SOP 511.19: Occupational Safety and Health/Accountability

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|`Functional Area: `
`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE`
`SERVICES`|`Reference Number: `
`IVN10-0001`|`Revises`
`Previous`
`Effective Date:`
`NEW`|
|`Subject:`
`OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY &`
`HEALTH/ACCOUNTABILITY`|||
|`Authority:`
`WETHERINGTON/HODGE`|`Effective Date:`
`4/01/02`|`Page``1`` of`
`4 `|

I. POLICY:

   This standard applies to Firefighters operating at an
   emergency incident. It was promulgated to provide a
   structured approach for tracking all Firefighters operating at
   an emergency scene.

II. APPLICABILITY:

   All Department of Corrections Certified Firefighters in State
   and County Fire Departments.

III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:

   NFPA 1500

IV. DEFINITIONS:

   NONE

V. ATTACHMENTS:

   NONE

VI. PROCEDURE:

   A. (Guidelines)

      1. The provisions of this standard shall be followed
         whenever Firefighters are required to work in an
         environment that requires the use of SCBA or where a
         Firefighter may become lost, trapped, or injured by
         the environment.

|Functional Area:
SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES|Prev. Eff. Date:
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|`Functional Area:`
`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`
`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`
`IVN10-0001`|

   2. Firefighters operating in a hazardous environment as
      defined above shall maintain crew integrity and
      shall use the buddy system. This requires that:

      a. Crew Firefighters enter and exit the
         environment together.

      b. Firefighters remain within either sight, voice,
         or tactile distance of each other while they
         are within the environment. No one shall ever
         be left alone.

      c. Station Chiefs shall not direct Firefighters to
         operate independently of their crews.

      d. Task assignment shall be made through the crew
         leader.

   3. A crew may be divided into multiple teams to perform
      tasks that do not require the efforts of the entire
      crew, provided that:

      a. Each team has a minimum of two Firefighters.

      b. The Station Chief remains in contact with each
         team and is constantly aware of their
         locations.

      c. A given team enters and exits the hazardous
         environment together.

      d. On completion of an assigned task, the team
         leader reports to the Station Chief for another
         assignment.

B. ACCOUNTABILITY EQUIPMENT

   1. Helmet identification tag: A metal plate that
      identifies the crew to which a Firefighter is
      assigned is attached to each side of the helmet by a
      self-adhesive fastener.

   2. Personnel accountability tag: A plastic tag that is
      engraved with the Firefighter’s name and
      identification number. Every Firefighter assigned

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|`Functional Area:`
`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`
`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`
`IVN10-0001`|

      to emergency response duty should be issued a
      personnel accountability tag.

   3. Company responder board: A board mounted on the
      dash of each apparatus in full view of the company
      officer or crew leader. The board shall remain with
      the apparatus at all times unless Command orders it
      to be removed to locate a lost Firefighter.

      a. Firefighters shall attach and remove their tags
         as appropriate.

      b. The Station Chief shall update the company
         responder board as required and remove the tag
         of any Firefighter not on board the apparatus.

   4. Passport: A metal tag labeled with the company’s
      identity that is used to account for each crew
      operating at an incident.

C. ROLL CALL

   1. A roll call is a systematic method for reporting to
      command that all Firefighters operating at an
      incident are accounted for. It should be conducted
      periodically throughout an incident to ensure that
      all Firefighters are safe and accounted for.

   2. A roll call shall be conducted:

      a. When changing for an offensive to a defensive
         mode.

      b. When an unexpected or catastrophic event
         occurs, for example in the case of flashover,
         backdraft, or structural collapse.

      c. After an emergency evacuation.

      d. At the first report that a Firefighter is
         missing.

      e. When a fire is declared to be under control.

D. LOST OR TRAPPED FIREFIGHTER

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|`Functional Area:`
`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`
`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`
`IVN10-0001`|

   1. In the event that one or more Firefighters cannot be
      accounted for, a roll call shall be requested
      immediately by the Firefighter or officer who
      believes that a Firefighter is missing.

   2. If a Firefighter cannot be accounted for during a
      roll, he/she will be presumed lost until he/she can
      be accounted for.

   3. An attempted rescue will become the top priority at
      the incident and sufficient resources shall
      immediately be assigned to conduct the rescue
      effort.

   4. As soon as all Firefighters have been positively
      accounted for, the rescue effort shall be suspended.

E. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

   1. The term emergency shall be used by anyone on the
      scene who needs to communicate an urgent message.

   2. The term Mayday shall be used by anyone on the scene
      who becomes aware of or is involved in a life      threatening situation.

F. EMERGENCY EVACUATION

   1. When it is unsafe to continue emergency operations,
      Command shall order a rapid and complete evacuation
      from the hazardous environment.

   2. An evacuation may be initiated by anyone at the
      incident, but the order to evacuate must be
      transmitted through the established chain of command
      to ensure that everyone can be accounted for.

   3. The order to evacuate shall be transmitted as
      follows: Interior Sector to Command, emergency!
      Evacuate the building immediately!

   4. Command shall immediately order everyone to evacuate
      the hazardous environment. Example: Maple Street
      Command, emergency! All units evacuate the building
      immediately! Repeat, all units evacuate the
      building immediately.

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|`Functional Area:`
`SUPPORT SERVICES/FIRE SERVICES`|`Effective Date:`
`4/01/02`|`Reference Number:`
`IVN10-0001`|

5. All Firefighters shall acknowledge the order to
   evacuate.

6. Station Chief shall conduct a roll call after
   everyone has acknowledged the order to evacuate.

7. Three long blasts from an apparatus air horn shall
   also be used as the emergency evacuation signal.