1. What human factors problems did you identify in the case study? The first human factors problem I identify is the sparking electric night-light. It is the cause of the fire and thus it is definitely had the design problem from the aspect of human factor. Next is the design of installation of steel security bars at each and every window. Although the design of the steel security bars is to protect the residents of the house, it has a fatal disadvantage which is limited the escape action of the residents. The case study proposed a solution to it which is panic hardware. However, the house only installed one set of panic hardware and this indicated another human factor problem that occurred in setting up the security system of the house. Moreover, the one and only set of panic hardware in the house was required to be stomp harder for activation. This reflected poor human factor design of the panic hardware. Another human factors problem that I identify in the case study is the miscommunication between the 911 operator and the Fire Department dispatcher and also between the Fire Department dispatcher with the nearby fire station unit. Although the operator clarified the address was No.9 to the dispatcher, the 911 operator missed the word “avenue” as part of the address when the operator was informing the Fire Department dispatcher the location of the fire incident. Moreover, due to the miscommunication between them, the rescue actions had delayed more than four minutes. To make the situation worse, the dispatcher sent wrong address, 3100 block of 9th Street in his order to the nearby fire station for rescue action which should be 3102 block 9th Avenue. Besides the above problems, as written in the case study, the likene... ... middle of paper ... ...can prevent the occurrence of accident. In addition, the pressure needed to activate the set of panic hardware does not fit the emergency situation and the user too. It should be easier and faster in activation as it is designed for emergency escape plan. Last but not least, the city should put some effort in differentiate the street names to avoid the misunderstood or misinterpretation of the address which will cause latent failures. Works Cited Health and Safety Executive. (2014a). HF in accident investigations. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/core2.pdf Health and Safety Executive. (2014b). Identifying human failures. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/core3.pdf Health and Safety Executive. (2014c). Safety critical communications. Retrieved from http://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/common3.pdf
The fire lasted only 12-14 minutes and killed 492 and injured 164, the reason for this is the building construction, occupancy, and interior design of the club. For better understanding the structure will be described in great detail.
71 percent of the people that were at The Station Nightclub Fire, which occurred in West Warwick Rhode Island on February 20, 2003, that either died or was injured. This paper will look at the contributing factors in this shocking number as it pertains to fire prevention. When breaking down a case study, this case being The Station Nightclub Fire, there are three main factors you must look at. Those factors are fire behavior, human behavior, and building behavior.
"NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, 2010 Edition." National Fire Protection Association. N.p., 1 Jan. 2010. Web. .
Why is there such a need for a new fire station in the City of Excelsior Springs and where would be the best location for the new station or stations? These are 2 very important and essential questions in determining how efficient the Excelsior Springs Fire Department currently is compared to how efficient it has the potential to be. In determining the answers to these vital questions, there was an abundance of research done in lots of different areas. The fire department was looked at, analyzed, and compared to similar departments nearby. The city was researched to find the current risks, and also the future risks and demands of the city. Coverage and response standards were looked into. Also, current response times were analyzed. After finding and analyzing all the information and data, it will be determined whether or not there should be additional fire stations in the City of Excelsior Springs and where they should be located.
The most pressing issue facing Detroit, in regard to fire, is the steady amount of burning vacant or delipidated buildings, and second to that is the high rate of home fires. For the purposes of this project, the capabilities of
The duties and responsibilities of the fire department are most importantly responding to fires and other emergencies that involve the assistance from the department such as vehicle accidents, flooding, emergency rescue, and first aid response. When it comes to a fire departments duties and responsibilities when it comes to mutual aid agreements it is to coordinate planning, multiply the response resources available to any one jurisdiction, ensure timely arrival of aid, arrange for specialized resources, and minimize administrative conflict and litigation post-response.
Fire safety education is a crucial aspect of fire prevention. The general public needs to know how big of a threat fire is to them and how they can do things in their everyday lives to improve their safety, as well as preventing the threat of fire to begin with. The commission also realized that it was critically important that people know how to properly act once a fire has started. It is important that people have the knowledge to act quickly, safely, and effectively. When people don’t understand fire they can react in many negative ways such as panicking, not evacuating effectively, or by trying to fight a fire that they are not going to be able to extinguish. All these human reactions can decrease safety and end with tragic results. In the commission’s report they approximate that nearly 70 percent of all building fires were due to people acting carelessly because they did not understand the fire dangers that were present. The commission cited studies like one conducted in southeast Missouri. In the southeast Missouri community, a huge emphasis was put into public fire safety education because the fire death rate of the community was much higher than the national average. After increasing fire safety education in the community it was no surprise that the rate of deaths and injuries decreased
Wake County EMS responds to almost 90,000 requests for service annually and serves almost 1 million people, which places the WCEMS system in the top fifty EMS systems in the country based on call volume and size of population served. ("Wake county department," 2012) In response to ever-increasing call volume, a decrease in primary care, and the universal changes in healthcare, which have resulted in more people using EMS and the local emergency room for primary care and non-life threatening events, the EMS Department elected to change their service structure. The department would move away from the traditional EMS mantra of “you call we haul” and having a system being designed around reactive responses to healthcare issues in the community to an evidenced based incident prevention structure. No longer, would it be considered prudent or correct to just continue to add transport resources to address the increasing call volume and continue to place the actual burden of care on the local hospitals, it would become the burden of the EMS system to provide alternatives to properly address the actual healthcare needs of those who called 911. Wake County EMS had already utilized evidenced based ...
Hazards pose risk to everyone. Our acceptance of the risks associated with hazards dictates where and how we live. As humans, we accept a certain amount of risk when choosing to live our daily lives. From time to time, a hazard becomes an emergent situation. Tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast or earthquakes in California are all hazards that residents in those regions accept and live with. This paper will examine one hazard that caused a disaster requiring a response from emergency management personnel. Specifically, the hazard more closely examined here is an earthquake. With the recent twenty year anniversary covered by many media outlets, the January 17, 1994, Northridge, California earthquake to date is the most expensive earthquake in American history.
Varone, J. C. (2012). Legal considerations for fire & emergency services (2nd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.
The purpose of this essay is to reflect and critically study an incident from a clinical setting whilst using a model of reflection. This will allow me to analyse and make sense of the incident and draw conclusions relating to personal learning outcomes. The significance of critical analysis and critical incidents will briefly be discussed followed by the process of reflection using the chosen model. The incident will then be described and analysed and the people involved introduced. (The names of the people involved have been changed to protect their privacy) and then I will examine issues raised in light of the recent literature relating to the incident. My essay will include a discussion of communication, interpersonal skills used in the incident, and finally evidence based practice. I will conclude with explaining what I have learned from the experience and how it will change my future actions.
According to the 911 Commission, fire departments from New York, Port Authority Police and Mayor’s Office responded swiftly. However, some mishaps in technology hurt the whole rescue mission. For instance, the fire fighters’ “radio system failed frequently that morning” thus failure to get information promptly (Dwyer, Flynn, and Fessenden para. 3). The 911 Commission explains that although the radio calls were of high frequency, they were locally connected and had low wattage leading to command transfer failures (281-283). Hamilton points out that the internet might have played a great role in the September 11 attacks (2).
Every year communities struggle each year around the nation with issues of life safety. In 2012, the nation’s fire departments responded to 31,854,000 responses that resulted in the deaths 0f 2,855 civilians and injuring 16,500 causing an estimated $12,427 million dollars in damage. (United States Fire Administration, 2014) These incidents put at risk 345,950 career and 783,300 volunteer firefighters that resulted in the deaths of 81 individuals (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2013) and nearly 70,000 reported injuries. ( Karter & Molis, 2013) These numbers represent incidents that are determined to be in the line of duty but do not take into consideration the long-term health risk issues that may develop. Evidence shows that he hazards associated with Fire and Emergency Services are consistent across the board whether paid or volunteer and jeopardize the lives and health of each individual, placing administrative and physical control measures reduces this risk to firefighter within an organization. While it is impossible to eliminate the hazards firefighters face, it is important to identify these hazards as the first step in reducing the potential for loss of life and wellbeing both physically and mentally.
Thousands of fires occur on a yearly basis throughout the United States. Whether it is forest fires, house fires, or any other event that involves uncontrollable flames, the outcome will always be the same; high amounts of destruction and physical damage. When fire emergencies occur, responding to the incident may not be much of a complication as apposed to determining the source from where the fire started or what triggered its behavior, which is truly the challenge. In order to do so, a fire investigator has to be present at the scene of the fire after it has been eliminated. The investigator, after reviewing any possible marks or behavior trails, will conclude if the incident was indeed an accident or intentional, thus making it an act of arson. According to the U.S. Fire Administration Topical Fire Research Series, “Arson is the leading cause of fires (267,000 annually) in the United States” (usfa.fema.gov). Arson cases are very complex due to the fact that it can be committed virtually anywhere and by anyone, including fire responders as well. The motives behind arson incidents can also be a very complex issue because it may have been used as a cry for help or simply as a mode of cognitive escape. Gathered reports indicate that the main reasons for arsons committed by firefighter personnel are to be viewed as a heroic figure, an escape from personal stress, financial gain purposes, excitement, or even revenge against the fire company and others.
The Fire and Rescue Service employ a number of styles of communication to suit diverse audiences and for different purposes. The organization communicates with its members of staff differently depending on the circumstances and the message which is being conveyed. With such a large organization approximately 2200 members of staff effective communication is essential. Effective communication plays a vital role in the delivery of all Fire and Rescue Services.