidents?
What standards and regulation, if any apply to these types of operations?
All case study reports must comply with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th. Ed. for writing conventions, organization, and formatting.
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CASE STUDY #4

Instructions

All case study reports must comply with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), Sixth Edition for writing conventions, organization, and formatting.

After thoroughly reading the following case study, write a three to four page paper with your analysis of the problem, your conclusions of the cause and your suggestions for how to prevent this from occurring on other similar incidents. The following discussion points should assist you:

What factors/operations contributed to this incident?
As the safety and health program manager, what recommendations would you make in order to prevent similar incidents?
What standards and regulation, if any apply to these types of operations?

Incident Description

On October 27, 1997, two male firefighters, victims #1 and #2, ages 43- and 27-years respectfully entered the right side of a twin dwelling (the left side was not occupied) that had smoke emitting from the basement window. The two firefighters entered the dwelling through the front door, went into the living room, then the breakfast room, and down the stairs to the basement. Approximately 30 minutes later, both firefighters were found in the breakfast room, unresponsive. On October 29, 1997, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) requested that NIOSH provide technical assistance in reviewing the circumstances surrounding these fatalities. On November 24, 1997, the Chief Trauma Investigations Section, and a Safety Specialist conducted an investigation of this incident. Meetings were conducted with the Fire Commissioner and his staff, firefighters responding to the incident, and the IAFF union representative, and attorney for the union. Copies of photographs of the incident site were obtained from the fire department along with an estimated time line of the incident, and a site visit was conducted.

The fire department involved in the incident serves a population of 1.4 million in a geographic area of 129 square miles. The fire department is comprised of 2,515 employees, of whom 2,387 are firefighters. The fire department provides all new firefighters with a 71-day training program at their fire academy that is designed to cover all areas of fire department operation, including tools and equipment, ladder operations, search and rescue, emergency medical training, and facility maintenance. The fire department’s written standard operating procedures manual was reviewed and appeared to be complete. The victims had 21 years fire fighting experience and 6 months experience, respectively.