Chapter 7 Creating a Research Agenda 7-1. Introduction One of the greatest problems with the advancement of the fire service is the lack of hard data

Chapter 7

Creating a Research Agenda

7-1

Introduction

• One of the greatest problems with the advancement of the fire service is the lack of hard data available

• The fire service has worked hard trying to collect data

• Once data is obtained, it is of little use until it is researched, analyzed, and utilized

• An effective research system would establish how the data are submitted, organized, and scrutinized

7-2

Life Safety Initiative 7

Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relates to the initiatives

7-3


RESEARCH AS A TOOL

• Types of research

• Basic

• Applied

• Categories of data

• Using a research hypothesis

• Research and development (R&D)

7-4


NATIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA

• Defining a cultural change (Initiative 1)

• Existing culture based on beliefs and attitudes

• Change must take place individually and organizationally

• Need to instill safety into our culture without upsetting tradition

Cont.7-5



• Enhancing accountability (Initiative 2)

• Accountability is a decision

• Organizational accountability

• Generally a corporate decision

• Is a formal adoption of change

• Starts at the top

Cont.7-6



• Applying risk management techniques (Initiative 3)

• Scientific community risk assessment

• Flashover and collapse prediction

• Situational awareness

• Wildland firefighting operations

• Risk management for incident management

Cont.7-7



• Applying risk management techniques (Initiative 3)

Cont.7-8Source: NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce



• Eliminating unsafe acts (Initiative 4)

• Individual empowerment

• Identify unsafe acts

• Prevent unsafe acts

• Key concepts of CRM

into rapid intervention

Cont. 7-9Courtesy of Lt. Rob Gandee



• Implementing training and certification standards

(Initiative 5)

• Recruit-level training

• Instructor development

• Live fire training

Cont.7-10



• Implementing training and certification standards (Initiative 5)

• Training simulators

• Professional

development

• Computer-based

training and education

Cont. 7-11



• Developing medical and fitness standards (Initiative 6)

• Health maintenance

• Physiological response to emergencies

• Candidate physical assessment

• CPAT

Cont.7-12



• Creating a research agenda (Initiative 7)

• Data requirements

• Data related to exposure

• Data sharing and access

Cont.7-13Courtesy of Lt. Rob Gandee



• Utilizing available technology (Initiative 8)

• Respiratory protection

• Fire detection and extinguishing agents

• Incipient stage

• Alternative “green” chemicals

Cont.7-14



• Investigating fatalities, injuries, and near-misses

(Initiative 9)

• Everyone Goes Home (EGH) campaign

• National Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System

• Information gained from sharing statistics

Cont. 7-15



• Blending grants and safety (Initiative 10)

• Research is the most effective way to validate or establish a need for a grant

• Requiring specific safe practices of applicants

• Effectiveness of such programs can result in stronger and more successful future agendas

Cont. 7-16



• Establishing response standards (Initiative 11)

• Strategic response to risk

• Communications operability and interoperability

• Performance measures

Cont. 7-17



• Examining response to violent incidents (Initiative 12)

• Smart but also effective responses

• Hostage situations

• Need standard procedures

• Research is vital

Cont.7-18



• Providing emotional support (Initiative 13)

• Substance abuse

• Alternatives to substance abuse

• Post incident stress management

• Alternative methods of counseling and rehab

• Psychological first aid

Cont.7-19



• Enabling public education (Initiative 14)

• Targeted problems and evaluation

• Identify appropriate audiences, messages, and programs

• Reduce the number or severity of fires

• Is vital to target effective practices

Cont.7-20



• Advocating residential fire sprinklers (Initiative 15)

• Public awareness

• Change image to effective life-saving equipment

• Active versus passive fire protection

• Make educated decisions for specific levels of protection

Cont.7-21



• Engineering safety into equipment (Initiative 16)

• Use injury, fatality, and near-miss reports

• Engineers can identify ways to build equipment safer

• Manufacturers could contribute to this initiative

• Increase research during the design phase

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DATA COLLECTION

• Creating a hypothesis

• Data collection plan

• Analyzing the data

• Utilizing the data

• Short, medium, and long term goals

7-23

Summary

• Haven’t yet learned to use research to its fullest potential when it comes to creating a safer work environment

• Initiative 7 calls for a national research agenda• Industry-wide team effort to design a system to

collect, evaluate, and utilize data strengthens each initiative

• By assembling experts in scientific research we can make positive changes in reducing injuries and death

7-24

Documents

Chapter 7 Creating a Research Agenda 7-1. Introduction One of the greatest problems with the advancement of the fire service is the lack of hard data