Wildland Fire Operations Safety The Goal Error Resistance.

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyWildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to A Comprehensive Program to

Change a CultureChange a Culture

Ed HollensheadNational Fire Operations Safety Manager

USDA Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center Boise ID, USA

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Goal

Error Resistance

Accident

Incident

Violation

Hazard

Fatality

Safety

Effectiveness

Efficiency

Precision

Survival Apathy Zone

Shifting our focusHigh Performance

Sounds like a great idea – so how do we do it?

“Each new plateau of risk, when first attained, seems to be the last; but, as we grow accustomed to

it, a new horizon beckons. What insulates us from fear as we approach the danger is simply habit, the familiarity of a point we have reached and all the

points we’ve left behind. Until one steps too far, it’s often hard to tell the difference between

recklessness and skill.”

Major Chris Miller, USA

With Thanks to:Tony Kern, USDA FS

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Community

““Fire community implies an awareness that Fire community implies an awareness that we are interconnected and interdependent we are interconnected and interdependent and should approach firefighting from the and should approach firefighting from the point of view that we are all in this point of view that we are all in this together.”together.”

Findings From the Wildland Firefighters Human Factors Workshop MTDC, November, 1995

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe People

Beyond the safety of people, all else is sand.

“Trees regrow, houses can be rebuilt, but the loss of a life is forever.” (loc. sit.)

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Focus

• High risk, high consequence, dynamic, and expanding working environment

• Culture, attitude, and motivation of today’s firefighters

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Concept

A high performing firefighter is, by definition, a safe firefighter.

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyThe Application

• Commonly held values and principles• Standard operating procedures and

training• Bias for action• Managing the unexpected• Dedication to the art of leadership and

leadership development

Values, Principles, Role Models

Enable tough decision-making

Must be modeled by leadership

Wildland Fire Leadership Values and PrinciplesWildland Fire Leadership Values and PrinciplesValues Principles

Duty

Be proficient in your job, both technically and as a leader.

Make sound and timely decisions.

Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.

Develop your subordinates for the future.

Respect

Know your subordinates and look out for their well-being.

Keep your subordinates informed.

Build the team.

Employ your subordinates in accordance with their capabilities.

IntegrityKnow yourself and seek improvement.

Seek responsibility and accept responsibility for your actions.

Set the example.

www.fireleadership.gov

Standard Operating Procedures and Training

Safety is the result of doing things right, doing things right is the result of arduous

and realistic training, and quality training is the result of good leaders

drilling their crews/teams on standard operating procedures.

Standard Operating Procedures and Training

Insist on Absolutes

• Establish new, or affirm existing standards

• Demand consistent adherence. Never tolerate less than full compliance

• Walk your talk

State and Federal Regulations

Law

Policies

Standard Operating Procedures

With Thanks to:Tim Gabriel and FLEXJET

Standard Operating Procedures and Training

Insist on Absolutes

“When any of us either violates, or allows the violation of a standard, we have

established another one that is lower than the first.”

Standard Operating Procedures and Training

Insist on Absolutes

“Any time people are committed to a task, their safety becomes our highest

priority.”

“Mission objectives and priorities are transient. The standards used to achieve

them are not.”

Bias for Action

• Complex environment

• Uncertainty and ambiguity

• Decision making skills and bias for action

DRAW - DDRAW - D

Defend

Reinforce

Advance

Withdraw

Delay

Levels of Engagement

Managing the Unexpected

Situational awareness and risk management

Leadership Development

• Early development of leadership skills is paramount

• Training emphases must be reoriented

• Established and Well-Known Values• Experience and Practice• Guided by Absolutes• Bias for Action• Dedication to the Art of Leadership and

Leadership Development

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to

Change a Culture

References

• http://www.fireleadership.gov/

• Findings From the Wildland Firefighters Human Factors Workshop, MTDC, November, 1995

Wildland Fire Operations SafetyA Comprehensive Program to

Change a Culture