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Refusing Risk

 

Every firefighter has the right and obligation to report safety problems and contribute ideas regarding their safety. Supervisors are expected to give these concerns and ideas serious consideration. When an individual feels an assignment is unsafe, they also have the obligation to identify, to the degree possible, safe alternatives for completing that assignment. Turning down an assignment is one possible outcome of managing risk.

  • A turn down is a situation where an individual has determined an assignment cannot be undertaken as given and they are unable to negotiate an alternative solution.
  • A turn down must be based on an assessment of risks and the ability of an individual or organization to control those risks.
  • A situation may be a candidate for a turn down if:
    • There is a violation of safe work practices.
    • Environmental conditions make the work unsafe.
    • The forces lack the necessary qualifications or experience.
    • Defective equipment is being used.
  • The following steps will be used when turning down an assignment:
    • The individual will directly inform their supervisor that they are turning down the assignment as given. (Document using criteria outlined in the risk management process.)
    • The supervisor will notify the Safety Officer immediately upon being informed. In the absence of a Safety Officer, the appropriate Section Chief or Incident Commander will be notified. This step provides accountability for decisions and initiates communication of safety concerns.
    • If a supervisor requests another resource to perform the assignment, they are responsible for informing that resource that the assignment has previously been refused and the reason(s) why.
    • The safety hazard should be documented by the submission of a SAFENET or SAFECOM.
  • These actions do not stop an operation from being carried out. This protocol is integral to the effective management of risk as it provides timely identification of hazards to the chain of command, raises risk awareness for both leaders and subordinates, and promotes accountability.

 

Category
Operational Engagement


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Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

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NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

NWCG Memo: 2025-01 January 2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01