Why do we train? All training is designed to deliver two things. The first reason is to reinforce good behaviors. Second is to effect or to cause change, to improve an individual. In order for change to take place an individual; that means you and me, needs to make a decision for change and commit to improvement on a personal level. Change must come from within. While we read, listen, and practice our crafts, we must actively strive for personal improvement; not just go through the motions.
Unfortunately many lessons for lasting change come with tragedies. Recently a department had such a tragedy, a rolled tender or tanker. The driver I know personally. I found it hard to believe he was involved in an incident. He has been involved with the volunteer service for decades and has retired from professional service. I can vouch for his high standard of performance and his understanding of the mechanics and physics involved in handling an apparatus. He has a high regard for safety, a high score on mechanical aptitude testing and was responsible for much of my early training.
The differences between safe and unsafe are not as different or as far apart as we may want to believe. As an illustration you may be able to lift 100 lbs safely even comfortably. Where is the injury point; an additional 2 lbs, or is it ounces, a small twist? We won’t always know where unsafe is.
Remember, he understood the physics, vehicle dynamics, the road was familiar, and he had training. The first comment I heard was “wow he was our safest and most experienced driver, I’m in trouble”. That IS change, recognition with self awareness is a good first step. I wonder how many have been changed and are changing as a result of this tragedy. The one change this department made was to have all tanker/tender responses without lights and sirens; a thought provoking change. Several area departments are following this example.
This is not the only tanker/tender incident in our area either. A tanker/tender operator responding to a tire pile fire 45 minutes after the first alarm was driving a route with many hills and curves faster than the officer directed. The brakes overheated to the point where the vehicle could not stop at a T intersection. They negotiated the corner; however the brake drums once cooled had cracked and broken between each lug nut and the “S” cam was twisted off. The brakes were expensive to repair, cheap in reality. Near misses like this one are not usually shared as well as they should be.
Where does this leave us as Fire Service Leaders? What can we do to make an advantage out of any tragedy within our own spheres of influence? Start with NIOSH reports, L& I investigation reports; bringing one to every drill to start with and leave it behind for others to read. An email with the report in it is often left unread, leave a paper copy lying around and it is soon dog eared. If you want a tanker specific resource
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-248.pdf is “Safe Operations of Fire Tankers”, from fema; it addresses many factors involving tanker incidents.
Assure that your students/personnel look for items of weakness in themselves and within our systems. We often see the strengths that we have that may have prevented incidents; rather than see what we need to strengthen.
Train for Change, whatever the subject. We won’t always know how much change training creates, for ourselves or for our personnel. Training may be the few pounds or ounces that prevent us or others from being injured.
There is Tragedy enough for real change…now.
Train to Change.
Change Tragedy.
By: Ted VanderHouwen
WFC Fire Training, Safety & Officers Section